Some thoughts on leadership . . .

I've been reading various peoples' posts and articles on the whole ancient/future application of apostolic leadership. I'll admit that I initially had a hang-up with the term because "apostle" to me always represented someone who had lived and learned directly from Jesus (physically), with the exception of Paul - but even he had a pretty intense personal experience with Jesus. I'm o.k. now with the notion that apostolic refers more to a style, passion, and gifting in ministry.

What's interesting to me, though, is that in the culture of emerging-generation ministry, there seems to be a couple of different camps when it comes to what real leadership is. In one camp, we have the apostolic leadership approach, and in the other camp is the notion that we should avoid leadership structures and styles that emphasize one or even a few people as set apart for the role of leadership. In my view, the latter hints at being a bit reactionary - "in the 'modern' world we had a monolithic leadership dominance, but 'postmoderns' need to get away from that."

I have to say that my recent experiences in the body of Christ have brought me much closer to the apostolic approach. While "apostolic" may be a loaded term to use, I think what I like about it is that it inherently assumes the presence of a spiritual gift. All parts of the body of Christ are important, truly, but we've been too afraid to impart too much power to one or a few people, even when they are gifted and passionate about their place in the body. My recent experiences have shown me what absolute mayhem and disorder and pain can be created when people who have no gifting or spiritual insight attempt to lead. The fact is that only a few people have what it really takes to be leaders.

A strong way of putting it is that whether you've been to the seminars, read the books, and implemented the structures of leadership or not, if you're not a leader, you're not a leader. True, in Jesus, we are "a kingdom of priests" and we do all have authority and calling to move strongly into our world in Jesus' name. But true leaders are people who have submitted to the gifts that God has already placed within them. It's always less about the person and more about Jesus that way.

Leaders are people who step out and lead - duh, right? But honestly, real leaders don't sit around and worry that if they step forward strongly, people might resent them for being too power hungry or whatever. No, they just do what they're gifted to do - they lead. This doesn't mean they have to lead with an iron hand or without concern for those under their care - quite the opposite when they are leading well. Real leaders lead by serving in humility.

My take on apostolic leadership is that the real leaders need to be increasingly freed by the church to do and be what they're supposed to. Those with the gifts of teaching, preaching, and prophecying need to confidently speak. Stop dancing on egg shells around people. Be humble and broken before your God and before yourself and before other people, and then go out and be bold . . . and while you're at it, tell some of the non-leaders who are making fools of themselves by talking too much to just shut up. Quit screwing around with people so you don't offend them. If you're overly concerned about them, then you're very likely offending God. Hmmm, would I rather offend people (who in many cases need to grow up anyway) or offend God? No brainer.

This is my call to action. If you are a leader, then go for it! Stop apologizing for asserting yourself in the body - because if you're serving in humility, you're not asserting yourself, but God in and through you. If you're not a leader, but you've been forced into a mold or expectation, find a way to graciously bow out. Your own spiritual gifts are too valuable to the kingdom of God to be wasted on something you can't fully succeed at anyway. Leaders and non-leaders need one another. It's not that the leaders are more important. Not at all. It's just their role in our world, and in the community of faith.

That's all.