the reluctant leader

"Pride Led to His Downfall"

A blog I wrote a couple of weeks ago about pride, evolved itself into a sermon I preached at Victory-FtB last Sunday. Here are some notes that became that sermon...

Text: 2 Chronicles 26

v. 3 King Uzziah was a young leader who got off to a great start
v. 4 Uzi was good leader who did what was right in God's sight
v. 5 He sought God - in part because he had a godly mentor named Zechariah who "instructed him in the fear of God"  (We all need mentors who teach us the fear of God!)

But later in life, something went terribly wrong. How does a good, god-seeking, righteous leader get off track and end up being judged by God?

One word: PRIDE.

v. 16 But after Uzziah became powerful,his pride led to his downfall.

Verses 6-14 describe the victories, growth, prosperity and favor that somehow led to pride in the heart of a godly leader. That's a scary thought.

Here are 3 SIGNS OF PRIDE that caused a good man's downfall:

1. Ignored the Rules.
Only the priests - descendants of Aaron - were allowed to enter the altar area and burn incense in the Temple. But Uzziah got out of his lane and did what he knew was off limits. Pride makes leaders think they are above the rules. Pride causes leaders to become one-man-shows who think they can do it all, because no one else can do it right. Pride is the root of the "man of God syndrome" that is crippling much of the church today.

2. Unapproachable.
It took 80 priests (v. 17,18) to confront Uzziah after he got out of his lane. EIGHTY people! Why not just one? I hope I do not become the kind of leader that it takes 80 other leaders to pin me down when I am wrong. I guess Hillary was right, it does take a village...to confront a proud leader. But it shouldn't.

3. Angry when Corrected.
How did this proud leader respond to the confrontation by the 80 priests? He became angry and was raging at the priests... (v. 19). This guy who once was a young, righteous, good, godly leader - became an angry, intimidating, arrogant tyrant. What happened? PRIDE led to his downfall.

James 4:6 is perhaps the scariest verse of all on this topic: God resists the proud.

So, what do we do about this deadly pride?

There is a simple solution. James 4:10 says, humble yourselves before the Lord and He will lift you up.

Quickest way I know to humble myself is to admit when I am wrong. And we all face countless opportunities to do that every week.

***New post on my accidental missionary site: "Gifts for the Poor - You can Help"

My Greatest Fear

Know what scares me most these days?

Pride.

Here’s why. 

I am part of a growing church and ministry that seems to have God's blessing. Open doors abound. Opportunity are everywhere. Favor. Blessing. Expansion.

Yea, we’ve been through some tough times - made some mistakes, faced some hard decisions. Learned a lifetime of lessons. Had to cling to the grace of God.

But now, so many people are getting saved. Changed lives. Restored families. Redeemed relationships. Live and ministry is good.

Right now, we are starting over 50 new churches in a dozen nations. I know that’s nothing compared to the Baptists, AoG, Foursquare and others. But for us, that’s huge.

Our missionaries and church planters are dedicated to the Gospel of Christ. They are humble, and they are bold. And more and more men and women are signing up to plant churches all over the world.

We have talented young leaders - lots of them.  They are so smart and creative. Their hearts beat for the campuses of the world. I love working with next generation leaders.

But I worry about pride - not an obsessive worry – a deep concern. I am concerned about pride in my life. Also in our young leaders, in our old leaders and in our future leaders.

Pride, the invisible killer of all things spiritual.

There are so many varieties: self-righteousness, arrogance, insolence, spiritual pride, conceit, boasting, and more.   

Pride is elusive - hard to detect, harder to catch. Unless, of course, we see it in someone else - then it’s easy to spot. It’s only elusive when it’s in us.

That’s why we need to constantly and deliberately humble ourselves before God and one another. We need to stay open to the conviction of the Holy Spirit and the correction of friends.

In tough times we tend to stay on our faces before God. But when all seems well, we act like we don’t really need God, and pride sneaks up.

Beware, especially in times of promotion, peace, blessing, abundance and growth – the invisible killer is lurking and stalking.

*** Pix of our latest Metro Manila church plant HERE***

Leadership is…Travel Agent or Tour Guide?

Spiritual leaders should function more like tour guides and less like travel agents.

It is possible to be a travel agent who specializes in tours to Rome, without ever actually going to Rome.

However, it is impossible to be a tour guide who specializes in tours to Rome, without going to Rome. 

Travel agents tell people how to get to places that they (the travel agents) may or may not have visited. They work in the office and point the way. 

Tour guides take others where they (the tour guides) have been many times before. They work on the ground and lead the way. 

First century Pharisees were “travel agent” leaders, sitting in the synagogue telling people how to live. Jesus told his followers to, obey them (Pharisees) and do everything they TELL you. But do not do what they DO, for they do not practice what they preach. (Mt23:3)

Jesus was a “tour guide” leader mixing with people and setting the example. His message was, follow me. (Mt4:19)

Paul was also a “tour guide” leader. His message was, follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ. (1Cor11:1)

Jesus and Paul didn’t just sit in an office telling people where to go and what to do; they set the example and led the way. And people followed.  That’s biblical leadership. That’s discipleship. Unfortunately that’s rare in today’s church world.

What kind of leader are you? Do you lead like a travel agent or a tour guide? Do you lead primarily with words or action? Do you lead from an office or pulpit, or do you get involved in real life and lead by example?

Leading with words is a lot easier than leading by example. Problem is - it doesn’t work.

If you want to be a successful spiritual leader, then get out of the office and get with the people so you can lead by example.

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Change of plans: On my last reluctant leader blog I mentioned that I will be preaching a message on "Grace" at Bethel's Brentwood campus this weekend. I am still preaching, but it will be a world mission message. Hope to see some of you there.

Leadership is...Getting Out of the Way

I recently realized that at some point in my life - and I'm not exactly sure when - but a major shift happened in the way I approach ministry, leadership and maybe life in general. 

I used to be obsessed with trying to learn to be a good leader.

Since I am not a "natural" leader, I knew I had to somehow obtain those elusive leadership skills. So, I read leadership books. I took seminary classes. I studies church, political and business leaders. I sought mentors. All of this helped, I think. But it seems like I still had to learn most of my lasting leadership lessons the hard way - by taking a risk, falling flat on my face, getting up and trying again.   

As time went on, leadership books and seminary classes gradually started to bore me. I was no longer pumped about being a better leader. I am not sure whether that is good or bad, but that is the truth.

I got bored with Kouzes & Posner, Noel Tichy, Jim Collins, Robert Clinton, Aubry Malphurs, Patrick Lencioni, Hanz Finzel, John Maxwell and all the other leadership gurus and their books. I just couldn't take another paragraph about leadership.

Again, I don't know when or why it happened, but my new obsession became, not how to be a better leader, but how to help those around me become better leaders.

Once I got bored with leadership books and my obsession changed, it didn't take long for me to realize that in order to help others become better leaders, I would sometimes have to get out of their way so they could actually lead - so they could take a risk, so they could fall flat on their faces, so they could start over and try again, and again, and again.

To become better leaders people need the freedom to succeed and fail without our interference or intervention. With all due respect to the leadership books and seminary classes, I think I really learned leadership through trial and error and trying again.

I remember a t-shirt I had back when No Fear was a cool new brand. It said something like this: "Lead, Follow, or Get the #&$%@* Out of the Way!"

I think those No Fear people were on to something with that "get out of the way" line. For several years I have been trying the "stay out of the way" leadership development strategy, in order to help those around me become the best leaders they can be.

That seemed to be what Jesus was hinting at when He told his disciples that it was better for them that He go away. They had a hard time with that plan, but it worked out OK, their countless leadership mistakes notwithstanding.

All that to say, Leadership is...Getting Out of the Way.

 

 

Leadership is…Managing Energy & Emotions

Yesterday morning I was in room 812 at Medical City praying with my friend, Tony (a VictoryBiz leader), who was scheduled to have surgery at noon.   

Back surgery is a scary thing - not a lot of room for human error.

When Tony’s neurosurgeon, Dr Rivera, entered room 812 his demeanor brightened up the atmosphere. Yes the surgery was serious, but when the doctor is upbeat, hopeful and positive, it kinda makes you feel like everything will be ok.

I thought about Tony, Dr Rivera and room 812 this morning as I listened to Mark Conner on my ipod say something like this…

“Successful people manage their energy, not just their time.”

What if Dr Rivera knew how to manage his time, but not his energy? What if he was on time for his scheduled pre-surgery check up, but walked in room 812 depressed, angry or confused? I think I'd start looking for another doc.

I am glad Tony's doc was on time, but I am really glad he was not depressed, angry or confused? Being prompt is ok, but if I have to make a choice, I’d rather have a doctor who is positive, hopeful and confident.

I am glad Dr Rivera managed his time AND his energy. (I am also glad the surgery went well and Tony will be back in the Manila Autogas office, and on the golf course soon.)

As spiritual leaders we must learn to not only manage our time, but more importantly our energy and emotions. It is not enough to preach good sermons, we must live good lives and treat people with kindness, grace and compassion. Too often the never-ending pressure of the 24/7 ministry lifestyle drains pastors and leaders of all emotional energy, leaving us running on fumes by the time we get home. 

Not sure exactly how to do it, but I thank Mark C for the exhortation to manage my energy better. Anyone out there got any energy/emotion management tips?           

Leadership is…Carrying Your Cheese

I’m writing this blog from the Every Nation Eastern European Leadership Conference in Krakow, Poland while sitting on the front row listening to my friend, Wolfi Eckleben, preach his classic “Carry Your Cheese” sermon.

Here are two thoughts from Pastor Wolfi’s message, that I think all reluctant leaders will appreciate.

1. The Great Cheese Truth: If we want to kill giants, we must first carry cheese.

David started the day carrying cheese, but ended the day carrying Goliath’s head.

His father told him to: Take along these ten cheeses to the commander of their unit. (1 Sam 17:18)

Later that same day the Bible tells us that as soon as David returned from killing the Philistine, Abner took him and brought him before Saul, with David still holding the Philistine’s head. (1 Sam 17:57)

David wasn’t trying to be a leader or a hero. He was simply trying to obey his father and serve his brothers. He seemed perfectly content to carry cheese to those who were on the front lines. If obedience and service is our goal, then greatness is often the result. But if greatness if the goal, pride is often the result.

2. The Great Cheese Promise: If we carry the cheese, we will one day carry giant’s heads.

In other words, if we are faithful in the small, we will eventually be responsible for big things. Or, as Jesus said, Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much… (Luke 16:10)

Never underestimate the power and potential of the mundane, the boring, the seemingly insignificant. Small steps often lead to great adventures, huge breakthroughs and unexpected promotion.

Leadership is… carrying the cheese in the morning, knowing that by evening we might be carrying a giant head.

Leadership is also...

    carrying the cheese, even if it stinks or has holes in it.

    carrying the cheese, even thought it sometimes attracts rats.

    carrying the cheese, even if someone else gets to eat it.

I don't know what your "cheese" is, but I do know that a big part of spiritual leadership is obeying the Father and serving the brothers, even if that means doing the insignificant and being unnoticed.    

   

Leadeship is Teaching: How to Make a Point

While reading Ezra this morning, I realized that all leaders - no matter if we are leaders in the church, on the campus, in the home, in business, in government service or on a construction site - all leaders will at some point need to be teachers.

Having lived several generations in Iranian (Persian) captivity, the people who returned to Jerusalem to rebuild the city and the temple, were grossly ignorant of their own faith. They were trying to serve God, but they were ignorant. They needed more than inspiration; they needed a teacher. Ezra to the rescue.

If we want to be good leader/teachers, there's a lot we can learn from Ezra, the "Master Yoda" of his day. One verse, Ezra 8:8, breaks down how Ezra and his 13 Levite assistants taught the people.

They read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear and giving the meaning so that the people understood what was being read.

What Ezra did does not sound all that complicated, but what many preachers do Sunday after Sunday is anything but clear, meaningful and understood.

Here's the Ezra teaching method:

1. Read the Word. Good starting point for teachers. People must read God's word before they will ever believe it or live it. It seems popular in some circles for "preachers" not to actually read the Bible during their "sermons". I don't get it. Perhaps I'm hopelessly old school, but how do you preach the Word without reading it or referring to it?

2. Make it Clear. Not cute, not complicated, not impressive. Clear. Years ago, as a young preacher, I felt compelled to make it original and unique. Not today. Now I strive for clarity. Simple truth. That's what Ezra communicated and that is what leader/teachers today must communicate.

3. Give the Meaning. What does the passage mean? What did it mean then? What does it mean now? There is no mysterious secrete code to crack. The Bible is not all that complicated. Ezra simply figured out what it meant, then told the people what it meant. That's all we need to do.    

The goal of reading the Bible, making it clear and giving the meaning, is that  people understood God's Word. If the people don't understand the point, aren't we just wasting time? And here's the best part: once they understand it, there is a much greater chance they will do something about it.

I recently had an interesting discussion with my Thursday group (13 Filipino pastors who serve as Victory Christian Fellowship's leadership team) about whether we are called to "teach the Bible to people" or to "teach people the Bible". Maybe I will blog about that discussion later.

Judging from Ezra 8:8, it seems like Ezra and his Levite disciples attempted to "teach people the Bible" and judging from the results, it seems like they succeeded

 

Leadership is Serving: Lessons from the Barista

I got to the meeting 30 minutes early because a strange thing happened on the way to the Victory Center on the 4th floor of the Galleria Mall: no traffic on EDSA. Last time there was no traffic on EDSA was a few years before the automobile was introduced to Manila.

It was our Tuesday morning staff meeting, and I had 30 minutes to kill. So, I walk down the hall toward the movie theaters - past the pet store, past KFC - to Starbucks.

Half the lights are on, and the sign on the door says, "Closed".

I stick my head in the door and speak to the girl in the green apron who is busy doing something behind the counter.  "Excuse me, are you open?" She obviously wasn't, but I asked anyway.

Bright toothy smile. "Sorry sir, we don't open 'til 9:00, but come in anyway. What can I get for you?"

Five minutes later I was walking back past KFC, past the stinky pet store, to the Victory Center, sipping a steamy hot short non-fat hazelnut latte - from a green & white paper cup with my name scribbled on it.

I told the staff that I just encountered a real leader, at Starbucks. That Barista could have ignored me and kept the rules. She could have told me to read the sign and wait 'til 9:00. But instead, she bent the rules, to serve a customer.

Real leadership, whether in the coffee shop, or in the church, is finding a way to serve people. And, sometimes you have to bend a few rules in order to serve.

During the staff meeting we talked about our church ushers, who are supposed to serve people and maintain order. But what if serving people and maintaining order clash? Which is top priority, people or order?

Perhaps the best way to figure that out is to look at the greatest leader of all time: Jesus. He seemed to always make serving people top priority (second only to honoring God).

When He healed on the Sabbath, the Pharisees accused him of bending their religious rules, but to Jesus the people were more important than the rules. In fact, He said the rule (the Sabbath) was made for the people, not the people for the rule. When He ministered to the woman at the well, his own disciples were scandalized, but Jesus crossed the culture and served the woman. When He refused to throw a stone at the woman caught in adultery, he sent a message that shook the legalistic religious system.

Jesus came to serve people, not to uphold a religious system.

The Galleria Starbucks girl was obviously trained to serve the customer, even if her store was not officially opened. She was trained and empowered to bend the rules, to serve coffee even while she was off-duty.

Serve the people or keep the rules? That's the question of real leadership.

For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. (Mk 10:45)

Leadership is Peacemaking: A Rock in the Hand or a Finger in the Dirt?

No matter what level of leadership we find ourselves in, peacemaking will be a big part of the job - that is if we are leading people, because people simply don't get along.

Sometimes it seems that half the job of parenting is making peace between siblings. Hospitals should issue striped shirts and whistles to parents as soon as their second child is born, because the moment there is more than one child in a home, the family needs a referee, or two.

Why can't we all just get along? Probably because the sin nature is real, meaning that people are basically selfish, sinful, stubborn, proud and insecure. Thus the endless need for peacemakers.

It is so much easier to stir up trouble than to make peace. Throwing gas on a fire of relational strife requires no wisdom and no character, while peacemaking requires divine wisdom and more character than most of us have.

Consider the story of the woman caught in adultery. (Ever wonder how they caught the woman and not the man?) The religious people all had stones in their hands ready to bring instant justice to the offending woman.

What about Jesus? He didn't have a stone in his hand; rather, He had his finger in the dirt. He was not a stone thrower. He was a peacemaker.

What about you? Do you have a stone in your hand, ready to throw at a select few who mess up? (Remember, no one was aiming at the man.) Or, are you a peacemaker with a ministry and message of reconciliation? Is there a stone in your hand, or is your finger in the dirt? When someone fails, do you respond like a Pharisee or like Jesus?

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God - Matt 5:9