Here is my current list of 'Leadership' books that I'm tackling..
1]"Leadership from the Inside Out" [with the Church Board] Harney, Kevin. Grand Rapids, MI., Zondervan Publishing Co., 2007 ISBN: 9780310259435
2]"Holy Leadership in a hectic World" Gunter, Nina & Leonard, Gay. Kansas City, MO. Beacon Hill Press., 2009 ISBN: 978034124474
3]"Intentional ministry in a not-so-mega church" Bickers, Dennis. Kansas City, MO., Beacon Hill Press., 2009 ISBN: 978034124349
4]"Eyewitness to Power: The Essence of Leadership from Nixon to Clinton" Gergen, David. New York, New York. Simon & Schuster Paperbacks, 2000, ISBN: 9780743203227
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I was pondering the "positive/negative" question of two posts down. While I certainly agree that God's sovereignty and power are sufficient in all things and that he doesn't need our help, and further, it is the Holy Spirit which convicts the soul and not us as human messengers, I wonder whether we are nonetheless called to make a stand sometimes. That is, we can certainly ignore the sin of the world and focus on the message of grace and salvation in both word and deed, a la "They will know we are Christians by our love." Yet, how does one truly understand the concepts of mercy and grace without understanding the concepts of judgment and the necessity of repentance?
ReplyDeleteMercy and grace have no meaning without the possibility of judgment. To say, "Jesus loves you and will save you" leads inevitably to the response, "From what?" Answering that question then necessitates a discussion about sin, and frankly, we are against sin, even if we commit it daily as we lug the backpack of our Christianity through life, non?
More later, as I need to get to work, but I'm enjoying the give and take.
Cheers.
Sherm
ReplyDeleteI probably didn't articulate clearly what I was thinking ... this is a common error with me, my wife affirms that often.
There are definitely times when a stand is required; matter of fact that occurs more and more as our world attempts to silence us; yet we must be sensitive about that stand. I'm reminded in Peter's challenge, to be ready to give an account of the hope, he stresses that we do it in kindness and understanding.
A comment in the current Leadership today article grabbed my attention, 'reared on self-esteem and impervious to guilt the next generation needs good news that can break through their defenses,' that alerted me to the fact that maybe we need to come to grips with whether or not we are adequately addressing how we take our stands ...... does taking our stand focus on how right we perceive we are or does it send the message that the rightness of our stand is not about how we feel but how God's love wants to work through us? ..
I would add, to give seasoning to our conversation, I don't theologically believe that we sin daily, I realize the possibility is always there, but the purifying Spirit of Christ living in me, can shield me from that if I will totally commit my ways to him, otherwise I'm limiting the power of God in my life. That's a Wesleyan for you.
Have a great day Sherm, and God richly bless you and yours.
etuychus.
p.s.I read your blog continually, I just have trouble responding on it ..... I'll work it out one of these days.
I probably should have inserted a "may" before "sin." I, too, do not believe it is forordained. Rather, our search for sanctification and our willingness to let the Holy Spirit guide us determines whether we sin or not.
ReplyDeleteAs for the rest, I think you and I are on the same page. What troubles me is that current incarnations of Christian evangelism seem to omit references to sin and judgment because they make us feel all "icky" inside. The selected quote regarding the current Generation Y's preoccupation with the greatness/infallibility combined with an inability to tolerate criticism is spot-on up to the point where it implies that such a Generation needs more "good news" about itself. Rather, I think that it needs a dose of of the truth, which indeed may be/is considered "bad" by the world.
I don't mean to imply we should sit around in sack cloth and ashes bewailing our corruption before God. Indeed, the fact that we no longer worry about that is the Good News. Rather, acknowledging our true spiritual state, can lead us to an understanding of the Good News and a joy in the fact that God is merciful to have provided it.
Cheers.
BTW, you're not reading much at my place these days, as I have house guests from Germany sleeping in the family room where the computer is. It kinda puts a crimp on my blog time.
Sherm.....
ReplyDeleteI'm sure your hospitality is opening up many lines of experiences and thoughts!!!
Scot McNight, who wrote the article on iGen I referred to, a favorite writer of mine, goes on to say in the article that it's not guilt but shame they feel because they haven't achieved what they've been created to do .... and if we can show them how Jesus achieved what he did, the Holy Spirit will convict them. It's a different angle. You're right about the dose of truth, if it's given under the direction of the Holy Spirit I believe this generation is willing to hear it. These are bright days for the church.
HIS Servant and yours,
eutychus