I’m convinced that Pastors often preach to themselves and the rest of us just listen. On that, do they listen to their own sermons? I wonder as I wander... from service to service, denomination to denomination... day to day.
We all hear what we choose regardless. Listening is the key. Talking less helps. It isn’t a coincidence that Silent Night and Holy Night are so impactful. Holiness is most often associated with stillness and listening to God and for God in the still small voices. Do you hear what I hear? ... and bells. I love bells and candles. The fire and the piercing nature sing into the silence.
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Crisis of leadership coin has two sides. On one side, we have a dictator, despot, tyrant, catalyst... on the other we have a passive, do nothing, no change, marking time, retired, elder, idealist... - when either of these conditions manifests, the people suffer and fail. Intentions can be benevolent or malevolent. It matters not. Balance must be achieved in the middle for progress. In our churches and government we tend more towards a swinging pendulum... side to side... perhaps this is an ecclesiastical ekklesia...
A crisis of leadership is repaired when the people unify under a singular purpose... and begin working towards a Goal (normally outlined and clarified by a leader) - the solution lies in the working... not in the vilification or discussion of what has always been done, how it has always been done, etc.. Making more problems doesn't solve the pressing problem.
Central question for church leaders remains. What are you teaching in your example and in your words. They must match. Your congregation sees and knows and yearns for a direction and progress. If they only feel vilified, guilty, and attacked... nothing changes. Jesus teaches and models love and redemption, and grace... via action, and choice... He models an active love, not retired, not tired, not passive, not by proxy, or by checkbook. Each one of us is specific, beloved, and required.. If and when we are divided, we can unify by working together on one thing, building relationships, then working together on another thing, building more relationships, etc... This cycle is the only one that works.. I've been pretty frustrated at the lack of execution by so many ministers including my own of late. Such wonderful ideas, so little action, such dependence on a "system" or "others" for action, such eviscerating opinions in their sermons presenting veiled attacks on personal political views of both sides collectivism vs individualism. As an individual committed to making a difference this decision to implement social initiatively force through the government is anathema to me.
Any minister fixated on the government’s power to implement morality and Christian “policy” is missing the reality of Jesus’ examples. Preaching a theocracy based collective autocracy model is not biblical. We must choose to Be Love and Serve. Cheerfully. On a journey. With full armor and faith in our personal relationship with GOD. Not government. IF you are "older" and not technology savvy... AND you stay that way... YOU will lose connection with "younger" segments of the population. family, friends, and beyond.
- If you are okay with that, fine.. IF NOT.. then YOU must learn and change your communications tools, or become irrelevant. THAT is a fact. FOR NOW: Age has the money and the power.. but power is quickly becoming subject to the ability to communicate and collaborate... Power structures are evolving. if you do not evolve.. you will become extinct. #RealityCheck Our Entertainment culture (movies, music, TV, News... Opera) is a reflection of what exactly?
Violence : Sex : Bullying : Greed : Politics : Corruption : Drugs : —> False images/gods which will never satisfy... — This is us... #WakeUpAmerica This is not new. This will never go away. Our hearts and minds can be focused on ??? What role does and can worship in local church play in this daily drama? All questions no answers... Let me be clear... I care a little bit about what President Trump and the #idiotsincharge are doing in Washington DC... Pretty much the same amount as I did when I thought President Obama was doing all wrong things.. BUT.. it is just a little bit... I honestly think the constant focus on the world and the government is a corrupting form of idolatry... faith in govt where God is actually in control... Adoration of TV and desire to preach to others what "they" should be doing.
I care far more about what my family is doing.. how I'm serving my neighbors.. How my church is functioning.. how my local schools are secured and educating... how well my choir is singing, and how I can help the kids and elderly friends right smack in front of me every flipping day... #WakeUpAmerica #MySoapBox My church is failing in my community because I’m unable to effectively share my passion for a hopeful future. I show with my words and decisions that my history and my experience matter more to me (about me) than them. I can’t translate my experience into a shared future that is relevant to others. I expect “others” to see things as I do, want things that I want and to value experience and order as I do.
Unless we can show how our theology and doctrine and polity matter and will make a difference it will not. As a church leader I will fail in my mission and I will harm others in my failure. If my community does not listen they cannot hear. If I don’t speak in a manner which encourages them to listen they will not hear. If I can’t adjust my message and model, the fault is mine alone, and I should step aside and find someone who can. I will fail. I fail. I failed. This is truth. God will not fail, does not fail, and has not failed. When I fail, God will speak through another. He will transform HIS community into a loving, welcoming fellowship which reaches out, welcomes in, and disciples into deeper and deeper circles. If your authority and influence flows primarily from your position as a pastor .... from your seminary degree... or from your education... then your certification is of men, for men, by men... it can be controlled by men. It will be controlled by men.
If your leadership and authority flow from Christ, from the Holy Spirit and from your Father, then your ministry and influence is free to use the organizations and systems of men to influence and empower rather than be in power. Do you draw your confidence, your mandate, your mission : from your age... your tenure in job... your money... your success... even your failures ? ... all of these are things of men. We cannot lead authentically when we remain in the core of the equation. We must lead and teach as a mirror for God working in His world rather than men speaking on behalf of some earthly certification authority. Finding a balance here is the central question of leadership and ministry in our time. To empower and/or be in power is nothing without love. As for me and my house... we will serve the Lord. We will use organizations and systems of men as tools in that pursuit. From FB, to local churches, to choirs, to classes... the mission is clear. Is your leadership more interested in who is in charge or what is being done? Or more often what is not being done...
I know what I see all too often. Not so much from members but from leaders... even for me, it is a constant struggle to remain aware and open and listening and seeking and encouraging... not dictating and demanding. Resources drive outcomes. People, process, and tools... in that order. Leading and inspiring people is HARD. Easy to dictate and then fail... sigh. Cycle repeats itself over and over at every level of every organization. #Church #corporation #government #associations #clubs Lots of talk about toxic leadership communications and styles... in governments, companies, teams, even churches and families: themes are the same
my definition and thoughts: doing more harm than good with no positive outlook or plans on display... it is like fighting a disease... you can’t kill the patient while you make them more healthy... and what definition of healthy is valid? Organizations and governments are organisms. Living and breathing. See the systems. See the leaders. See the levers of change and gauge words and actions... Principles and practice merge into plans which must improve results. To leaders everywhere. In order to get what you want, first you must know what you want. Then start pulling levers. Don’t destroy divide and diminish unless you plan to kill the patient or have a path to recovery laid out. #leadersermons |
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