I think you got it all covered. I was thinking that leadership will cost us our pride. Often, we find ourselves in a situation that we need help. We have to acknowledge that we don't know everything. In French we say, "il n'y a pas d'omelette sans casser les oeuf." You can't have omelet without breaking the eggs. Leadership will cost you something.
Obedience is birthed out of our pure trust in Father God's love for us.
If we do not trust in Father God's love for us we follow the crowd and the pressure they come against us with for their own agenda-seeking purposes.
I have experienced, first-hand, in my life, Father God's blessings when I stand against the crowd in faith and Obedience, and trust in His Love for me.
We do not compromise, we hold the line, not because we fear that Father God doesn't love us enough, but rather, the "fear of the Lord" (as in, a Holy, Reverent respect) far outweighs the fear of the crowd!!
I can't speak from a place of having ever worked in ministry, and certainly not from a leadership role in ministry. However, I can speak from being under various forms & degrees of "leadership" and from where I am in my journey with Father God through His Word.... and I'm still "a work in progress."
In today's world, not all "leaders" in ministry are anointed & appointed for a particular organization, and not necessarily for that particular season of their life.
But when Father God witnesses to my spirit that there is a particular spiritual leader that has been anointed & appointed over me, that is from God Himself. God and I both know, he is human, even Moses messed up. And when Miriam thought that she and Aaron were equal to Father God's announted & appointed, whew, I'm glad I wasn't in her shoes!!
I think our calling as congregants is to fall on our knees in deep intercession for our spiritual leaders!!
I'm learning more recently that sometimes Father God does call me to speak in love and grace, with an open hand, meaning if my advise or viewpoint isn't considered, it's ok, because I'm trusting my Heavenly Father with everything!!
But most of the time, He asks me to intercede and remain silent. The Holy Spirit is capable of giving discernment better than if it comes from the mouth of a human, and much better received and believed!
On the other side of the coin, when decisions are made that I may not agree with, especially if they affect me, personally, here is a passage that Father God has given me to guide me....
Over the past year, there is a passage of scripture that Father God has kept close to my heart and reminded me of often. Psalm 37:1-11.... what it spoke to me was that if/when others, no matter their level of authority over me, or the lack therein, I do not need to defend myself when I feel, from my perspective, that I have been wronged. That passage says that FATHER GOD will vindicate me, AND HE "will make our righteousness rise as the noonday sun."
Father God knows the intentions of all our hearts. When others misjudge and mistreat us, or do things we do not understand, LEAVE IT IN FATHER GOD'S HANDS, He understands much more than we do. We are not qualified to run the universe, that's not in our job description!.
[11] So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, [12] to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up [13] until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
I think you got it all covered. I was thinking that leadership will cost us our pride. Often, we find ourselves in a situation that we need help. We have to acknowledge that we don't know everything. In French we say, "il n'y a pas d'omelette sans casser les oeuf." You can't have omelet without breaking the eggs. Leadership will cost you something.
One of the many languages you speak Dr. Laine! You're brilliant. I'm grateful for your thoughts and additions on here. Love you brother.
Great article. Keen insight. A balanced perspective on leadership. Thank you.
I can't remember who said it or even exactly how they said it, but *they said*:
"There is always a cost to leadership. If the leader won't pay it, then the people they lead will."
I think on that often. Especially when its my time to make a payment.
My goodness, that's rich! I don't know who said it either, but I love that quote. Thanks for sharing it here!
A form of conflict management that we can see very clearly throughout scripture, is the call to "stand firm!"
Many, many times scripture admonious us to handle conflict in this way.
2 Chronicles 20:17
The entire book of Esther
Ephesians 6:10-18
Jesus Himself said:
Matthew 10:34 NIV
[34] “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.
https://matthew.bible/matthew-10-34
Yes, many, many times we are misunderstood!
Obedience is birthed out of our pure trust in Father God's love for us.
If we do not trust in Father God's love for us we follow the crowd and the pressure they come against us with for their own agenda-seeking purposes.
I have experienced, first-hand, in my life, Father God's blessings when I stand against the crowd in faith and Obedience, and trust in His Love for me.
Blessings,
We do not compromise, we hold the line, not because we fear that Father God doesn't love us enough, but rather, the "fear of the Lord" (as in, a Holy, Reverent respect) far outweighs the fear of the crowd!!
I can't speak from a place of having ever worked in ministry, and certainly not from a leadership role in ministry. However, I can speak from being under various forms & degrees of "leadership" and from where I am in my journey with Father God through His Word.... and I'm still "a work in progress."
In today's world, not all "leaders" in ministry are anointed & appointed for a particular organization, and not necessarily for that particular season of their life.
But when Father God witnesses to my spirit that there is a particular spiritual leader that has been anointed & appointed over me, that is from God Himself. God and I both know, he is human, even Moses messed up. And when Miriam thought that she and Aaron were equal to Father God's announted & appointed, whew, I'm glad I wasn't in her shoes!!
I think our calling as congregants is to fall on our knees in deep intercession for our spiritual leaders!!
I'm learning more recently that sometimes Father God does call me to speak in love and grace, with an open hand, meaning if my advise or viewpoint isn't considered, it's ok, because I'm trusting my Heavenly Father with everything!!
But most of the time, He asks me to intercede and remain silent. The Holy Spirit is capable of giving discernment better than if it comes from the mouth of a human, and much better received and believed!
On the other side of the coin, when decisions are made that I may not agree with, especially if they affect me, personally, here is a passage that Father God has given me to guide me....
Over the past year, there is a passage of scripture that Father God has kept close to my heart and reminded me of often. Psalm 37:1-11.... what it spoke to me was that if/when others, no matter their level of authority over me, or the lack therein, I do not need to defend myself when I feel, from my perspective, that I have been wronged. That passage says that FATHER GOD will vindicate me, AND HE "will make our righteousness rise as the noonday sun."
Father God knows the intentions of all our hearts. When others misjudge and mistreat us, or do things we do not understand, LEAVE IT IN FATHER GOD'S HANDS, He understands much more than we do. We are not qualified to run the universe, that's not in our job description!.
That's just my 2 cents worth...
Have a blessed day,
Ephesians 4:11-13 NIV
[11] So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, [12] to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up [13] until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
https://ephesians.bible/ephesians-4-11