Leader and Presence

May 11, 2011 | Blog, Discipleship, Faith, Holiness, Leadership, Pastors, Spiritual Formation, Theology

 

I have been thinking recently about an earlier blog that discusses leadership and acceptance.

In the book, CROSS CULTURAL CONNECTIONS, the author states that “what John 3:16 is to the unbeliever, Romans 15:7 is to the believer.” Romans 15:7 reads: Accept one another then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.” Increasingly, this ATTITUDE of ACCEPTANCE must identify and define us as biblical servant leaders. It is the heart of all we are.

“Acceptance” is the ability to communicate value, regard, worth and respect to others. It is the ability to make people feel significant, honored and esteemed. This is leading “with the mind of Christ.”  To intentionally accept and serve others is to love them.

             * Acceptance is a profound biblical principle for Christian leaders, especially when good and godly people collide over vision and values in a community of faith.

What is the opposite of acceptance? Is it not rejection? Hoes does the rejection by others make you feel? How do you think rejection of others make them feel? How does rejection of others within a community of faith affect your own relationship to God?

I believe this grace-filled Acceptance of Others is a core Christian leadership quality that must be cultivated. And, I am convinced that an ATTITUDE OF ACCEPTANCE is shaped and nurtured by three compelling convictions about:

  who we are as the People of God;
  what we are to do in the work of God; and
  how we live together as the family of God.

And these convictions become driving forces within us as we live and lead with an acceptance of those with whom we live and work.

My brother in law, Dr. Lee Woolery, district superintendent of the Northwest Indiana district in the United States, recently shared with me this quote.

                              

 

This  is leadership character. It is Christ-like servant leadership!    

*To this leadership ministry we are uniquely called!

*A biblical servant leader brings a “non-anxious” presence to difficult situations in a fellowship of faith.

* This “non-anxious” presence is nurtured by a grace-given  ACCEPTANCE of OTHERS with whom we live and work.

A final Question. In difficult situations, when you encounter the “reality” of “good and godly people differing  and colliding with you,” where do you place yourself on the following scale?


ACCEPTANCE      1        2       3         4       5     6     7      8        9        10             REJECTION

 

    Remember, what John 3:16 is to the unbeliever, Romans 15:7 is to the believer.

“Accept one another then,
just as Christ accepted you,
in order to bring praise to God.”

May this CHARACTER QUALITY of ACCEPTANCE increasingly identify you and me in our leadership assignments.

  

LeBron Fairbanks
5-10-2011

Search Post

Categories

Related Post

Mentoring and Modeling Leadership Character

Mentoring and Modeling Leadership Character

The book, Mentoring and Modeling Leadership Character, reflects on leadership character themes I shared with emerging leaders in various settings. Chapters in the book attempt to capture my intense desire to entrust or pass on to a younger generation of leaders what...

Leading Decisively! Leading Faithfully! Reflections and Markers

Leading Decisively! Leading Faithfully! Reflections and Markers

FREE DIGITAL COPY AVAILABLE The book, Leading Decisively! Leading Faithfully! Reflections and Markers, is intended to serve as a multi-lingual, cross-cultural, and baccalaureate-level text on leading decisively and faithfully in Christian communities. It reflects...

Accepting Others and a “Non-anxious” Presence

Accepting Others and a “Non-anxious” Presence

In light of recent events nationally, regionally and locally, and in our faith communities, I have been thinking about and editing an earlier blog post on the subject of “Leader and Presence.” In the book, Cross-Cultural Connections, the author states that “what John...

A Journey of Maturing Faith and Painful Encounters!

A Journey of Maturing Faith and Painful Encounters!

I found myself in recent days returning to the Epilogue of my book, Leading Decisively! Leading Faithfully! Reflections and Markers. Actually, I read it rather often, as a prayer. The words in the “Epilogue” characterize me at my best and convict me at my worst. What...

Christian Leadership and Biblical Hospitality

Christian Leadership and Biblical Hospitality

Ten years ago, December 12, 2009, to be exact, I returned to the campus of Mount Vernon Nazarene University, Mount Vernon, Ohio, to deliver the winter commencement address. Please find below a summary of the thoughts I shared with the graduates, their family, and...