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Church culture is obsessed with leadership. Our bookshelves sag beneath the weight of the subject.

Oddly enough almost all that's written is about being a better leader, while precious little is given to making leaders. The subject being bought and sold might not really be leadership at all but rather how to get a whole bunch of people to do what you want.
 
Donald Trump is famous for a reason. He is a caricature of our own heart, the fleshed out reality of our own secret hopes. Nothing else could explain how someone as obnoxious and pompous could have such a large audience for so many years. It is evidence that our thirst for power has few limits.
 
This is not to say that leadership is bad. If anything significant is to happen there will be a leader somewhere casting vision, assembling and organizing talent, and shaping the process along the way.
 
Shots have to be called, even if simply for the sake of efficiency. Leaders dream. Leaders gather. Leaders take risks. Leaders impart courage and boldness. Leaders provide a plan. Leaders make things happen, and that’s a good thing.
 
The main issue for those leading the church is simple: what is our supreme value? Simply leading? Or the God we are following?
 
It’s easy to get caught in the swirl of bigger is better and becoming a more influential leader. It looks good on the outside, but I wonder is some of this zeal isn’t just another thick coat of whitewash on the tomb of our flesh.
 
In a church world where pastors have more and more in common with Steve Jobs or Donald Trump than with Jesus the Good Shepherd certain passages pop off the page.
 
Moses said to the LORD, “You have been telling me, ‘Lead these people,’ but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. You have said, ‘I know you by name and you have found favor with me.’ If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you. Remember that this nation is your people.”
 
The LORD replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”
 
Then Moses said to him, “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?” Exodus 33:12-16
 
There's no question that Moses was a leader – he had hundreds of thousands if not a few million people in tow, but the strength of his influence wasn’t found in his natural abilities – he stuttered – or the books that he had read – he was more of a writer, in stone to be exact, but in the company that he kept – namely the presence of God.
 
Moses was a leader, but I, for one am struck by Moses the follower! Cloud by day and fire by night with Moses right behind. His counsel came from his face to face encounters with God in the tent of meeting where ‘anyone could go’ (33:7) but apparently, only he and Joshua went – the mark of real leadership within the church is going where few dare to go, not necessarily deeper into books or across the country to another conference, but into the very presence of God!
 
Whatever you lead this year, let it be from a place of being led – from the place where ‘anyone can go’ – before God, face to face.
Adam Russell (website: Vineyard Campbellsville)

Adam Russell is the lead pastor and one of the founders of Vineyard Church in Campbellsville, Kentucky. He and his wife Heather have three children (River, Seth and Magnolia) and also own a local health-food store and a couple acres of wine grapes. 

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Talk about it...
Eileen Marshall avatar

Eileen Marshall

commented on Apr 11, 2012

Best post i have read for along time on here, thank-you

Darrin Mariott avatar

Darrin Mariott

commented on Apr 11, 2012

This is indeed one of the most refreshing posts I've read here in a long while...not another cookie-cutter piece of advice or self-aggrandizing article but something of substance. Thank you!

Pastor Kamron Oberlin avatar

Pastor Kamron Oberlin

commented on Apr 11, 2012

Very good post... I will be pondering this today. Thank you for taking the time to share!

John D Jones avatar

John D Jones

commented on Apr 11, 2012

Excellent! May God help me tread where few dare to go.

Chip Miller avatar

Chip Miller

commented on Apr 11, 2012

Hey Adam! I'm pastor chip from Boise Idaho and that is better advice and leading heart than all the Quote BIG BOY's. Way to go and alway's follow your heart and Saviour he know's what we need and prayer takes you there. thank you.

Jimmie Tempano avatar

Jimmie Tempano

commented on Apr 11, 2012

I think this is a good article. I do have one difficulty with it. I imagine that the reference to Donald Trump was used as an attention getter. However, I disagree with the comment. "Donald Trump is famous for a reason. He is a caricature of our own heart, the fleshed out reality of our own secret hopes." This may be true for the driven, type-A folks but there are a lot of us folks who are not driven leaders. I think Moses was not a driven leader but, for the most part, I think he did a good job. I don't think Jesus was driven either. Oh, He was as focused as could be but He wasn't driven. I really think that was the intended message of the author but he could have left out the reference to Trump, of whom I am definitely NOT a fan. I will not comment on my opinion of him, I doubt that is necessary.

Mh Constantine avatar

Mh Constantine

commented on Apr 11, 2012

Thanks, Adam. I do think that most of the pastors I know and work with are devoted to the glory of God, not their own success dreams. Of course, there is always that danger. As to Trump, I am not enamored or fascinated by this man. But sometimes he makes sense, like when he speaks about the way America got into its present financial mess and what we need to get out. To all the brothers who post here, many blessings to you in your work with God.

Robert Sickler avatar

Robert Sickler

commented on Apr 11, 2012

A church does not need a leader! Men trying to be a leader is all too often the problem. We already have a leader, we already have a vision and we have goals and objectives. What the church needs are coaches, enablers and change agents.

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