Bobby Clinton and Lifelong Leadership

Thanks for your thoughts yesterday on the challenges of thinking about this stage-theory stuff.  Here's to actually moving towards Stage 4, however that plays itself out for us!

In Cambridge, we're thinking a lot about Bobby Clinton's The Making of a Leader these days.  This is a difficult but remarkable book that talks about the path to our destiny, to fulfilling our calling, as taking some decades of good choice-making, and choice-making that is continually pointed towards leading others in God. 

It's an interesting take.  Is everyone called to be a leader in these things, for instance?  Aren't there other things to do with one's life that are just as needed and valid?  What about Luke's provocative take only a few posts ago on the power of being the first follower?

 

I'd think, off the top of my head, that Clinton would say that, if that first follower persisted in the same sort of behavior, that IS leadership, as he's describing it.  Leadership is not uniquely being a pioneer.  It's getting in the game of the work of God on earth, inviting others in that game with us, and sticking with it through disappointment and dashed expectations, learning how to find God's presence all along the way. 

What will not get us to our destiny, on Clinton's terms, is dropping out.  But most people do, as he describes in detail.

What do you think?  Is lifelong, hope-filled leadership in the things of God a non-negotiable in finding your destiny?  If so, what tips do you have for those of us who want to do that?  How have you made your way past disappointment with God or people along the way?  How have you stayed close to God throughout?  What benefits have come your way so far through your commitment to get in the game like this?

Comments

[leah]

I'm glad that you're posing this questing on the blog! The thing that challenges me the most about Clinton's thinking (from what little I heard about it this week through the cries of a yelly baby) is that the only way to get the good stuff is through leadership. Why can't I just live a right life here on my little hermitage? Well, insomuch as you can ever hermitage in the suburbs.

Maybe leadership is a loaded word. I've never been down with the idea of a "nation of priests" because I imagine a nation of bossy pantses, and that doesn't do anyone much good.

However, if we use as you suggest a *broader* definition of leadership, one that includes, um, prayer leadership, or blogging leadership, or trying to be a good example of a Christian without passing out pamphlets all the time kind of leadership, then I could be down with that.

[andrew]

One realization that my wife and I have come to is that every church (3 differnt ones) that we have been a part of in the last 9 years has only been as good as the person leading it. We have mainly been a part of smaller (100-300 people) churches and usually there is a dominant pastor role and we can notice that they will attract people just like them and fill the church with them, but if someone with a different personality type, age, or race comes to visit, they are probably going to feel overwhelmed by the "limited characteristics" in the building. There has always been disappointment in this for us. We're just waiting for the day when "the stage" gets less attention. (Yes, I am stage 3 right now!)

"How have you made your way past disappointment with God or people along the way? "

We're still working on that....... but it's coming. We understand why this happens. I've done it myself. It's the byproduct of not making new leaders a priority and just trying to "survive". God has really forced us to start identifying people with gifts and to help plug them into places where they can blossom into leadership. Lots and lots of prayer helps the most. It's one of the greatest things I have ever experienced to watch someone blossom into leadership, who may have never realized their potential a few months back.

[Brent]

"Is lifelong, hope-filled leadership in the things of God a non-negotiable in finding your destiny?"

If the definition of 'leadership' is severely broadened (close to the point of simply meaning 'interacting with others in meaningful ways,' or even 'living in a way others might want to imitate'), then I guess the answer could be 'yes' (though this could be a very passive kind of leadership). Otherwise, I think it is no.

Our destiny is not hard to find. It is to live faithful lives before God.

What does the Lord require of us? To love mercy, do justly, and walk humbly with him. That's our destiny. I think it is entirely possible for someone to live out a quiet life of faithfulness and press in deeply to all the good things of God without ever taking up the mantle of 'leader.' Indeed, I think they may get some good things that strong leaders would have a hard time approaching (like the benefits of extreme humility).

There are Christian traditions (esp monastic ones) where this faithful, quiet humility is emphasized. That doesn't exclude leadership, but I really doubt anyone in that tradition would use language anywhere close to Clinton's to talk about purpose and destiny.

[leah]

I'm with you Brent. I'm in favor of a broad brush of leadership which = "don't be a closet Christian."

[Jeff]

If the opposite of leadership is "humility", then obviously we aren't to all be leaders. And certainly, as a type 3 (oh this enneagram is addicting I tell you), I certainly qualify as one who might prize the kind of leadership that others here are squeamish about pushing too hard.

But I would argue that the opposite of the kind of leadership Clinton is pushing is not humility, but passivity. It leans not towards humble service, but cynical resignation.

[Jeff]

I mean the opposite of this kind of leadership leans toward cynicism rather than humility.

[bsergott]

I lean toward what Jeff is saying in this. I believe all people are called to some kind of leadership. If there is even one person who looks to you to speak into his/her life, then you have influence. You are a leader. He seems to want us to walk in humility, but our humility and trust in God grows so much more when we learn to live that way while embracing leadership. It is easy to live in humility when our faith is only personal and on an island. Our faith and humility are never tested. When Micah told us to walk in humility, he was speaking as a very public, visible prophet, not as a hermit. There is a real character development that happens when we move in our gifts and calling while living in the tension of it no longer being "about us". Humility is not the opposite of leadership. Real humility can only be glimpsed when we are embracing our gifts and calling by leading.

[PB]

Here's a question: is leadership (and the definition I use is leadership=influence) something we are, or something we do? Because I think of many people who have influenced me have been those who are grounded in their identity. They weren't "trying" to influence me. So I think of Marianne Williamson's famous quote:

Our deepest fear is not that we are not inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, "Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?" Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

And then I think of many who influenced me that were more or less deliberately trying to influence or persuade me towards something (teachers, pastors, etc.).

So, maybe it's some of both, but I wonder if some of us are called more to the "doing" type of leadership and others are called more to the "being" type of leadership. But I don't know.

[PB]

Typo... in the Williamson quote it should read,

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.

[Dave T.]

Dave wrote "Is lifelong, hope-filled leadership in the things of God a non-negotiable in finding your destiny?" But I think too many readers think Clinton said that. But I think Dave said it, not Clinton. And in any case, it seems like it's getting misinterpreted. I think whoever said it should have finished the sentence "...as a leader?" Isn't it too obvious that not everyone is called to be a leader? Who would be left to follow? If you don't think there should be followers then you don't think there should be leaders. You can say "influencers" are "like" leaders, but please, when I'm storming the hill, I'm leading or following the leader; I'm not resting on influence to see the hill stormed. Anyway, that tricky sentence should be understood to emphasize "lifelong, hope-filled leadership in the things of God..." A spiritual leader should be up to his ears in the things of God. Dave, you asked for tips? If you think you're a spiritual leader, go somewhere and take people with you. If they ain't going, you ain't leading. The tip is JUST DO IT.

[Otto]

Good point, yes, everyone is called to leadership, because everyone has the power to influence at least one other person. And the ripple effect of influencing even a few people can be significant.

Also, I've heard of a study they did of the most effective leaders (CEOs, etc), and they found that very effective leaders have primarily two traits in common: humility and a strong will.

[KimberlyH]

I lean towards "everyone is a leader"; and "leadership = influence". I really liked Chris Lowney's take on it in Chapter 2 of his book "Heroic Leadership". And his whole book is really inspiring and gave me a lot to think about.

Dave S., you asked: "How have you made your way past disappointment with God or people along the way? How have you stayed close to God throughout?"
I had a quite dramatic experience in my early Christian walk - mid 20's, not a year after starting to follow Jesus - where I had several spiritual leaders disappoint me. At that time, I took away the lesson that no person, no leader is perfect. God is the only one who is perfect. That was really important for me, because it allowed me to continue to worship God, even in the midst of being utterly disappointed by people.

On a separate note, I've found that hope is really key for me to cultivate in myself.
And even in the midst of disappointment or dashed expectations (like unanswered prayers), I believe that God is calling me to be a person of hope, similar to how I'm called to be a person of love and faith.
My personal conviction is that I'd rather be a fool who lives my life in hope - never receiving all that I'm hoping for - than be a cynic. The life filled with hope is better, or at least I'd rather spend my life that way. And I think that's what Jesus wants for me, too.