"Go to the nearest smallest church and commit yourself to being there for 6 months. If it doesn’t work out, find somewhere else. But don’t look for programs, don’t look for entertainment, and don’t look for a great preacher. A Christian congregation is not a glamorous place, not a romantic place. That’s what I always told people. If people were leaving my congregation to go to another place of work, I’d say, “The smallest church, the closest church, and stay there for 6 months.” Sometimes it doesn’t work. Some pastors are just incompetent. And some are flat out bad. So I don’t think that’s the answer to everything, but it’s a better place to start than going to the one with all the programs, the glitz, all that stuff."
Eugene Peterson
See more at: http://jonathanmerritt.religionnews.com/2013/09/27/faithful-end-interview-eugene-peterson/#sthash.aZIKrRqe.dpuf
1.25.2015
1.21.2015
Marriage
Marriage is about 'two becoming one.' Two lives becoming a single life. A common home, a common purpose, a common dream, common finances, common responsibilities, a common reputation… you get the picture! A single life, with two persons.
So here is whats required:
Communication:
Firstly, sharing yourself with the other person, and secondly, learning to receive from that other person. Learning that what motivates you to say and do certain things, is not necessarily what motivates them to say and do those same things. Understanding and sharing what you are at the core of your personhood with your spouse, and allowing them to share with you as you seek to understand them.
Reconciliation:
Repenting of sin and offense on your part, over-and-over-and-over-and-over…
Forgiving sin and offense on their part, over-and-over-and-over-and-over...
So here is whats required:
Communication:
Firstly, sharing yourself with the other person, and secondly, learning to receive from that other person. Learning that what motivates you to say and do certain things, is not necessarily what motivates them to say and do those same things. Understanding and sharing what you are at the core of your personhood with your spouse, and allowing them to share with you as you seek to understand them.
Reconciliation:
Repenting of sin and offense on your part, over-and-over-and-over-and-over…
Forgiving sin and offense on their part, over-and-over-and-over-and-over...
1.04.2015
Conformity
“The test of character posed by the gentleness of God's approach to us is especially dangerous for those formed by the ideas that dominate our modern world. We live in a culture that has, for centuries now, cultivated the idea that the skeptical person is always smarter than one who believes. You can be almost as stupid as a cabbage, as long as you doubt. The fashion of the age has identified mental sharpness with a pose, not with genuine intellectual method and character. Only a very hardy individualist or social rebel -- or one desperate for another life -- therefore stands any chance of discovering the substantiality of the spiritual life today. Today it is the skeptics who are the social conformists, though because of powerful intellectual propaganda they continue to enjoy thinking of themselves as wildly individualistic and unbearably bright.”
― Dallas Willard
― Dallas Willard
1.03.2015
Chili Recipe Redux
This is my second attempt at writing down a chili recipe (after my first attempt was probably 2 out of 5 stars). I would personally add more seasoning, but my wife didn't want me to, so I left it the way it is. It can use a little more salt, but that can be added at the table.
Start by chopping the following (food processor for all but the onions) and sauté over medium heat in the bottom of stock pan in olive oil:
3 large carrots
3 large celery stalks
2 bell peppers
3 large onions
3 large bay leaves
Once they start to get soft add the following:
2 1/2 lbs ground beef
1 beer
24 oz corn (can or frozen)
24 oz pinto beans (can)
24 oz black beans (can)
24 oz red beans (can)
Once the meat is fully cooked add the following:
24 oz tomato puree (can)
24 oz diced tomatoes (can)
Once the chili begins to bubble turn down heat and add the following:
4 medium cloves of garlic (crushed)
1 1/2 oz molasses
5 teaspoons of chili powder
3 teaspoons of cumin
2 teaspoons of paprika
2 teaspoons of oregano
2 teaspoons of black pepper
3 teaspoons of salt
Let simmer over low heat, if the chili is too thin, thicken it with tomato paste, corn starch, or other thickener.
Start by chopping the following (food processor for all but the onions) and sauté over medium heat in the bottom of stock pan in olive oil:
3 large carrots
3 large celery stalks
2 bell peppers
3 large onions
3 large bay leaves
Once they start to get soft add the following:
2 1/2 lbs ground beef
1 beer
24 oz corn (can or frozen)
24 oz pinto beans (can)
24 oz black beans (can)
24 oz red beans (can)
Once the meat is fully cooked add the following:
24 oz tomato puree (can)
24 oz diced tomatoes (can)
Once the chili begins to bubble turn down heat and add the following:
4 medium cloves of garlic (crushed)
1 1/2 oz molasses
5 teaspoons of chili powder
3 teaspoons of cumin
2 teaspoons of paprika
2 teaspoons of oregano
2 teaspoons of black pepper
3 teaspoons of salt
Let simmer over low heat, if the chili is too thin, thicken it with tomato paste, corn starch, or other thickener.
12.17.2014
Racism Means Many Things...
In talking about racism, I believe it would be helpful to distinguish between the following things:
#1 Systematized Racism (Bigotry):
#2 Individual Racism (Bigotry)
#3 Systematic Racial Injustice: Social/political/
#4 Racial Pride: Being glad of one's own heritage. Examples: Celebrating our culture through holidays. Promoting the values of our culture to those of other cultures. Learning about historical events from the perspective of our culture.
#5 Cultural Privilege: The reality that our society is made up of people groups from many cultures, but only one culture can be the dominant culture. For those individuals within the dominant culture, they are both privileged, and often ignorant of their privilege. Examples: The white, middle-class values of punctuality, industry, and self-reliance are a standard by which all people are expected to live up to, while the values of other cultures are downplayed and ignored. Images of white people are considered 'normal,' images of anyone else are considered something 'less normal.' The structures necessary for our society to function are created with implicit reference to white cultural norms. The fact that #4 is indiscernible to our society when the racial pride of whites are on display, but somewhat radical when other groups do the same thing.
#6 The Legacy of Racism: The generational legacy of #1 (which no longer exists) and #2 (which is socially unacceptable, although still existent in plenty of individuals and communities). Examples: Different racial groups have different correlations with poverty. In particular the descendants of individuals who have suffered from #1 and #2 have passed down their pain, their anger, their legacy of deprivation, to their own descendants. Additionally the family unit was greatly disintegrated in some communities which has lasting negative effects generationally.
(I don't know what the best labels are for the above, suggestions are welcome.)
Along with the above categories, I would add these thoughts:
1) The reason for the above categories is this, the honest* debates surrounding racial issues in our culture are often exercises in miscommunication. One side is talking about #6 and #5 and #3, but the other side thinks they are talking about #1 and #2. Or the other side sees #4 or #2 happening and equates it to #1. I do think we need to be able to distinguish between these various realities as an aid to understanding what is actually happening, and as an aid to communicating about what is actually happening. Bluntly, misdiagnosing a situation radically decreases your credibility to speak to people about these issues.
2) Race (as opposed to ethnicity, or country of origin) is a social construct, that is not rooted in any scientifically discernible reality. That doesn't make it less 'real,' but does point towards its roots in xenophobia and ethnocentrism. This is true for all peoples…
3) Perhaps most importantly, we need to be able to distinguish between those responsible for creating these realities intentionally, those responsible for creating the realities unintentionally, and those responsible for dealing with these realities. All human beings should be responsible for dealing with these realities (certainly all those who claim to follow Jesus). Almost every human being is responsible for these realities in the sense that they have tacitly participated in them without any real reflection (this is true regardless of race and class). But very few people are directly responsible for intentionally creating any of this. Assigning blame to people who are not guilty of what you are accusing them of not only decreases your credibility, but actually hinders the process of finding and pursuing solutions.
4) Perhaps even more importantly, we need to make clear that many of the categories above continue to hold sway over our culture, and negatively influence the lives of whole communities. As Christians we must not only acknowledge that these forces exist, but we must work to bring the light of the gospel into these dark corners of society.
*Many public debates around race are simply political posturing by people of all colors trying to gain power. These are not miscommunication (i.e. failures at communication) because there is no real attempt at communication taking place.
#1 Systematized Racism (Bigotry):
#2 Individual Racism (Bigotry)
#3 Systematic Racial Injustice: Social/political/
#4 Racial Pride: Being glad of one's own heritage. Examples: Celebrating our culture through holidays. Promoting the values of our culture to those of other cultures. Learning about historical events from the perspective of our culture.
#5 Cultural Privilege: The reality that our society is made up of people groups from many cultures, but only one culture can be the dominant culture. For those individuals within the dominant culture, they are both privileged, and often ignorant of their privilege. Examples: The white, middle-class values of punctuality, industry, and self-reliance are a standard by which all people are expected to live up to, while the values of other cultures are downplayed and ignored. Images of white people are considered 'normal,' images of anyone else are considered something 'less normal.' The structures necessary for our society to function are created with implicit reference to white cultural norms. The fact that #4 is indiscernible to our society when the racial pride of whites are on display, but somewhat radical when other groups do the same thing.
#6 The Legacy of Racism: The generational legacy of #1 (which no longer exists) and #2 (which is socially unacceptable, although still existent in plenty of individuals and communities). Examples: Different racial groups have different correlations with poverty. In particular the descendants of individuals who have suffered from #1 and #2 have passed down their pain, their anger, their legacy of deprivation, to their own descendants. Additionally the family unit was greatly disintegrated in some communities which has lasting negative effects generationally.
(I don't know what the best labels are for the above, suggestions are welcome.)
Along with the above categories, I would add these thoughts:
1) The reason for the above categories is this, the honest* debates surrounding racial issues in our culture are often exercises in miscommunication. One side is talking about #6 and #5 and #3, but the other side thinks they are talking about #1 and #2. Or the other side sees #4 or #2 happening and equates it to #1. I do think we need to be able to distinguish between these various realities as an aid to understanding what is actually happening, and as an aid to communicating about what is actually happening. Bluntly, misdiagnosing a situation radically decreases your credibility to speak to people about these issues.
2) Race (as opposed to ethnicity, or country of origin) is a social construct, that is not rooted in any scientifically discernible reality. That doesn't make it less 'real,' but does point towards its roots in xenophobia and ethnocentrism. This is true for all peoples…
3) Perhaps most importantly, we need to be able to distinguish between those responsible for creating these realities intentionally, those responsible for creating the realities unintentionally, and those responsible for dealing with these realities. All human beings should be responsible for dealing with these realities (certainly all those who claim to follow Jesus). Almost every human being is responsible for these realities in the sense that they have tacitly participated in them without any real reflection (this is true regardless of race and class). But very few people are directly responsible for intentionally creating any of this. Assigning blame to people who are not guilty of what you are accusing them of not only decreases your credibility, but actually hinders the process of finding and pursuing solutions.
4) Perhaps even more importantly, we need to make clear that many of the categories above continue to hold sway over our culture, and negatively influence the lives of whole communities. As Christians we must not only acknowledge that these forces exist, but we must work to bring the light of the gospel into these dark corners of society.
*Many public debates around race are simply political posturing by people of all colors trying to gain power. These are not miscommunication (i.e. failures at communication) because there is no real attempt at communication taking place.
12.13.2014
The Trinity Prayer
Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth:
Set up your kingdom in our midst.
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God:
Have mercy on me, a sinner.
Holy Spirit, breath of the living God:
Renew me and all the world.
Set up your kingdom in our midst.
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God:
Have mercy on me, a sinner.
Holy Spirit, breath of the living God:
Renew me and all the world.
12.11.2014
Responsibility
Leadership is responsibility.
Responsibility, however, has two definitions:
1) Responsibility is having an obligation to do something about a particular situation.
2) Responsibility is being the primary cause of a particular situation.
The first definition of responsibility is what we mean when we ask, "who is in charge?" whereas the second definition of responsibility is what we mean when we ask, "who broke the lamp?" or "who built the fence?" One definition has to do with the present and the future, and who has the authority, the mandate, the charge, to make something happen in a particular way. The other definition has to do with the past and the present, who is to blame or credit for the way a particular thing happened or is happening. In some ways the first definition of responsibility is actually about accepting blame/credit before the fact!
Leadership is about both kinds of responsibility.
A leader takes the blame for whatever happened on their watch. Although a good leader will pass along the credit to those around them, a good leader doesn't shirk blame. But assigning and taking blame and/or credit is actually not the primary way in which leaders take responsibility.
Leadership is ultimately about the first kind of responsibility.
To be a leader is to see oneself as the primary person tasked with accomplishing something. This doesn't mean a leader does everything themselves, (creating teams and delegating tasks are encouraged) but the leader is the one who says, "Yes, I am responsible to see it done. If it doesn't get done, and done right, I will be to blame."
Responsibility, however, has two definitions:
1) Responsibility is having an obligation to do something about a particular situation.
2) Responsibility is being the primary cause of a particular situation.
The first definition of responsibility is what we mean when we ask, "who is in charge?" whereas the second definition of responsibility is what we mean when we ask, "who broke the lamp?" or "who built the fence?" One definition has to do with the present and the future, and who has the authority, the mandate, the charge, to make something happen in a particular way. The other definition has to do with the past and the present, who is to blame or credit for the way a particular thing happened or is happening. In some ways the first definition of responsibility is actually about accepting blame/credit before the fact!
Leadership is about both kinds of responsibility.
A leader takes the blame for whatever happened on their watch. Although a good leader will pass along the credit to those around them, a good leader doesn't shirk blame. But assigning and taking blame and/or credit is actually not the primary way in which leaders take responsibility.
Leadership is ultimately about the first kind of responsibility.
To be a leader is to see oneself as the primary person tasked with accomplishing something. This doesn't mean a leader does everything themselves, (creating teams and delegating tasks are encouraged) but the leader is the one who says, "Yes, I am responsible to see it done. If it doesn't get done, and done right, I will be to blame."
12.10.2014
Levels of Partnership
In partnering with other organizations, I have come to see that the word 'partner' means different things to different people. There are actually multiple 'levels' of partnership:
Level 1: Having business together
It is in our mutual interest to share resources or to provide services to each other. i.e., sharing a building.
Level 2: Symbolic acts of ecumenicism
Public declarations of Christian unity and affection. i.e., worshipping together.
Level 3: Enjoying relationship
Private fellowship, trust, and intimacy.
Level 4: Strategic partners
Strategizing together, giving each other 'veto power' over each others decisions.
Level 5: Organizational Union
Merging together and becoming the same organization.
Level 1: Having business together
It is in our mutual interest to share resources or to provide services to each other. i.e., sharing a building.
Level 2: Symbolic acts of ecumenicism
Public declarations of Christian unity and affection. i.e., worshipping together.
Level 3: Enjoying relationship
Private fellowship, trust, and intimacy.
Level 4: Strategic partners
Strategizing together, giving each other 'veto power' over each others decisions.
Level 5: Organizational Union
Merging together and becoming the same organization.
11.30.2014
"Authenticity" Eroding Effort
You will never do anything of significance with your life that won't require you to engage in activities that feel insignificant while you are doing them.
If you are only willing to do that which 'feels' significant, which 'feels' valuable, or which naturally flows out of the core of your being, you will never go anywhere, much less to those places you dream about. The feelings you have when dreaming are not the same feelings you will have when working to accomplish your dreams. Fantasizing about a faraway land is not the same thing as journeying there. If you are not willing to labor in the journey, you will not accomplish the dream.
If you are only willing to do that which 'feels' significant, which 'feels' valuable, or which naturally flows out of the core of your being, you will never go anywhere, much less to those places you dream about. The feelings you have when dreaming are not the same feelings you will have when working to accomplish your dreams. Fantasizing about a faraway land is not the same thing as journeying there. If you are not willing to labor in the journey, you will not accomplish the dream.
11.29.2014
Failure
Fear of failure leads to an inability to learn and grow. A prerequisite for discipleship, on the other hand, is the acknowledgement that we are in need of help from Jesus to become fully functioning human beings. Even more so, when we step into ministry leadership, we must be willing to embrace failure as a necessary part of the process.
For some reason, however, we balk at bringing that same level of vulnerability into the church. I believe that God wants us to know His deep and abiding pleasure and affirmation, precisely so that we can then enter into the process of receiving and responding to His discipline and training!
This is practical for us! Will we respond to our present efforts with an ever watchful posture of growth and improvement? Or will we respond to our present efforts by defensively maintaining the status quo?
I believe that God has a future for us as a church that is much more glorious than anything we have ever seen! We must be willing to embrace failure, however, if we are going to see that glorious future. Below is a TED talk and a short article that I found encouraging on this topic:
Forbes Article on the Importance of Failure in the Marketplace
11.20.2014
What is Kingdom Ministry?
Basic Kingdom Definition:
Allegiance to Jesus: the Rule of Heaven: Discipleship
Kingdom Ministry Defined:
Doing, and teaching others to do, the following:
1) Communion with God2) Communion with God's People3) Inviting Outsiders into the Kingdom4) Liberating People from the Satanic Kingdom5) Confronting Systems of Injustice6) Kingdom Purpose versus Organizational Purpose7) Collaboration with other Kingdom Ministries
11.16.2014
Chili Recipe
Sometimes this works out well, and sometimes not so much. I think I made my best batch ever, and my worst batch ever, in the last month. So I finally decided that it was time to start doing something I hate…
…using measuring cups and following directions!
This is the recipe I used, but there are a few changes I would make to it. It was a little too sweet, so less molasses next time, and I will probably add a bit more chili powder and cumin, and cut back a little on paprika, carrots, and celery… I would also like it just a little thicker, so maybe a little more tomato paste, or some cornstarch.
Soak the following in water for 24 hours:
8 oz pinto beans (dry)
8 oz black beans (dry)
8 oz kidney beans (dry)
8 oz red beans (dry)
Then bring to a boil and then simmer til soft (this took a good chunk of the day). Make sure to check all of the different beans, some cook more quickly than others.
Next add the following, in this order:
5 large carrots (food processor)
6 large celery stalks (food processor)
3 medium green bell peppers (food processor)
2 large onions (chopped)
5 large bay leaves
Then add 3 lbs. of ground beef, stirring it up into small chunks until browned.
Add the following:
28 oz tomato sauce (can)
28 oz diced tomatoes (can)
32 oz corn (can)
12 oz tomato paste (can)
3/4 oz chili powder
3/8 oz cumin
3/8 oz paprika
3/8 oz oregano
1/4 oz black pepper
1/2 oz salt
6 oz molasses
5 large garlic cloves (pressed)
…using measuring cups and following directions!
This is the recipe I used, but there are a few changes I would make to it. It was a little too sweet, so less molasses next time, and I will probably add a bit more chili powder and cumin, and cut back a little on paprika, carrots, and celery… I would also like it just a little thicker, so maybe a little more tomato paste, or some cornstarch.
Soak the following in water for 24 hours:
8 oz pinto beans (dry)
8 oz black beans (dry)
8 oz kidney beans (dry)
8 oz red beans (dry)
Then bring to a boil and then simmer til soft (this took a good chunk of the day). Make sure to check all of the different beans, some cook more quickly than others.
Next add the following, in this order:
5 large carrots (food processor)
6 large celery stalks (food processor)
3 medium green bell peppers (food processor)
2 large onions (chopped)
5 large bay leaves
Then add 3 lbs. of ground beef, stirring it up into small chunks until browned.
Add the following:
28 oz tomato sauce (can)
28 oz diced tomatoes (can)
32 oz corn (can)
12 oz tomato paste (can)
3/4 oz chili powder
3/8 oz cumin
3/8 oz paprika
3/8 oz oregano
1/4 oz black pepper
1/2 oz salt
6 oz molasses
5 large garlic cloves (pressed)
10.07.2014
Why I Don't Cuss...
Something that comes up from time to time with my fellow ministers, and other christian friends, is the use of profanity I haven't personally met any non-christians who make this argument (although I am sure they are out there too), it is only christians of a certain type. Christians who have a bone to pick with religion will, often enough, make the case that its okay to use profane language. More often they will cuss in front of me to see if they can get a reaction.
In fact, you can usually tell the non-christians from the 'cool christians' by this. Do they apologize to the pastor when they cuss, or do they smirk at the pastor when they cuss?
Needless to say, I have done some thinking about this, and while I am tempted to side with those who enjoy scandalizing the religious (they certainly need to be scandalized!) I am even more interested in how this plays out with those outside the bounds of our faith. What do the cultures of the world think of when they hear followers of Jesus using profanity?
So, some basic facts:
In fact, you can usually tell the non-christians from the 'cool christians' by this. Do they apologize to the pastor when they cuss, or do they smirk at the pastor when they cuss?
Needless to say, I have done some thinking about this, and while I am tempted to side with those who enjoy scandalizing the religious (they certainly need to be scandalized!) I am even more interested in how this plays out with those outside the bounds of our faith. What do the cultures of the world think of when they hear followers of Jesus using profanity?
So, some basic facts:
- Scripture is more concerned with God than with teaching people etiquette.
- Vulgarity is a cultural norm that changes from culture to culture and language to language.
- Many of the prophets use scandalous imagery, and language that might be considered on the 'strong' side (i.e. Paul's use of skubala which is definitely less technical than 'scat or defecate' and more vulgar than 'poop,' although probably not as offensive as 's--t,' and should probably be translated as 'crap') as a way of clearly communicating the depths of God's and/or the author's displeasure.
- Jesus hung out with people who probably used language a lot worse than skubala (and behaved even more despicably) but managed to avoid making them uncomfortable around him AND avoid participating in their behavior.
- Religious folks in our day (and in Jesus' day) seem to be caught up in behaving 'properly,' and seemed to think that 'being proper' was superior to 'being godly.' This is the most dangerous spiritual trap imaginable.
The points above definitely lean towards a relaxing of our rules around vulgarity in the church, but I just don't think that rises to the level of justifying the use of the words our culture has said are offensive in and of themselves. It's not that the words are immoral, rather, its that they are indecent. Using the f-word is like pooping your pants, if a 2-year old does it without really understanding, people aren't offended, they just teach the kid how to go in the toilet. …or they say, "No son, thats not a f--k, thats called a truck."
But when adults choose to use words that are indecent, knowing they offend the sensibilities of our culture, it rises to the level of immorality. Not because the words are immoral, but because they are intentionally offensive. Just as if I chose to poop my pants and walk around in it all day, 'sharing' it with my neighbors.
In fact, it is probably almost exactly like flatulence in front of others (something I have had recent conversations with my kids about). If you don't understand that its offensive to some people, then its clearly not immoral, its just unintentionally indecent. But when you know it offends, and you do it on purpose (either to be offensive, or because you just don't care enough about others) then you are being immoral…
Matter of fact, I hung out with a local ministry leader recently who couldn't stop dropping the f-word. The first time he used it kinda made me laugh …after all, people love to test pastors to see how they respond. Then he wouldn't stop. I kept thinking, this guy sounds like Eva (a teenage girl who lives on our block), who thinks she sounds like an adult by talking this way. It just came across as immature.
Obviously, I wouldn't put this in the category of 'central doctrines.' Many of my good friends come down on the other side of this, but a point of agreement is that the use of vulgar language should not be embraced simply out of a lack of control over our tongues or our minds. Indeed, perhaps the take away here is this: both my personal decision to avoid such language, and my colleagues' decisions to intentionally use it, are motivated by the prioritization of missional relationships to those outside the church, and the missional de-prioritization of peripheral issues like using profanity.
Rightly Ordered Love
"But living a just and holy life requires one to be capable of an objective and impartial evaluation of things: to love things, that is to say, in the right order, so that you do not love what is not to be loved, or fail to love what is to be loved, or have a greater love for what should be loved less, or an equal love for things that should be loved less or more, or a lesser or greater love for things that should be loved equally."
(On Christian Doctrine, I.27-28)
St Augustine
(On Christian Doctrine, I.27-28)
St Augustine
9.10.2014
What Captures your Imagination?
"There is nothing more interesting than God and nothing more exciting than watching Him move. There is nothing more boring than religion, and we are about to be delivered from religion to follow the Lord, not just men. We can also be sure that He has again saved His best wine for last."
Rick Joyner
Rick Joyner
7.13.2014
Leadership is Four Things
In my experience, leadership can be defined in four ways:
All four of these characteristics are possessed in some measure by all people, and so it is fair to talk about leadership existing on a spectrum. On one end are those individuals who are only capable of one or more of these character traits in fits and spurts and only when asked to do so by others, or when circumstances force it upon them. In the middle are those individuals who can learn to exhibit these traits, and can ultimately grow into capable leaders. On the other end are those gifted leaders who do these things in their sleep, they aren't capable of turning it off, they simply lead naturally.
Of course, we should be clear, this is not what godly leadership looks like, simply what leadership is. Godly leadership must lead in a direction that honors God, and do so with a character, a posture, and an attitude that reflects Gods ultimate authority. Indeed, godly leadership can perhaps be defined by reading through St. Pauls letter to the Corinthian church and the famous chapter defining love.
- Influence - The ability to change the thinking, behavior, and desires of others. Influence can be seen clearly in a leader by observing the people following the leader, are they taking their cues from the leader or not?
- Responsibility - The willingness to take ownership over a situation, problem, task, goal, person, or community. Responsibility is seen as a leader simply does what needs to be done, or arranges to have it done by orchestrating and delegating to others.
- Confrontation - The ability to say what needs to be said in spite of how unpopular it might be. Confrontation can be rejecting a poor proposal, pointing out improper thinking and behavior, or bringing an optimist back down to earth with some difficult facts.
- Vision - The ability to see things that do not yet exist. Vision is ultimately an orientation towards the future that some people possess in more or less quantity than others.
All four of these characteristics are possessed in some measure by all people, and so it is fair to talk about leadership existing on a spectrum. On one end are those individuals who are only capable of one or more of these character traits in fits and spurts and only when asked to do so by others, or when circumstances force it upon them. In the middle are those individuals who can learn to exhibit these traits, and can ultimately grow into capable leaders. On the other end are those gifted leaders who do these things in their sleep, they aren't capable of turning it off, they simply lead naturally.
Of course, we should be clear, this is not what godly leadership looks like, simply what leadership is. Godly leadership must lead in a direction that honors God, and do so with a character, a posture, and an attitude that reflects Gods ultimate authority. Indeed, godly leadership can perhaps be defined by reading through St. Pauls letter to the Corinthian church and the famous chapter defining love.
6.24.2014
A Biblical Praxis
We are really doing our best to live our lives according to Scripture… so when the Bible is clear about how to live, we just act accordingly. For example, when we read 2 Corinthians 13:12, we are admonished to "greet one another with a holy kiss."
…how "biblical" are you?
6.17.2014
6.05.2014
Orthopathy
Orthopathy is a great word, it has now entered my lexicon. But the concept is not new...
St Augustine taught that the essence of Christian discipleship was developing 'rightly ordered love.' In essence we have to learn what to love, and how to love, in ways that are consistent with the love of God, as a catalyst for orthodoxy and orthopraxy, and as the fulfillment of them.
Indeed, St Peter wrote that 'love covers a multitude of sins' (ie orthpathy is more important than othopraxy) and Jesus Himself taught that the repentant sinner is better than the righteous Pharisee who doesn't need repentance (ie orthopathy is superior to orthopraxy AND orthodoxy). Jesus quotes the OT Scriptures that say the same thing, "I desire mercy and not sacrifice."
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