This summer I've been asked to discuss with a church plant in Kenya the Biblical model and view of leadership. I requested a different topic, maybe the Kingdom of God and its implications in our day, or something along those lines. Nevertheless, no matter how inadequate I feel on this subject, I'll begin preparing soon. I'll be focusing mostly on service, and just thought of a new thread with the help of Dan and the movie Prince Caspian:
Not for the sake of your dignity, but for the love of your people.
Maybe leaders should be judged less by their dignity and more by the true love of their people? Do I have anything there?
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Finding Peace and Joy in a Life with Christ
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3 comments:
I think you definitely have something there. First of all, it's true. Christ laid aside His dignity (deserved not perceived worth/importants) for our sakes. Of course, it wasn't ONLY for the love of His people but also for the love for the Father. He was obedient and would do anything for the sake of the Father's name.
Knowing the little I do about the churches we worked with in Kenya, service is probably what they need to here. Many of the pastors seemed so seduced by American Christian culture that they just wanted to do whatever pastors in America do. If the Megachurch pastors do X then they want to do it too. So service seems like a focus that will shake things up a bit - give them what they weren't expecting. Similar to the way Jesus shook things up with His preaching about service and being one of the least ones. You have far more insight on that than I do so I may be totally off.
You are right on in your analysis of Kenyan church culture, and that is what Stanley is trying to avoid, and has done a great job in choosing the pastor/staff and training them. They think differently and aren't as worried about earthly success as eternal things.
How are you? Dan and I went to Chicago Thursday and were laughing about you, went to DC to change the world, now a pastry chef...we were jealous!
Hi,
My names Dan Hintz and I'm a first time writer on this blog. In fact JP this is the first blog entry I've ever done! Is that one of the signs of the apocalypse?
What I love about Ripacheep and his fellow brotherhood of mice is that the power to change was not in the leader, but in the collective. Ripacheep would have been minus a tail for all Aslan was concerned. However the community was ready to give up its dignity for his sake, and that is a powerful picture. The illustration is as much about the communities selfless action as it was about Ripacheep's dignity. They are one-in-the-same.
I like what you said Christina. Leadership should be viewed through the lens of servitude. In fact I think evangelical leaders are so addicted to leadership that they can't even think of debasing themselves to the role of mere servants anymore. They have to be "servant-leaders" that practice "servant-leadership" Sometimes I just want to say, "get over leadership end of the job description and just be willing to serve without thought of self dignity." Right?
let me know what you think...
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