Missional Leadership

Trendy or Timeless? It is a question that has to be asked by anyone who wants to make an impact on society. In the church world, this question doesn't get asked enough. Everyone seems to want to be the next "dude." We see trends come and go. It was trendy to identify yourself in the Willow Creek or Saddleback camps, call yourself a purpose driven leader, or jump on a Maxwellism, "everything rises and falls on leadership." (what a bunch of crap). Now we have the new trend, "emergent, emerging," whatever the correct term is. My pastor friend blogged on this evidently, his question is "what is an emerging leader?" You know, in about 2 years no one will give a damn. Perhaps a new trend will be to identify yourself as a post-emerging, existentialist. (I think that would mean, "once I figure it out I am going to die anyway.) As an emerging somebody, you might have a blog, you probably planted a church, you are mad at anyone who calls themself "emerging," you drink beer and you loathe Saturday afternoons. (wait, that's me!)
So, the thought provoking question is, what is timeless? Where should a person, who is in this church thing, identify themself with? I will contend that it is the gospel! The gospel is the timeless act of God, through the incarnation, in the form of Christ, to rescue creation and redeem it for himself. Perhaps a label that is fitting would be Missional. What that means is you identify yourself with the words and work of Christ, realizing that the Bible is about Jesus, not about anyone's happiness or self esteem. As a missional leader one must learn to contextualize the gospel, and be indigenous. Tirelessly praying and working to expand the Kingdom, make disciples and love Jesus. That is what keeps a person from moving to different trends just to make themself appear to be the new dude. I am not knocking the aforementioned churches, those guys paved the way, got people thinking differently. The problem has become that some guys don't want to think, they want somebody to think, (and pray?) for them.
I've got a long way to go, but I believe I have found where I want to be identified. Trendy says, "I'll do this to get this." Timeless says, "I'll do this, becasue it has always worked." It may not be the prettitiest, coolest or the most sensational, but it is the most transforming.
Read Acts 17, watch how the missional leader Paul contextualized. Paul understood, like we need to understand that culture matters! Paul sought to understand the culture he was in. It was controversial then and it is controversial now! This is a timeless statement by Ed Stetzer, "There is no such thing as a Christianity that is separate from the culture that it exists in." Trends won't make lifelong change, but timeless truths will. Oh how we need the gospel!

Comments

[peter magelssen]

good word.

[jasonbreda]

Bill,

Incredible post...Your communication and clarity of thought is inspiring and a challenge to me...What a great truth you share...

[Ed Harowicz]

Yet another reason I am blessed to serve with you.

Thank you for your wisdom, both in the way you deliver God's message and your ability to not get in the way of what He is doing through you and All Saints.