Leadership vs. Lordship

Over the past couple of weeks I’ve been thinking a lot about leadership and church health. I’ve wondered if we’ve tipped the scale too far toward leadership and lost sight of Lordship. Don’t get me wrong. I’m am a huge fan of leadership and believe we must continue to intentionally develop relevant church leaders. My concern is whether or not we’ve focused so much on developing leaders that we’ve missed what it means to make Jesus Christ Lord of our lives.

 

Leadership that is Christ-centered produces fully devoted disciples not just effective organizational leaders. We need pastors who are more than theologians. We need pastors who can lead. But above all: we need leaders who have settled the Lordship issue in their life. I think this is where the real adventure of leadership begins.

 

Far too many churches in America are in plateau or decline. This is not because the body of Christ has not provided adequate leadership training. The last 20 years has produced some of the best training and writing on the topic. Could the plateau and decline be the result of too many leaders not focusing on the Lordship of Jesus in their life? Have we grown to be more dependant upon leadership methods than walking in obedience to our Lord and His Words? (I’m just asking).

 

I am not suggesting that this be an either/or proposition. But I am suggesting that leadership without Lordship is eternally ineffective. I don’t want to be ineffective. I want to make an eternal difference. I want to see individuals and communities transformed. I want Jesus to be recognized as the Lord of our churches. But first, He must be Lord of my life. I don’t want my leadership to get in the way of His Lordship.

 How about you? Is the Holy Spirit challenging you about the tug of war between Leadership and Lordship? I’d love to hear what He is saying.