EXTREMES of "LEADERSHIP"
-by Andrew Strom.I have been having a discussion with some friends on extreme
types of "Leadership" in the church. It would be great to hear others'
opinions on this.I wish we could find a better "balance", but today it often seems
that the choice is limited to either the "One man band" style of
leader who rules the church like a mini-"fiefdom" - or in the more
"post-church" type settings the "facilitator"-type leader who is
anxious not to be seen to really 'lead' at all ("group hug", anyone?)Neither of these types are the answer, in my view. But I have seen
a lot of both over the years. The first "chieftan" style is so controlling
and likes the sound of his own voice so much that he hardly lets
anyone else minister to the people. The second type is so apologetic
about "leading" that he would rather not preach and wants everyone
to have "equal time". He thinks that the early church was "all body"
and 'no strong leaders' at all. In this he is quite mistaken.I have spent quite a bit of time in the last 25 years around "House
church" and 'Out-of-church' type Christians. A lot of them have
rejected the "One man band" style of leadership completely. (I
cannot fault this). But then they have gone right over to the
other extreme. There is to be no real leadership or preaching,
no authority, no "Joshuas" or Peters or Pauls exhorting the Body
to "go forward and take the land". And there is certainly to be no
"eldership" to come 'under'. (Perish the thought!)Many of these people will "say" that they believe in leaders and
the "5-fold" ministries, but in every way by their actions and
attitudes they show that they basically want *none*. The opening sentence of John's gospel tells us that "In the beginning
was the WORD". That is how important the "spoken word" is to
God. He uses it to "found" everything. And we need to take note
that the very first description of the early church starts with this
phrase- "And they gave themselves to the APOSTLES' TEACHING"
(Acts 2:42). In other words, the very first thing that the early
Christians did was to devote themselves to the "anointed word"
coming out of the apostles' mouths. That 'word' was life-transforming
and essential. But many today no longer want preachers. It is seen
as an "outmoded" form. Tomorrow's church, they say, will be "all
body" and no leaders. (Because its too "old-school," they say).I beg to differ. I say that without such preachers or leaders there
will be no Revival, no Reformation, no new move of God, and no
"New Testament" church. As we can clearly see from Scripture,
true New Testament Christianity is simply LOADED with preaching
and LOADED with leadership. And if we cannot see how important
these things are, then we will never get back there. We need to
start valuing the "anointed word" just like they did. But where
do we find it today? -That is the biggest problem.This is not to say that it will be back to the "One man band". For
true "apostolic" preaching raises up the whole Body to be who they
are meant to be in Christ. That is what real anointed preaching
does. It cleans people out and helps raise them up into their calling.
Especially if the leaders have learnt to be truly "Body-enabling" in
a very active, practical way. In this sense, I totally believe in the
"Facilitating" model of leadership as well. Only then can all the
gifts and functions of the Holy Spirit flourish and be raised up
into their fulness. -"Every joint supplying". -Full "body" ministry.Sadly it is so rare to find this combination - this "balance" of both
types of leader. I am convinced that this is what is needed in any
future move of God. Not one extreme or the other, but leaders who
are both "word"-oriented and "Body-enabling". -Totally essential. I would love to hear your comments on this topic of "leadership",
my friends. Please post your thoughts at the website below-http://www.johnthebaptisttv.com/God Bless you all!Andrew Strom.
Jesse and Kara Birkey
Reflect Ministry
www.reflectministry.com
jbirkey@reflectministry.com
813-405-7952 "God does not expose our needs in theory, but in relationship with others."
-by Andrew Strom.I have been having a discussion with some friends on extreme
types of "Leadership" in the church. It would be great to hear others'
opinions on this.I wish we could find a better "balance", but today it often seems
that the choice is limited to either the "One man band" style of
leader who rules the church like a mini-"fiefdom" - or in the more
"post-church" type settings the "facilitator"-type leader who is
anxious not to be seen to really 'lead' at all ("group hug", anyone?)Neither of these types are the answer, in my view. But I have seen
a lot of both over the years. The first "chieftan" style is so controlling
and likes the sound of his own voice so much that he hardly lets
anyone else minister to the people. The second type is so apologetic
about "leading" that he would rather not preach and wants everyone
to have "equal time". He thinks that the early church was "all body"
and 'no strong leaders' at all. In this he is quite mistaken.I have spent quite a bit of time in the last 25 years around "House
church" and 'Out-of-church' type Christians. A lot of them have
rejected the "One man band" style of leadership completely. (I
cannot fault this). But then they have gone right over to the
other extreme. There is to be no real leadership or preaching,
no authority, no "Joshuas" or Peters or Pauls exhorting the Body
to "go forward and take the land". And there is certainly to be no
"eldership" to come 'under'. (Perish the thought!)Many of these people will "say" that they believe in leaders and
the "5-fold" ministries, but in every way by their actions and
attitudes they show that they basically want *none*. The opening sentence of John's gospel tells us that "In the beginning
was the WORD". That is how important the "spoken word" is to
God. He uses it to "found" everything. And we need to take note
that the very first description of the early church starts with this
phrase- "And they gave themselves to the APOSTLES' TEACHING"
(Acts 2:42). In other words, the very first thing that the early
Christians did was to devote themselves to the "anointed word"
coming out of the apostles' mouths. That 'word' was life-transforming
and essential. But many today no longer want preachers. It is seen
as an "outmoded" form. Tomorrow's church, they say, will be "all
body" and no leaders. (Because its too "old-school," they say).I beg to differ. I say that without such preachers or leaders there
will be no Revival, no Reformation, no new move of God, and no
"New Testament" church. As we can clearly see from Scripture,
true New Testament Christianity is simply LOADED with preaching
and LOADED with leadership. And if we cannot see how important
these things are, then we will never get back there. We need to
start valuing the "anointed word" just like they did. But where
do we find it today? -That is the biggest problem.This is not to say that it will be back to the "One man band". For
true "apostolic" preaching raises up the whole Body to be who they
are meant to be in Christ. That is what real anointed preaching
does. It cleans people out and helps raise them up into their calling.
Especially if the leaders have learnt to be truly "Body-enabling" in
a very active, practical way. In this sense, I totally believe in the
"Facilitating" model of leadership as well. Only then can all the
gifts and functions of the Holy Spirit flourish and be raised up
into their fulness. -"Every joint supplying". -Full "body" ministry.Sadly it is so rare to find this combination - this "balance" of both
types of leader. I am convinced that this is what is needed in any
future move of God. Not one extreme or the other, but leaders who
are both "word"-oriented and "Body-enabling". -Totally essential. I would love to hear your comments on this topic of "leadership",
my friends. Please post your thoughts at the website below-http://www.johnthebaptisttv.com/God Bless you all!Andrew Strom.
Jesse and Kara Birkey
Reflect Ministry
www.reflectministry.com
jbirkey@reflectministry.com
813-405-7952 "God does not expose our needs in theory, but in relationship with others."
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