It's Official: I Am A Defector
Let me begin this blog with a disclaimer: while I am the senior pastor of a church and the president of a faith-based organization, I am NOT, repeat NOT a Christian leader. I may have claimed to be in times past or even in previous blogs, but I no longer consider myself to be one, and as of today, I refuse to accept that label.
Am I still a Christian? You betcha! But today…I am defecting. I am renouncing the endless chasing of my tail that I have been involved in in the name of Christian leadership, and I am joining those who believe, as one radio commentator put it, that "a crisis is too good a thing to waste". I am defecting to the camp of those who are not overwhelmed in times of crisis but instead choose to lead through troubled times.
It was the late President John F. Kennedy who observed that written in Chinese, "the word crisis is composed of two characters. One represents danger and the other represents opportunity." I am defecting to the camp of those who can read the word crisis in Chinese and refuse to have danger cancel out opportunity.
There. It's out. I feel paralyzed by the Christian leader label. I feel like I am not expected to dare, to dream big, to think that God can do anything when our favorite stocks have tanked. I am an official defector today because I want to believe again in the God of the book of Judges who raised leaders in times of crisis, leaders who refused to be paralyzed by fear or neutralized by trouble. I am defecting because the bible tells us that in the last days perilous times shall come, and we will have to lead in those times.
While those who remain on the other side might feel betrayed by my defection, I am happy to say I know I am now on the right side.
Am I still a Christian? You betcha! But today…I am defecting. I am renouncing the endless chasing of my tail that I have been involved in in the name of Christian leadership, and I am joining those who believe, as one radio commentator put it, that "a crisis is too good a thing to waste". I am defecting to the camp of those who are not overwhelmed in times of crisis but instead choose to lead through troubled times.
It was the late President John F. Kennedy who observed that written in Chinese, "the word crisis is composed of two characters. One represents danger and the other represents opportunity." I am defecting to the camp of those who can read the word crisis in Chinese and refuse to have danger cancel out opportunity.
There. It's out. I feel paralyzed by the Christian leader label. I feel like I am not expected to dare, to dream big, to think that God can do anything when our favorite stocks have tanked. I am an official defector today because I want to believe again in the God of the book of Judges who raised leaders in times of crisis, leaders who refused to be paralyzed by fear or neutralized by trouble. I am defecting because the bible tells us that in the last days perilous times shall come, and we will have to lead in those times.
While those who remain on the other side might feel betrayed by my defection, I am happy to say I know I am now on the right side.
Pastor... this is so profound and timely!! Especially on this day of remembrance for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, and all those who sacrificed and died for our right to stand this day... and for tomorrow... a day destined and ordained by God to usher in a new promise of hope for the disenfranchised as we the people witness the inauguration of a son of Africa and America. God Bless you and all those who serve the charge given by Almighty God to be His Hands and Feet in the earth.
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I believe this article highlights a very important aspect of leadership. Being tagged a "Christian Leader" in the current environment makes one insular and there a general expectations of towing the line that stifles the freedom and ability to dare big and seek to hear the voice of the Lord - no matter how radical. Leaders in the bible dared and did uncharacteristic things...the prophets in the old testament sometimes ordered whole tribes to beheaded, A King (David) danced without his clothes to make a point, Jesus took a whip to folks disrespecting the Church (can anyone imagine a Christian Leader getting into a Church with a whip today??). If you get boxed as a "Christian Leader" today, you are expected to give up all your talents as a soldier who can fight and kill for the Lord's cause (David did not), expected to give up all your business acumen and ability to create wealth (Solomon did not), the special abilities of your other professions (Luke did not stop being a physician), give up you ability to talk or write about worldly wisdom (Solomon did not) etc. Christian Leaders are expected to be of a very narrow mold today, and as a result they cannot dare to make controversial decisions or bold actions (but what stops them from doing that if they believe that is what the Lord called them to do?). We serve of God who knows no bounds, who promises Psalms to fight our battles for us, whose Spirit roams the earth seeking to stand in the gap for those who call upon his name, who promises in Deuteronomy to bless all we touch in his name, who says that we shall be leaders (NOT Christian Leaders but Leaders) and not tails, who says in Isaiah 59 that no miracle is too large for him? So being a Christian Leader should be synonymous with daring and dreaming big and knowing that power and ability in Christ knows no bounds. Otherwise those leaders who dare dream big like Noah are left with no choice but to say, this "Christian Leader" title stifles me because of what it seems to represent in this generation. Take that mantle away from me and just let me be a daring servant of Christ (who sings, who acts, who can be a businessman, who can make tough decisions if they believe they hear hear the Lord (not men), who can do the radical to be an extension of the hand of the Lord to the poor. For the Lord did not give us a spirit of timidity!Better to just call me a "Leader"
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hey Noah,
I have kept up with your recent blog posts and have been encouraged to read how you are allowing God to continue to transform you. We will pray that you will continue to dream big, and let God do with you what He will. We need more leaders who are surrendered to God, and who are willing to use creativity to challenge and transform communities. We hope to stay connected with you- I have a feeling we'll be back in Charlotte again someday.
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Sounds to me like you are reclaiming Christian Leadership!
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