How many of us leaders feel we have to control everything...? Some take it to extremes controlling even what people are allow to think or how they can participate... I think there is a huge difference between leading and controlling...same type of difference between excellence and perfectionism...or heaven and hell!
Interestingly, I'm guilty of all....and for the past few years been continually putting it before the Lord...As I do there are always going to be opportunities where I have to give over authority, control and final say to others in a given situation...hard as it is...It gives us all opportunity to grow.
I've heard it for years though, We pursue excellence or I'm leading... unfortunately, that is so often a mask for the controlling perfectionist to seemingly justify their grapple hold on things. It can be so generously masked with all kinds of platitudes and cliches and yet is nothing more than what I call a 'jesus cloak' or 'scripture cloaking' where things are 'word perfect' yet the spirit behind it is self serving...
Being someone that can have this tendency, I recognize it pretty quickly. I would say the biggest and surest sign of it is a lack of grace when things don't go the way a 'leader' wants. Even when they say 'mercy' yet none is really extended, most often times a rebuke is said 'in love' and yet love is absent. The Letter of the Law prevails, and brings death.
Its amazing how often we create Ishmaels as we try to control all aspects of life...and ministry ours and others. Pushing things forward before their time, making things happen because we can...or want to...rather than trusting the ability of others to grow into the purpose God has...
Gaps and holes may not make for the 'perfect' ministry but the day we start to make sure, at all cost that those don't exist by covering them up and controlling them all to the point of micro managing everything that everyone else is doing, then we have lost the vision of Christ -
1 Peter 5:1-4 Spot lights this problem, encouraging leaders to lead as examples, not overlords...Why would that be in there...because it's so hard and only a word from the Lord, and submission to Him and His Kingdom, Not our kingdom...can produce true leaders....
I know I need to be reminded of it...
Check out the website www.GraciousVine.com or www.JoannaFruhauf.com
Author, Retreat Speaker, Worship Leader - Joanna shares thoughts on Christian life and Women's ministry.
