Thursday, June 28, 2007

Are we good "followers?"

Hi ya'll (that's as southern as I get!)

Camey asked me to post on your blog and share my thoughts as they come to my head so here goes. As a businessman (26 years) turned pastor (less than 1 year) I'm amazed at the condition of God's church at times. We can read book after book and go to seminar after seminar about "Leadership" and how to be better leaders. We access information that is developed from Christians without the use of scripture and from Christians using scripture. We access information from non-Christians who use scriptural principles (sometimes) without even knowing it! We could read, attend, and interact with leadership materials ever day from now until we die and never run out of material. It's amazing that we've turned leadership into a science when God says it's more of a gift or "art."

And then I remember what it was that Jesus called us to "come and follow me." He called us to be followers of His and Paul tells us that all authority in our lives has been set there by the sovereign decision of God (Romans 13) and that failing to submit to those authorities is tanamount to failing to submit to God Himself. Doesn't this make sense? Failing to submit to God's appointed leader is akin to failing to submit to God. What we say is "God you didn't know what it was you were doing when you appointed this man to our church!" What we are saying is "God I cannot trust you to work in the hearts of this leader so therefore I will not submit to him/her." Hmmm ... very suspect from a biblical perspective and from an experiencial one as well.

Where are the books, materials, pamphlets, websites, videos, classes, and seminars on how to better "followers?" Just imagine - if you can - churches filled with "followers" of Christ submitting to their leaders and coming up along side them making their lives easier and encouraged! What could result? What impact could we have on individual lives, communities, and even nations?

Just an observation from a "newbie" pastor who loves what it is he is called to do and watching God revamp His church right in front of my eyes.

1 comment:

Cameyg said...

Phil,

Thank you for sharing your thoughts and giving all who read something to really chew on and digest. Remember: blogging is a little different. You may get direct feedback and you may not. Some are just more comfortable in reading and that's okay as long as they take something away from what they read. Of course, comments are always welcome.

Thank you again for sharing. I look forward to you doing so again in the future. And please.... do not even think it necessary to try to sound "southern".... Although - just the thought of it made me laugh. You're appreciated our brother in Christ. As always.... our prayers are with you.