Recently, I read an interview of a very well known mega church pastor who was defending the “pastor as CEO” model of church leadership and, at the same time, arguing against the “shepherding” model. The interviewer rightly asked the question, “Isn’t shepherd the biblical word for pastor?” The pastor responded, “It’s the first century word.” He argued that because shepherds are no longer prevalent today, we can replace this model with something that is prevalent—the CEO. When asked, “What is distinctly spiritual about the kind of leadership you do?” he responded, “There’s nothing distinctly spiritual.” At least he’s honest! Not too surprisingly, he goes on to also discount the mystical side of pastoral leadership, i.e., following “where the Spirit is leading.” Instead, he trusts in the wisdom of a “multitude of counselors” as taught in Proverbs.
I must confess, I was incredulous, as I read this article, that any pastor would be so dismissive about a leadership model taught by our Lord and expounded on in the letters of the New Testament. I was equally surprised how easily He set aside seeking the Spirit’s leading in favor of group-think.
Don’t get me wrong, I believe in the value of seeking the wisdom of the group, as we find in Proverbs. And I am wary of those who try to push through their agenda on the basis of “God told me so!” However, does not the Bible rebuke those who pursue man’s wisdom instead of the wisdom of God? Does not the Bible warn against relying on group-think? It reminds me of the majority of the spies who came back reporting to Moses that their foes, in the promised land, were too big and strong for the people of Israel. You might recall the 40 years of wandering which resulted. It also reminds me of 400 prophets who told Ahab he would be victorious in 1 Kings 22, while Micaiah, the prophet of Yahweh, prophesied the defeat that actually came about. In fact, the importance of inquiring of Yahweh is emphasized throughout the Old Testament.
But it goes even deeper than this…for Christ, Himself, modeled an authentic, active dependence upon the Father. Consider these words of Christ:
“By myself I can do nothing.” John 5:30
“My teaching is not my own. It comes from him who sent me.” John 7:16
“Do not believe me unless I do what my Father does.” John 10:37
Additionally, in John 20:21, Jesus indicates that He has been sent by the Father. In John 6:57 he reveals His dependence on the Father not only as the one who sent Him, but as His source of life. And in John 14:10 Jesus indicates that His words are not just His own, they are from the Father. Jesus models an absolute dependence on the Father for all that He is and all that He does. How can any of us who are Christ’s disciples be any less dependent upon God for our lives and ministry?
On February 15th and 16th, our elders, along with our Associate Pastor, Joshua Williamson, will be spending 24 hours away at Camp Gilead for our annual elder retreat. At the heart of this annual retreat is our desire to seek God so that we might understand better what He is doing in our church and where He is leading us in the coming year. Certainly, seeking God’s direction is part of every elder meeting. But we take this special time away each year because we believe that the local church is not led by a CEO, but by Jesus. We take this time away because we are not content with relying upon our shared wisdom, but because we need divine direction. We take this time away because we believe this is Jesus’ church and we want to inquire of Him.
Please be in prayer for us as leaders that we would be attentive to God’s leading for our body. Pray that God may lead us in such a way that we might bring greater glory to Him, that we might be more effective for the sake of His kingdom, and so that people will be drawn to Him through Renton Bible Church.
Of course, there is personal application for each one of us, in this, as well. More and more, may we learn to walk in daily, prayerful dependence on the Lord, looking to Him not only to provide for our needs but to direct us according to His will and for Kingdom purposes.
In Christ, Pastor Dan