Bible Students

Thoughts on “Lead” by Tripp (chapters 7-9)

This week’s reading covered chapters seven, eight, and nine of Lead. The chapters covered the topics of servants, candor, and identity. All three of these topics are of immediate relevance in my current stage of life, so this section is especially interesting to me. 

Chapter seven covered the topic of servants. The call to leadership is not so much the call to command other people to do things, but rather the call to be just another servant of Christ. Leaders are those who have the grace-given skillsets to vision-cast and determine plans of action. They also learn how to delegate, bring out their followers’ best skills, and overall get things done. However, in the end, they are nothing special. Leaders are firstly servants of God, not leaders of men. In fact, biblically, the most common term for spiritual leader is servant. It will take almighty power to free leaders, especially in America, from the poisoning idea that they are special because they are leaders. 

Leaders can not lead if they do not lead themselves, and they are not leaders if they can not be a servant. Leaders must preach the gospel to themselves when hard times come rather than complain. Even Jesus’ disciples were called into painful servanthood, though they were the leaders of the early church. All leaders are called to servanthood and suffering. However, if one is faithful in their leadership, they can be faithful in the suffering as a servant, and trust God with the outcome of the faithful serving. In fact, I would argue a leader can not find true satisfaction if they are not acting as a servant. They may believe they have satisfaction in their place of power now, but on the other side of eternity they will realize they were gravely mistaken. 

In my job working in a kitchen leadership looks like praying and vision-casting on the surface, but the true leadership comes through servanthood. That means doing the disgusting and tedious work of the kitchen. If I were to make the trainees do all of the gross work as I “lead” with the “important” things, I would not be leading at all.

Chapter eight covers candor. Leaders must have community that speaks openly and honestly to eachother. Pastors who burn out are not doing so out of nowhere, but are slowly losing steam. Everyone, even leaders, need people of similar burdens to depend on. Depending on them for refreshment is not the same as having fun, but of allowing them to carry some of the burden of ministry when times are tough. Pastors and leaders struggle because they have a very big burden on them that they often do not share. Pastors need help from other leaders and can not do ministry on their own! I need to hear that again and again. I believe it, but I must make sure I am implementing it wherever I can. 

Confessing communities must be praying and gracious communities. Sin should not be downplayed, especially when it does not look sinful. However, the truth of sin and of grace should both be spoken by the community around the leadership, and in my opinion by those who the leader is leading. If someone I am training accurately corrects me at work, I must have the humility to accept their correction. Pride, even in the little areas like a simple work correction, is the enemy of humility. Even so, every leader needs grace. I need to hear that every day, both for myself and for others. 

Chapter nine covers identity. Where are you putting your identity as a leader? This is especially convicting for me, as I mentioned in my reflection on chapter one (achievement). Often achievement can become the goal, rather than faithfulness. In like manner, often “leader of men” can become the title, rather than “servant of Christ.” Leaders do not lead for the title. Leaders lead in order to be faithful followers of Christ. I speak of true leaders. When a leader puts their identity into their leadership, they set themself up for spectacular failure and deeply exposes themself to idolatry. Placing one’s identity in leadership will never reap rewards, and will only reap anxiety, pride, and selfishness. The identity of a leader, as well as my own identity, must be placed in Christ as His faithful servant, rather than as a leader.

Overall, these three chapters were convicting, as all three of them are topics I must revisit on the daily at my job. I hope to grow in these areas, not because I feel I am especially far down the wrong path, but rather that I do acknowledge how easily and subtly these things can become issues. I hope to set yself up well by being conscious of these issues before going into vocational ministry and avoid the downfall that comes with failure in those areas.