LEADING WHEN YOU ARE A CHRISTIAN
What really does it mean when they say ‘I am a christian?’. More specifically, Is there any difference between a non Christian leader in any sphere of influence to a Christian leader? Can people really look around and spot the overwhelming difference between a Christian leader and a non Christian leader?
Quick flashback to our first question; What do they mean when they say ‘I am a Christian?’ The truth is, we live in a world where Christianity is more of a name tag than a lifestyle. Some people think because they listen to gospel music, go to church every Sunday, listen to the ceremony and give their tithe, then they are identified as Christians. Yeah that's true, but that is just the Icing. Where is the whole cake? your heart, your character, your motives, your priorities, your life style.
One can never be whole as a Christian. We are all in a journey and it is just really not an easy one. As much as we are thriving to grow spiritually, and intimately connect with our living God, we also need to remember our greatest commission in life:
‘Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age’ — Mathew 28:18–20
In our case, this verse means sharing the good news to all the people we are privileged to influence. We should share the gospel to the people that God has called us to lead, and only when entirely necessary, we can use words. Our lives should be the gospel. How we lead should be the gospel.
But sometimes, unintentionally life happens. You become very busy with work, too many meetings, a pile of deadlines, endless emails to reply , and a complaining family to spend your hardly enough time with. And suddenly you begin to slack with your alone prayer time, you begin to skip Bible reading, you start missing fellowship and a couple of Sunday services, and you slowly become distant from the holly spirit. Before you know it,you unknowingly become a hindrance to the faith that you are called to preach because at this point, you try to clean yourself on the outside, pretend you are christian enough. And it is just awful.
It is dangerous for a leader to be lukewarm in Christ!
Leaders really underestimate how their actions and life choices affect the people they lead. They think if they can only do enough to make it look good, that’s all it takes. That is not the truth! if you are a leader claiming to be a disciple of Christ, you need to be a child of God authentically and faithfully even when no one is looking. Even on the days when you don’t feel like it. Even on the days when it hurts, especially on the days it hurts.
When you are a Christian, and God has called you to lead his people; be it managing a business, running a country, leading his church or just leading your family, as a child of God you need to do it with discipline, determination, grit and a whole lot of faith.
As a christian you are not just leading for a certain cause or change or economic improvement, you are actually leading for God, you are leading on behalf of God. He is literally counting on you to get something accomplished for the glory of his kingdom.
As a young leader myself I know the weight I sometimes carry on my shoulders, that pressure to want to get things done. That guilt of feeling that I am not doing enough, that obsession of wanting everyone to be on board with my vision. You know what I mean, right?
And I am certain God understands. He knows how that feels. But somehow, I think God needs us to shift our attention from all that which we are trying to achieve and refocus on growing deeper into knowing him and his will first. Only through this, we will be able to lead as the authentic Christians that we are made to be.
May the privilege to lead draw us closer to the ultimate leader. May we lead more like Christ.
Living in Christ, leading in Christ 🥂
Also, check out: https://leadingwhen.wordpress.com/
Until next time.
Lynne
