A few thoughts on leadership.

Something has gotten me thinking and praying.

Our church is searching for a new pastor.  What a tough place to be in.  To choose the man that is fit for our specific body.  The man that can lead and pastor us and lead us in the ways of Christ.

This makes one think about leadership and what makes a good leader.  Furthermore, about Christ and his ways of leadership.  As I see in the Scriptures, he didn't follow our typical mold of leadership.  Nor did he fit in during his day as the ideal leader.  Many were drawn to him, many more were turned away.  He cared not for religious practices, but for purity of the heart that would naturally lead to good deeds.  He spent his time with the outcasts of society, with sinners, lame, and destitute.  He served in humility and not in pride.  He did not come up with programs to fit every need, but said that he was to meet every need.  He did not conform to society, but called his followers to conform to himself.  I could go on and on...

It's easy to want a leader that will succeed in growing the church, a leader who is a powerful speaker, a leader who makes it seem that we all fit in nicely.  I think I prefer a leader who looks like Christ, one who follows His ways even though they may seem counter-culture, one who challenges me and our church out of
our comfort zone where we fit so nicely.

My prayer is for this man.  That Christ would shape his heart.  That he would hear God's call and that our leadership will recognize him when we see him.  I pray that he is a man led by the Spirit and by God's Word above all things and a man that can shepherd our church to follow Christ more fully.

"Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ." 1 Corinthians 11:1  (Paul, one of the greatest leaders in the Bible, points to Christ)