One comment that stood out to me this week at the Leadership Summit was that an effective leader must be passionate and dispassionate. Passionate and Dispassionate…How does that work? I think the passionate part is obvious to many of us. No one wants to follow someone that is not passionate about where he or she is going. It’s like flat Coke…no fizz. I don’t enjoy being around people that have no passion…show me something that get’s you ramped up!
Leaders have to make tough choices. Objective choices. Sometimes the decisions we make are unpopular. It can be a very lonely place…trust me. God still calls us to listen to Him…to do what is best for his Church. Believe me, it would be easier to just go along and be like other mainline and traditional churches. The popularity would be nice…My approval addict inside would be very comfortable. But you see, God has a unique calling on Fellowship…this is a place where people who don’t connect with other churches can come and investigate Christianity. Sometimes when I try to explain this I get the feeling people think I am dissing other churches but that is not the case. There are plenty of great and caring churches that excel in serving the needs of insiders-people who are already convinced. But what of the 80% of our region that isn’t connected at all to God or church. Who will champion them? Who is losing sleep about the inequity of all of this? For many of them, they have totally given up on church and religion and, I might add, for good reason. Churches can be so boring (especially to the unchurched) and irrelevant. God is Omni-relevant! Being irrelevant is irreverent. I recently received a hand written letter from someone who was unchurched until he got a post card in the mail inviting him to our Christmas Eve service. He has been here at Fellowship ever since. His life is a wreck right now…he is going through the fire and has lots of questions. In his letter, he included some eye opening feedback about our church…there is plenty that he still doesn’t get, but I will never forget one thing he said…John, please keep being relevant! Isn’t it amazing how God sends people into our lives to speak for Him? I don’t have everything about our church or leadership figured out…trust me, I know this…but one thing I do know is that God has called me, and God has called Fellowship Church to be His voice to those that are far from Him! Period.
Here is where the dispassion comes in…It is a natural and human trait for us to turn our attention and focus to ourselves. We all do it. I do it. What does the church offer me? How am I being fed? What is here for my kids? What about the program or ministry that I like? Me, me, me, and I, I, I…Someone who was discontented recently said to one of our leaders, “don’t you ever wish church could just be about you”? Of course we do! That would be so easy…so comfortable…so popular. None of the 80% of those that are unchurched would give a flip if we quit focusing on them. But here is the problem…God cares…desperately. Because He cares, sometimes we as a leadership team have to make tough choices. Leading a church to reach out continually is like pedaling up hill. You never coast. It is hard work and demands constant vigilance to stay on mission. Sometimes I lose my way…sometimes I give in to pressure, and sometimes I am guilty of just not caring, but God always brings me back. There are times when you have to be dispassionate about what people will think and passionate about what God thinks. Sometimes people leave over stuff like this…you guys just don’t care enough…I don’t get my needs met…I don't like where the church is heading...In reality, there will be other churches that line up for these folks, and that’s a good thing. But we are called to “line up” for those to whom God is still reaching out. Passionate and Dispassionate.
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4 comments:
This post as well as this morning's message was a real challenging one. In our devotional time tonight, Heather and I read John 21 in which Jesus commands Peter to "Feed My Lambs" or "Shepherd My Sheep". We must remember this is what we are COMMANDED to do! And I'll be the first to tell you that I need encouragement and wisdom to "get uncomfortable again" and step outside our ever-so-comfortable boxes! And to reiterate, and what I'll carry with myself this week....We very well could be as close to Jesus as people will get all week. What a humbling and awesome responsibility. Have a great week Fellowship!
Your post is very interesting for several reasons. The first thing I found interesting was your comment on passion. Being of Jewish & Italian heritage, I am naturally passionate about a lot of things, my faith being one of them. In my experience, people do not like passion, they do not know what to make of it. It is refreshing to hear that passion is good, instead of "tone it down." The second thing I found interesting is your comment on mainline churches and popularity. I came from a mainline church and the pastor was not popular at all. Everything he did was subject to a committee meeting. He was treated like a hired employee. The lack of respect was appalling. I am happy to be led by passionate leader who, led by the Spirit, is unafraid to LEAD. You said something in your message that struck me, about maybe Fellowship being the "last time" of trying church. I have been there. Thank you for being passionate, thank you for being unafraid, thank you for leading.
Thanks Jeff. Isn't it amazing how we tend to drift toward comfort, and yes, God has divine appointments for you this week!
Wow...I am loving the feedback...thank Debbe. Passion is a welcome and needed entity at Fellowship. Knowing this could be the last time a person investigates Christianity is one of the factors that should motivate us to "bring it" every single week.
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