John Maxwell famously said, “Everything rises and falls on leadership.” As he recently pointed out, we often talk about how good leadership causes everything to rise. But we now see the how the famine of good leadership is causing society to fall.. and fall fast and hard.
2 Chronicles 7:13-14 says, “When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command the locust to devour the land, or send pestilence among my people, if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”
Simply put, the church, specifically pastors, staff, and its congregants, must own what is happening right now. So what is OUR next step?
W. Phillip Keller wrote a small book which is simply a gift to Christian leaders entitled, A Shepherd Looks At Psalm 23. Keller was an actual shepherd so his viewpoints are stunning and insightful. Few books have challenged me more regarding my discipleship and leadership than this one.
In the chapter analyzing the phrase “He guides me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake”, Keller writes, “There are many willful, wayward, indifferent, self-interested Christians who cannot really be classified as followers of Christ. There are relatively few diligent disciples who forsake all to follow one Master.” He goes discussing “a rugged life of rigid self-denial” which entails a who new set of attitudes.
If we are going to be the type of Christian leaders whose prayers God will hear and then heal our land, the following are 7 Attitudes Pastors And Christians Need To Develop To Solve The Leadership Crisis In Today’s Churches (And Then Country) we learn from Keller:
- Instead of loving myself most, I am willing to love Christ best and other more than myself. This is a deliberate act of your will. I John 3:16 says, “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us.” Keller adds, “The moment I deliberately do something either for God of others that costs me something, I am expressing love. Love is ‘selflessness’ or ‘self-sacrifice.'”
- Instead of being one of the crowd, I am willing to be singled out, set apart from the gang. Being a disciple of Christ is counter-cultural. Only a few in this world will find your lifestyle acceptable.
- Instead of insisting on my rights, I am willing to forego them in favor of others. Wow, is this a big one. How often do you see someone forego their rights rather than demand them? We must emancipate ourself from ourself. Keller writes, “But the person who is willing to pocket his pride, to take a back seat, to play second-fiddle without a feeling of being abused or put upon has gone a long way onto new ground with God.” It is also very difficult to be offended when you place God’s importance above your own self-importance.
- Instead of being “boss”, I am willing to be at the bottom of the heap. When your desire for self-importance and your rights have been eclipsed by the sole purpose of pleasing God and serving others, “much of the fret and strain is drained away from daily living.” By placing yourself in God’s hands and the peace which comes with that decision, you suddenly have the emotional margin to serve others.
- Instead of finding fault with life and always asking “Why?”, I am willing to accept every circumstance of life in an attitude of gratitude. We live in a world of entitlement and frustration about our lots in life. Keller writes, “In many instances life itself becomes a continuous criticism and dissection of one’s circumstances and acquaintances.” Do you know anyone life that? How quickly we forget all the blessings God has provided for us. Do you really believe your affairs are in God’s hands and He has a wonderful plan for your life?
- Instead of exercising and asserting my will, I am willing to learn to cooperate with His wishes and comply with His will. The ancient saints noted 90% of becoming a Christian and true disciple is subjecting your will to His. The decision to subject EVERY area of your life to what God has written in His word the Bible, is the fundamental mark of being a Christian and true disciple.
- Instead of choosing my own way, I am willing to choose to follow in Christ’s way; simply to do what He asks me to do. Keller writes these chilling words, “Most of us possess a formidable amount of factual information on what the Master expects of us. Precious few have either the will, intention, or determination to act on it and comply with His instructions.”
If ALL pastors have these attitudes and teach their people to do so as well, then God will heal our land. Or we can remain biblically illiterate, compromised, angry, entitled, bitter, envious, prideful, arrogant, ungrateful, fearful, greedy, and lustful, and continue watching the crumbling of our nation.
“if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”