“This understanding of the equal and inalienable value of people has steadily made its way into people’s thinking wherever Christianity has spread, so much so that every ethical theory by Western philosophers, however much they differ from each other, assumes and is based upon the absolute value of every human being. Since this teaching of Jesus took hold in Western civilization, our legal systems, our understanding of human rights, the slow and gradual rise of democracy, and the emancipation of women and slaves–all rest on and are inspired by such simple parables as that of a Lost Sheep, a Lost Coin, a Lost Son, because they teach us that every person must be taken with ultimate seriousness. These stories encapsulate the core of the gospel: each and every person so matters to God that God the Son became a human being to seek us. Nothing can give us the value and worth that underlies our civilization’s conviction concerning human rights, which is spreading to the rest of the world today–nothing except the love of God. To reject God, to ignore God, or to neglect God is at the same time to reject, to ignore, or to neglect our irreplaceable value.” Diogenes Allen, Theology for a Troubled Believer, xxii
Leadership
seeking the cultural compass pointing to Jesus
Don Richardson is a Canadian pastor and missiologist perhaps best known for the work the Peace Child and his book Eternity in their Hearts. In this talk last October in Hawaii in talks about cross-cultural communication of the Gospel of Jesus and Richardson highlights the importance of listening to discover the cultural compass pointing to Jesus providentially woven into the fabric of a culture.
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.3 seconds on the clock and the puck in the back of the net
Ok, it was breathtaking! When Detroit’s Zetterberg shouldered his way from the boards to the front of the net to zip one in past Luongo with .3 seconds on the clock in overtime, it was beautiful. Yes I’m a Canucks fan, but this time we didn’t pull off the come-from-behind-win. It was the second time in days that I found myself painfully admiring a winning goal in the closing seconds. Norway defeated Canada in sledge hockey with an arcing shot from Eskel Hagan with just 3.6 seconds on the clock. With our thoughts headed towards overtime and the possibilities for the next period, it was a shocker!
And therein is the leadership lesson for me. While there is still time on the clock, there is still “a game” to be won or lost. The minutes of our lives count and while we still have time, living for the glory of God still matters. When we are tied or behind by one, urgency, passion, pursuit of Jesus Christ and His Kingdom must be nurtured. When there is time on the clock there is still time to shape the story. No one else will do this for me.
No one else will seek strength of character formed through a persistent gaze at Jesus and His Gospel for me. No one else will prioritize my life, days, and hours with Christ for me. No one else will put in the behind the scenes effort and learning for me. No one else will say “no” or “yes” for me. No one else will push through the inertia to engage in the most rewarding but hard ways of Kingdom living for me. I regularly pray with the Psalmist, “Lord, teach us to number our days aright, that we might gain a heart of wisdom.” (Psalm 90:12)
These guys on the ice push through difficulty and pain to the last second for a number of reasons. But what vision is compelling, shaping, and energizing me? You?
Timothy Keller on Movement Dynamics
I have lifted Jay Lorenzen’s notes from Timothy Keller’s talk at the Global Cities Initiative Conference on Movement Dynamics. This fantastic talk highlights the differences between a movement and institutionalism. You can listen to the talk here. The longer an organization exists the greater the pressure or drift to become locked into institutional ways and survivalism. Jay’s notes are below.
Below is a summary of his points as Tim compared a movement with an institution. Let me suggest that you discuss these “dynamics” with your missional teams and help move your ministry to a movement and keep it from becoming an institution.
DYNAMIC 1: UNITY (THE FOCUS)
Oneness from common vision and beliefs: A movement is driven by a clear vision for a particular future reality, based on common beliefs.
Marks of a movement
1. Organized around a common vision for the future.
2. All leaders and key players share same goals.
3. Forward movement through arriving at consensus or near consensus on next stage in reaching the vision.
Marks of an institution
1. Organized around by-laws and ground rules.
2. Each leader/department presses for own differing agenda.
3. Forward movement through negotiated compromises to form agreed upon ‘strategy.’
DYNAMIC 2: CATHOLICITY (THE OPENNESS)
Emphasis on cooperation across lines: A movement is peopled by workers who put the vision ahead of other differences and learn from and work with people of other preferences, temperaments, and secondary beliefs.
Marks of a movement
4. Leaders have high tolerance for ambiguity and organizational “messiness”; what matters is the cause and vision. Result: lots of cooperation with those outside your organization who share the primary beliefs and vision.
5. Responsibilities of leaders overlap; everyone ‘owns’ the overall organization’s health; result is much cooperation within. Emphasis on ‘roles’ – who you are in the movement. Structure looks more ‘flat’ and like a network of teams.
Marks of an institution
4. Leaders have high need for clarity and compliance; what matters is proper procedure. Result: little cooperation with those who don’t share secondary and tertiary beliefs.
5.“Silo”and turf consciousness; the result is contentiousness. Emphasis on ‘tasks’-what you do in the organization. Structure is more ‘top-down’ like a pyramid of individuals
DYNAMIC 3: SACRIFICE (THE COMMITMENT)
Devotion to God’s kingdom over self or tribe: A movement is peopled by workers who put the vision ahead of their own interests and needs.
Marks of a movement
6. Great sacrifice is tolerated: low pay, long hours, poor conditions. Leaders need less approval and encouragement; self-starters.
7. High level of trust. Less need for accreditation and close supervision.
Marks of an institution
6. Individual needs more important than progress of the whole. Workers need rewards, much accountability from top.
7. Little trust. Constant meetings. time-consuming reporting, long approval processes.
DYNAMIC 4: SPONTANEITY (THE ORGANIC NATURE)
Spontaneous growth without top-down command: A movement constantly generates new ideas, new leaders, and new initiatives across itself—not solely from the top or from a command center outside of it.
Marks of a movement
8. Movement spreads through recruitment from relationship networks. Organic growth through friends’ enthusiasm and an appeal to sacrificial commitment.
9. New ideas are solicited and incorporated quickly. Lots of openness to creativity; freedom to try and fail. Leaders give workers more support than control.
10. Relationships strong; much “off-line” thinking occurs through friendships. Leaders naturally attract and ‘train’ new leaders through relationships.
Marks of an institution
8. Organization grows through formal processes of communication and “sales” appealing to individuals’ self-interest.
9. Innovation is seen as threatening if not coming from top. Great fear of any failure. Leaders keep tight control, give little support.
10. Few friendships; little happens outside of meetings. New leaders have to be recruited through formal processes.
why you need not fear public debate on faith and spirituality
Brit Hume stirred the souls of many when he suggested on a public broadcast that Tiger Woods should consider Christianity. Some people were outraged, some agreed, and some wondered if we should even be talking about this idea in public.
Ross Douthat, writing for the New York Times suggests that public discourse about matters of faith need not be feared but pursued.
When liberal democracy was forged, in the wake of Western Europe’s religious wars, this sort of peaceful theological debate is exactly what it promised to deliver. And the differences between religions are worth debating. Theology has consequences: It shapes lives, families, nations, cultures, wars; it can change people, save them from themselves, and sometimes warp or even destroy them.
If we tiptoe politely around this reality, then we betray every teacher, guru and philosopher — including Jesus of Nazareth and the Buddha both — who ever sought to resolve the most human of all problems: How then should we live?
It’s reasonable to doubt that a cable news analyst has the right answer to this question. But the debate that Brit Hume kicked off a week ago is still worth having. Indeed, it’s the most important one there is.
Read the whole article here.
urbanfoot 