Leadership 101

 This evening I decided I would start re-reading John Maxwell's book The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership. In my opinion, it is the best book on leadership available today. I attended a conference he led when the book was first released, and it changed my life and ministry. He began discussing the first chapter which was "The Law of the Lid." What he said about that law impacted me so much I don't think I heard anything he said about the next two laws.

As a bivocational pastor who owned a business, I was often frustrated. I complained the church wasn't doing enough because I couldn't get people to do what needed to be done. I had the same complaint about the business. When Maxwell said that the lid of the leadership is what enables an organization to thrive or decline, I realized I was blaming the wrong people. It wasn't the congregation or the people who worked for me that was limiting our growth; It was me! My leadership (or the lack of) was holding both the church and our business back. I realized I had to grow as a leader if I wanted our business to succeed and if I wanted to see our church more effectively minister to our community.

This is a book that I believe needs to be read by every pastor because many of us do not see ourselves as leaders. Many seminaries do not teach pastors to be leaders; they teach us to be managers. There is a huge difference. Many pastors have responded to surveys that they do not see themselves as leaders. They do not believe they have the gift of leadership. Worse yet, they do not realize that anyone can grow as a leader.

The majority of our churches in the US are in decline, and the reason for the decline is the lack of leadership from pastors. Before you argue that some churches won't allow the pastors to lead, I recognize that, and I would also argue that, as a pastor, you either lead or let that church continue its slide towards death, and go somewhere where you are allowed to lead the church to grow and effectively serve its community. 

I also realize that some pastors take leadership to an extreme and become bullies in the pulpit. A number of mega-church pastors in recent years have been forced to resign or terminated due to the way they began to bully staff and congregational members. That is certainly not the kind of leadership to which I am referring. I believe Jesus modeled the type of leadership that should be practiced by ministers today. When He needed to be firm, He was, but He never stopped loving people even to the point of giving His life that they, and we, might have our sins forgiven.

If you've not read this book, I encourage you to do so. If you don't see yourself as a leader, I would ask that you begin to pray about that. Our churches will never rise to their potential if the pastor does not grow as a leader.

Adulting

I just finished a series of messages on family life that ran from Mother's Day to Father's Day. The messages were timely, biblical and much needed. Unfortunately, the ones who most needed to hear them were not present. I'm talking about young people who are starting out in life unsure of what is expected of them or how to proceed. 

My heart is troubled by young men who have had no healthy fathers teaching them how to become a man. How do such young men learn what it means to be a loving husband, a father? A large percentage of young people grew up in single-parent homes due to divorce or the absence of a father or mother. Many young women grew up never knowing the unconditional love or a father so they sought love in other places.  What do they look for in a potential husband when they've never known a healthy marriage? I read recently about a young woman who wanted to learn to cook but didn't know anyone to teach her. She never knew her mother and never learned how to cook or how to be a wife and mother. Where do these young people learn these life skills?

Some try to learn them from movies and television programs. Back when the popular TV programs were Father Knows Best and Leave it to Beaver, that might have been an acceptable option. MILF Manor and 90 Day Fiancé are not.

This is an area where churches can make a difference. Young adults are struggling to understand who they are, their purpose in life and how to live various aspects of their lives in healthy ways. They are hungry for direction and truth, and the church can help provide that. Many churches have developed ministries specifically for young adults to help them find the answers to the questions they are asking. Those churches who do this well are growing as young people are telling their friends these are safe places to come with their questions and challenges.

I'm not sure I've met a church that didn't express an interest in reaching young people, and yet I saw very few churches willing to meet young people at their point of need. They expected young adults to fit in to what the church was doing and were frustrated that so few were interested in doing that. They seemed to forget that many of these young adults were involved in the church during their childhood but left it when they felt it no longer spoke to their needs.

How can churches speak biblically to the needs of young adults? How can we address the gaps left in their lives due to family circumstances beyond their control? The good news is that our churches have much to offer young adults if we are willing to meet them in their areas of need.  

Tell the story

 Jesus told a lot of stories when He spoke. We call them parables, but they were stories. They were used to help make His teachings better understood. He used common things such as sheep, fig trees, water and more to teach deep theological truths. Sometimes I think we preachers spend too much time explaining what a word meant in the original Greek or Hebrew and not enough time telling stories.

Young people, the ones most churches claim they want to reach, enjoy stories they can relate to. It's why they go to movies and watch their favorite programs on TV. Even much of their music contains a storyline that they can relate to. 

As you might imagine, I include a lot of stories in my messages. I'm convinced that the stories help people better understand the theological truths I'm giving them. Sometimes, these stories are humorous; other times they are serious, but they are always told for the purpose of clarifying a truth.

I tend to be pretty transparent when including myself in a story. I don't want people to think I have everything figured out, and I'm living without any challenges in my life or faith. I've spoken honestly about being diagnosed as clinically depressed back in the 1980s and spending a year on medication and in therapy before escaping from that dark cloud. Every time I've shared that story, people have come to me thanking me, sometimes in a whisper, for sharing that experience. I've talked about financial problems we've had in the past, what it took to get out of that and how we would not have got in that mess if we had been treating our finances according to biblical teaching.

Such stories let people know that their challenges and doubts are experienced by all people, and they are not a lesser Christian for having them. They also let spiritual seekers know that coming to faith in Christ doesn't require that all their questions have to be answered first or they have to get their lives straightened up before becoming a Christian.

Just remember when you are telling stories to tell the one that matters most: Jesus Christ lived, died on the cross and was resurrected so that all who believe in Him could be forgiven of their sins and enjoy the promise of eternal life.

What do you see when you look at someone?

What do you see when you see someone for the first time? Do you make judgments about them based on their outward appearance? It's easy to do, and many of us do make such judgments. What do you think Jesus does when He looks at someone? Does He see them for what they are today, or does He see them as what they can become? The correct answer is the latter, and that is the way we need to see people as well.

This may be one of the missing pieces in many church's evangelistic endeavors. While serving in a judicatory role, a leader from one of the churches I served shared with me what happened to their youth ministry. The church had a few kids from the church involved in the youth ministry, but for some reason a number of goth kids in the community began attending as well. Soon, the youth leaders began using the church van to pick up other goth kids to bring to the youth activities. It wasn't too long before the church youth began complaining. They didn't want these kids there with their black clothes, strange haircuts, tattoos and different styles of dress. Although the youth leader didn't tell me, I imagine the parents of the church kids also voiced their concerns. Within a short time the growing youth ministry in that church tanked. The story reminded me of something I read several years ago. The author wrote, "It's obvious we like blue hair on people in our church unless it comes through the front door on a 16-year-old boy."

Too often we want to reach only people who are like us. Many churches do not want the person addicted to drugs, the homeless, those in same-sex relationships, the ones struggling with mental illnesses, those of a different race or nationality, the alcoholic, or anyone who is "not like us." We look at people as they are today and fail to see what they can become when Jesus Christ becomes a part of their lives. Until we do that, we will never effectively fulfill the Great Commission.

Jesus was accused of being a friend of sinners. What a worthy title for every church to possess! Years ago someone wrote that if we want to reach this current generation we will have to learn to sit in the smoking section. There we will find persons for whom Jesus Christ gave His life. Jesus said He did not come for those who were not sick but for those who needed repentance.. He came to bring healing to those whose lives were broken, and this must be the mission of the church as well. The church was never intended to be a hotel for the saints but a hospital for sinners.

We live in a world that is filled with broken people. When Jesus told His disciples the fields were white for harvest I believe He certainly included today's world. People are hungry for something that can transform their lives, and the church can offer them, not something but Someone, who can certainly do that. Unfortunately, we are unlikely to do that until we first begin to see people, not as they are, but what they can become. 

The distracted church

 Satan has used a very simple strategy designed to keep the church from fulfilling its biblical command to make disciples of all nations and discipling them in the Christian faith (Mt. 28: 19-20). He keeps us distracted by lesser things that takes our attention off the primary work God has called us to do.

Today's political climate that has so divided our nation has also divided the church. I have known pastors who were so committed to a political party or a political platform that they divided their church even to the point that at least one person I know walked out of the service having grown tired of the political posturing of the pastor. During that pastor's tenure in that church not one person was ever baptized or led to a relationship with Jesus Christ. The same charge could be made against many other ministers and churches. They are more likely to pass out Voter Records than to share their faith with an unbeliever.

Striving to be "woke" has also become a driving force behind many churches and denominations. As some denominations change their views on various social issues in an effort to be seen as more in tune with society, they have become out of tune with God, His Word, and His calling on the church. Not only have they lost many of their current membership, they have failed to attract new people resulting in a steeper decline than they experienced before. Certainly, the church needs to address social issues of the day, but it must not allow those issues to change their theology and their call to be witnesses to the transforming power of Jesus Christ to change people's lives.

Petty disputes within denominations are another distraction for many of them and their churches. Not only do such disputes distract churches from their mission, they send a message to the unchurched public that drives them even further away from God and the church. Why would anyone want to become a Christian if that meant they would become judgmental, legalistic, and mean-spirited?

It's past time that we stop majoring on the minors and begin to focus on what really matters and what God has called us to do. Our task is to share the gospel of Jesus Christ and point people to Him as the One who can transform their lives, offer forgiveness for sins and prepare them for Kingdom living.

The prayer

 Arthur Burns served as the chairman of the United State Federal Reserve System and as an ambassador to West Germany. He was widely respected in Washington and was an economic advisor to presidents from Eisenhower to  Regan. He was also Jewish so people were surprised when he began attending an informal prayer meeting in the late 1970s.

Because of his faith he was not asked to pray until a newcomer led the meeting and asked Burns to close it in prayer. He joined hands with others around the table and prayed, "Lord, I pray that you would bring Jews to know Jesus Christ. I pray that you would bring Muslims to know Jesus Christ. Finally, Lord, I pray that you would bring Christians to know Jesus Christ. Amen."

Not much more needs to be said except that if that prayer was needed in the 1970s, it is much more needed today.

Each of us will face eternity

Many people have the mistaken belief that this life is all there is. We are born, we die, and that's it. Those who believe this are seriously mistaken. Each of us are created as eternal beings. There will come a time when we will die, but that does not mean that is the end of our lives. While the body may die, the soul and spirit lives forever. The Bible speaks of both heaven and hell, and while many people might want to believe in heaven and not believe in hell, the Scriptures do not give us that option. Both are real, and the truth is that we will determine which will be our eternal home by the decisions we make in this lifetime.

Some state that if God is love as Christianity teaches that He could send no one to hell. These Universalists believe that when mankind is finally judged that a benevolent God will simply let everyone enter into heaven. If this is true, why did His Son, Jesus Christ, die on the cross? If His suffering and death had no purpose, why would He endure it?

However, they are true in one respect. God will send no one to hell. All those who find themselves in hell chose to be there. They made the decision, not God. You see, God has made it possible for all mankind to be saved from hell through the death of His Son on the cross. All who believe in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life. Those whose eternal destination is hell chose that for themselves by their refusal to accept God's offer of salvation. God will not force anyone to believe in Him, but gives each of us free will to choose for ourselves. God has done all He needs to do. He gave His only Son to die on a cross so our sins could be forgiven. Now, it is our decision to receive that offer of salvation by trusting in Him or by rejecting Him. Accepting Him leads to salvation; rejecting Him leads to eternal separation from God.

Each of us will choose. At a revival one year a group of young people presented a skit. One person was sitting on the back of a chair which represented someone sitting on a fence. Another person was representing Jesus Christ while a third person played the part of Satan. The Satan figure kept offering the person on the fence all kinds of incentives to follow him. The Jesus figure simply held his arms out to the side representing the cross and saying "I love you." Then the Satan figure would begin again offering numerous pleasures if the person would pick him. The Jesus figure continued to hold out his arms and repeat, "I love you." The scene repeated the third time. At that moment, the person on the fence announced his decision to remain on the fence. Satan then put his arm around the person and said, "Good, I own the fence." I almost came our of my seat! You, and every person who has ever lived, will choose whether to follow Jesus Christ or Satan, and that decision will determine your eternal destination.

What choice have you made? Have you decided to receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior or are you still sitting on the fence refusing to decide? If you are on the fence, you have already decided because Satan owns the fence. 

Your greatest need in these unsettled times

No one can doubt that we live in very unsettled times. As a nation, America is divided as it has not been since the Civil War. We now question everything that comes from the mouths of our politicians, the media, advertisers and even the church. Truth has become hard to come by leading to conspiracy theories and a general suspicion of everything we hear. Violence is widespread with drug gangs even infiltrating smaller, rural communities. Crime is rampant with the police and courts seemingly powerless to do anything about it. Churches and entire denominations have abandoned the Word of God and now proclaim a spurious gospel that will appeal to a "woke" generation. Immorality is rampant with legislative bodies and the courts now legalizing behaviors that were considered immoral throughout recorded history. Our education system is in ruins. Parental rights are being taken away slowly but surely by the courts and schools. Children too young to vote, too young to drink alcohol, too young to have a driver's license, even too young to enter grade school are being allowed to choose their gender. We could fill an entire book with all that is wrong with today's society, but this should be enough to convince anyone that we live in very difficult times.

While I am not a conspiracy buff, I do not think this is all accidental. When you think of all the negative changes that have taken place in our world in the past few years, it's hard to not believe there is a power, a force, behind it all. I sometimes feel I am living in a magic show where the magician draws our attention elsewhere while he or she works his or her "magic." I can only wonder what's next as our nation, and world, moves even further from God.

There are some things we can do. Certainly, we can pray that God would send revival to turn our world back to Him. With elections coming up we can vote for persons who seem to support our values and moral beliefs. It is amazing to me that Congress has an approval rating of under 10 percent, and yet we keep electing the same people who have created much of this mess back into office. I would like to see every Christian vote in the next election and vote every incumbent running for office out. That would send a message to those who are not up for election that we are fed up with what they have done to our nation, and if changes are not made, they will be the next ones who will have to find an honest job outside of politics. BTW - this is not limited to national politics. We need to do the same thing with school boards, local politicians and anyone who is supposed to represent the people.

We can advocate for the truth of God's Word. There is One far above the President, Congress and the Supreme Court who has the final Word. It is His Word that must be followed and obeyed. The three Hebrew captives refused to bow down to the political powers and announced that even if they were cast into the fiery furnace, they would not deny their God. Instead of the church compromising the Word of God in order to get along in our current society, we need to be speaking truth to power.

The most important thing we can do in these unsettled times is to be sure of our Christian faith. Let me ask the reader a very simple question, are you a Christian? If you were to die today, do you know for certain that you would go to heaven? This is important...you are not a Christian because you attend church sometimes, or that your parents were Christians, or you have been confirmed or even baptized. You are a Christian because you have accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior. You are not a Christian because your good works outweigh your bad deeds. You are not a Christian because you belong to a church. It is by faith you are saved. Jesus said He was the way, the truth and the life, and no one could come to God except through Him. There are no other roads that lead to God but through Jesus Christ.

I am convinced that even more difficult times are coming, and only those who have trusted in Jesus Christ for their salvation will be able to endure these times. Do you know that you know that you know that you are a Christian? If not, please contact me or a pastor of a Bible-believing church in your community. Eternity is at stake.