Redemption and Leadership

Ever consider how to choose a leader to bring back what was lost?

When considering redemptive leaders for a faith-community, I recommend, The Shepherd Leader, a book by Jim Van Yperen. The book is well written and presents a logical, original thesis that has gone under the radar of mainstream students of church leadership. I offer my comments on just one section, Chapter Two, entitled, How to Recognize Who Should Lead. This chapter is a resource I come back to many times as I meet with faith-communities who are trying to discern who should lead. If you read the chapter, it will change the way you think about authority and leadership qualifications in the church.

The logic path of the chapter is simple. Here's how I look at it:
(Calling + Gifting + Appointment) x Character = Spiritual Authority.

Calling is God saying, "Do this" - plain and simple.

Gifting is what God gives an individual to do the call from God.

Appointment is the affirmation of God's calling and gifting to a specific time, purpose, and place. Appointment comes through the church, the faith-community of Christ-followers.

When the above elements come together there is Spiritual Authority.
Spiritual Authority is rooted in God's grace and the empowering of the Holy Spirit. Therefore it requires a responsible and humble response on the part of the leader.

Character holds the whole leadership equation together. If Character is zero because of a lack of spiritual fruit, moral failure, or misconduct, the leader has zero Spiritual Authority. The leader could have the Calling, Gifting, and Appointment but without Character the leader forfeits Spiritual Authority - it all blows apart!

Spiritual Authority, therefore, is the convergence and expansion of everything listed before the equal sign. Spiritual Authority is not based on experience or knowledge, relationships, position, or a constitution. It is God's authority entrusted to a humble and responsible member of the faith-community of believers.

Why a redemptive leader? We need leaders with Spiritual Authority to lead our faith-communities out of bondage into freedom; to equip us to be the keepers and reminders of God's covenant; to balance our brokenness with courage, and integrity with justice; to bring back what was taken; to rob the house of darkness and bring us into the light; and to redeem who we are under the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

Redeeming Memories and Laughter

Zephaniah 3:17, "The LORD your God wins victory after victory and is always with you. He celebrates and sings because of you, and he will refresh your life with his love."

It's amazing how one thought leads to another.

This verse was included in a recent list of devotional verses given to me by a good friend. What is remarkable is that this verse was carried by my son, Scott, in his wallet. The verse was on one side of a card, and on the other side was this picture of a laughing and smiling Jesus.

In turn, this reminded me of a time when Scott came home from Immanuel High School excited about seeing a film about the life of Christ that showed Jesus laughing. Scott was relishing in the sight of a Jesus who laughed. "Dad, Jesus was laughing in this film! Isn't that cool?"

Soon, however, my thoughts reflected on the tragic loss of Scott in 1996 and how much the hurt still lingers with me. Once again, I turned my thoughts to thanking God for a Savior who wins victory after victory - even victory over death. Thanking God for rejoicing over Scott. Thinking of how Scott and Jesus are laughing in heaven!

Then I wondered what they would be laughing about? I thought about the time I took a bad fall from my mountain bike. It was very bad. I fell so hard I cracked my helmet. Scott was with me at the time. I remember him racing after me and yelling, "Dad, are you OK?

I looked at him through the dust and dirt still in the air and started laughing. Why? Because something that had the potential of really hurting me, wasn't that serious. In fact, we both started laughing!

I wonder if Scott and I will have that same type of laugh in heaven. Having gone through something so serious as our own death, I wonder if we end up just laughing about it. I wonder if they are laughing about that now.

I remember when Jesus went to the grave of a friend and "He wept." But then, he told his friend to "Come forth!" I love that - and I have to think that Jesus said that with a smile on his face, even through his tears of grief. Yes, I have to think that Jesus and Scott are laughing at death that has no sting, no victory, and is only described as a mere shadow. I can't wait to laugh with them! That will be refreshing!