I am waiting for the latest of John Maxwell's 101 Unrefutable Laws of Leadership for the Postmodern, upgraded, with a twist, interactive DVD included, annotated, revised, co-authored with Max Lucado and illustrated by Thomas Kincade, with a soundtrack by Michael W. Smith and the Corrs, with a forward by Tony Jones, a giftbox of votive candles in the shape of Brian McLaren, and a coffee mug.
I am dismayed by leadership today. They are trying to come up with what the next wave of church is, while keeping it is very commercial, hip, cool, all the stuff that our grand parents never did and will attract our highschool kid. It is antithetical to the modern church but there is no thesis of the Spirit. It in culturally inclusive, except if you think modern or need to be taught, it has wonderful colors and smells but it lacks direction and depth. It has the new heroes of the day who argues with the heroes of last decade, who are still arguing with the heroes of olds. Come up with the latest, write about it, defend it on television, go to Princtoon and mock the "right" and smoke, drink, "be free from yesterday", experience those not caught up in pews of old... kind of church. (To update anyone new to the blog, I don't use the word "church" to mean the Body of Christ who are empowered with the Spirit of Christ to do the work of the Kingdom of Heaven, but it means the cultural event that takes place on a Saturday night, Sunday morning, or Sunday night)
The present day evangelical (EV) leaders were taught to empower and enable the people to lead themselves, but they did have an agenda of their own. They were not discipled to move in the Spirit so it had a bit of lunacy to the notion that one could hear the Spirit for themselves. People committeed the direction instead of spiritually sensed the way. The charismatics came and added a bit of experiential nuances of worship. This seemed to attract people so these EV leaders added the experience but not the understanding of the Spirit. For a while churches were run well, but they ran out of ideas. EV leadership looked to the Leadership gurus instead of the spirit. They didn't feel like apostles, those sent with a message.
Leaders needs to be sent with a message. Today leaders are not sent but developed by jumping through hoops and academics. No fruit required.
I appreciate the ones who are waiting, faithful to the Spirit in the upper room. Making quiet changes in the course as they feel the leading of the Spirit. They are disciplining their flesh so they can see with their soul. The know that deep calls unto deep and they spend their time, during the week and not just during a service, seeking Him. They spend more time reading and listening to His Word than speaking. They don't throw stones at sinners nor wink at sin, but allow He who is in them to be lived out so that others would find peace from their bondages. They would disciple those in Christ, so that they would live their lives effectively for the Kingdom, returning the investment back tenfold or more.
Leadership cannot just be learned from a book, but must be acted out in faith. It can be taught in conversation and modeling, but it is from the Spirit who empowers those men and women to do His work to those to whom He is calling them. I pray for that kind of leadership over me.
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