True Leadership!

Have we lost our way as Christian leaders?  In a day when we are running from model to model for inspiration and guidance and basing the validity of that model on the criteria of "is it reaching people?”, we have clearly made a potentially fatal wrong turn.  Is the presence of followers really God's stamp of approval on our ministry efforts?  We must be careful not to fall into the trap of merely trying to get people to attend our services at any cost in the name of "relevant" evangelism.  The Word tells us that what the people will respond to is not necessarily a good indication that the leaders are doing the right thing;  Just read 2 Timothy 4:3-4. ”They will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear."  To be a false teacher you need followers, because without them you’re just a person with bad theology.   

Far too many leaders are using the privilege of leadership to selfishly boost their ego and fill some personal void that life has dealt them.  It’s easy to see how the presence of many followers can blur our sight and detour the vision of many leaders.  I recently heard of two pastors going undercover on national television to confess that they were actually atheists, but still continued to pastor because the economy was bad and they couldn't get another job.  Wow!  In the Old Testament, some pastors were also just doing ministry as a job and the Lord heard them saying “My, how tiresome it is” Malachi 1:13. Without a personal and daily connection with God to ReFill us, we will also suffer the same fate!  The result of this, was that the people became like the priests in Hosea 4:8-10 “And it will be, like people, like priest”.  Hosea also tells us the people were ultimately "destroyed for lack of knowledge" Hosea 4:6.  They weren't being taught the truth by their leaders!
 
As leaders looking at the state of the church in America, we must examine our hearts in a real and authentic way!  God does want His church to advance and be victorious, but there is only one way.   We must walk in truth in our lives and motives and hold out the uncompromising truth to the world.  God will draw his chosen people to that light.  It is time for the leadership to repent and go after God with all our heart, soul and strength.  True leadership is about conviction not motivating people to volunteer, managing teams or creating innovative and relevant programming.  Have mercy on our souls and lead us back to true leadership!