Becoming a church leader is a constant test of one’s spirituality and humanity. The significance of the existence of the shepherd is to become the channel of God’s words and to be the supervisor, watchman, and guide of the whole flock. But the lonely situation at the top often makes pastors feel lonely, and church leaders sometimes fall into temptation (self-righteousness, vanity, and busyness), and even gradually lose themselves in the way of service. As church leaders and pastors, what do they need to be particularly vigilant about?
The following seven points are for your reference.
1. The hardest part of being a church leader is controlling yourself.
As a church leader, it is a kind of courage and freedom for you to train yourself to do the right things and not to do the wrong things when you are alone. One’s loss of spirituality begins with the loss of the ability to reflect.
According to Romans 2:21, we see that the apostle Paul denounced the hypocrisy of the Jewish faith community of the time. Today, we also see the danger that those who are willing to teach are more likely to lose themselves in teaching. They even do things that worry the Holy Spirit in the lure of money, in the temptation of sex, and in the control of impatience and the flesh.
As a church leader, it is even more important to practice reflecting on oneself three times a day in Christ. Only on this spiritual basis can we experience Paul’s victorious declaration of “punish my body and slave it”. If church leaders fail to learn and grow from their mistakes, that is a true failure of church leadership.
2. Self-denial and compassion for those served
To become a leader is not because of how good or special a person is, but because of God’s special trust and mercy. When church leaders accept that their own lives are not perfect and stop harshly criticizing themselves from a self-centered perspective, such pastoral leaders are likely to develop more compassion for those they lead and thus bring out life-affecting and wonderful service outcomes.
When a church leader’s mind is caught up in legalism, he(she) habitually criticizes himself for his own inadequacies. At the same time, he also berates the people he leads. In this process, it was difficult for him to feel God’s love for him. In the long run, church leaders tend to lose their attachment to God’s spirit of love and compassion. He forgets that he is the first to be forgiven and accepted, and if he does not get out of this mistake, he becomes ruthless and self-centered.
3. Be like the people you’re facing, and always remember to save some people.
Referring to 1 Cor. 9:19-23, church leaders need to ask themselves: Am I the same person no matter who I am with?
"Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible.To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law.To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings." (1 Cor. 9:19-23)
4. Be aware of the leading culture of “one-man show”.
Church leaders need to look at whether there is bureaucracy in their service. As church leaders, can we let go of our own cognitive framework, experience, heritage, and past glories? In order to love people with all kinds of personalities, we should be willing to become their servants. Is he a leader that is humble enough to listen to the hearts of those he leads, to bear burdens, and to comfort their wounded hearts? It takes humility to rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep, and this is the life of service that church leaders seek from God.
In the face of their own blind spots, the church leaders can either choose humility and cooperation or pretend to be strong. They clearly need the wisdom of the Holy Spirit to give their fellow workers to complete the work of the Lord, but if they always insist on what they think is right, they will eventually make those who follow them become the objects of failure.
In the process of building God’s kingdom, when the shepherd needs to lead people to places where they have never been before, it is not suitable to pretend to be brave, but to admit our weakness, to open ourselves up to God, and to ask others for help. In this process, the Holy Spirit will double the wisdom and revelation to everyone, and then everyone will see so that the whole service will be twice as effective. It can also help members of different parts of the church find a sense of purpose and belonging, thus strengthening the body of Christ.
5. “I am Irreplaceable” -- be alert of self-contained leadership.
According to 2 Timothy 2:2, being a leader is essentially being a servant to all, just as Jesus did throughout his life, being a servant to all. In the midst of so much respect and admiration, it’s easy to get the illusion that “I’m completely irreplaceable”, “they can’t do well without me”, and “this place can’t function without my guidance”. These thoughts are in themselves a hindrance to God’s work and a contempt for his workers.
The all-knowing and omnipotent God can complete all his works in an instant. In order to enable sinners who are not perfect in love to participate in the service, their lives can be shaped and grown. Therefore, God called for simple clay vessels to become church leaders, pastors, and co-workers. The selection of church leaders and talents are not the reasons for God’s use, but because of his unfathomable wisdom and abundance of mercy.
6. The resonance of heart comes from the answer after humble listening.
The compound word “understand” means “you understand when you stand below”. How else can you understand the mental and emotional struggles of those under your leadership if you fail to stand in a position of humility and understand the real needs of the other persons before you give advice wisely? How can you truly and accurately lead them with God’s will?
A pastor may have overlooked the fact that if you listen first and ask questions without humility, your limitations and ignorance will hinder God’s work on those in need.
7. Does your ministry burn wick or oil?
The Chinese character for “busyness” means “death at heart”. The church leader may be busy every day, but without prayer in the Holy Spirit, it would have been easy to become like Martha’s service. Church leaders stand in a position where life influences life, and their hearts need to be humbler and more united with The Lord.
Without prayer in the Holy Spirit, spiritual dryness and weakness would have manifested themselves in different ways in the service of the flock, becoming a regret in the way of service. The Spirit of truth most longs for the workers of The Lord to return to him for prayer. The prayer in Gethsemane is the key moment of victory over the cross. On the path of servanthood, church leaders need to be Mary while doing the service of Martha.
- Translated by Nicolas Cao
成为教会领袖是对人的灵性及人性长久的考验。牧者存在意义是成为神的话语的通道，为全群的监督、守望、引路者。但高处不胜寒的处境，也会让牧者常常感到孤独 ，教会领袖有时会落入到高级试探（自义、虚荣、忙碌）中，甚至会在服事的道路上渐渐走向迷失。作为教会领袖、牧者、带领人的工人，需要在哪些方面格外警醒呢？
一、做教会领袖最难的是管住自己
作为教会领袖，有一种勇气和自由就是在你一个人的时候，可以操练自己去做正确的事和不做错误的事。一个人灵性的迷失是从失去反思的能力开始的。
根据罗马书2:21，在使徒保罗对当时犹太信仰群体中伪善的揭发中，在今天，我们同样看到了一种危险：乐于教导别人的人，更容易在教导中迷失自己，甚至在金钱诱惑中，在性的试探中，在急躁与血气的支配下，做出让圣灵担忧的事情。
作为教会领袖更需要操练在基督里一日三省吾身。唯有这样的灵性基准，才能经历使徒保罗那“攻克己身，叫身服我”的得胜告白。如果教会领袖无法从错误中学习和成长，那便是教会领导力真正的失败。
二、 自我破碎与对服侍对象的同情
能够成为领袖的前提，并不是因为一个人是多么优秀或者哪里特别，而是神单方面特别的信任和怜悯。当教会领袖接受自己的生命本象是破碎的，不再以自我为中心的角度严厉批判自己时，这样的牧者领袖才可能对所带领的人能生出更多的同情，因而带出生命影响生命的美好服事果效。
当一个教会领袖的心被律法思维模式缠绕时，他会习惯性的对自己的简陋与不足进行批判；与此同时，也同样苛责所带领的人，这个过程中，他很难再感受到神的爱对他的一直以来的遮盖之恩。长此以往 ，教会领袖容易失去对神的爱与怜悯灵魂的效法之心。忘记了自己也是先被赦免与被接纳的对象，如果教会牧者没有走出这个误区，那么他将会变得无情且自我。
三、向什么人就做什么人，总要救些人
参照林前9：19-23节，教会领袖需要问自己，我是否无论和什么人在一起，都是一样的人？
四、警惕 “独角戏”（One Man Show） 的引导力文化
教会领袖需要查看，在服事上是否存在官僚的作风。作为教会领袖，是否能够放下自己认知的框架、经验、辈份和过往的荣耀呢？为了与各式各样性格的人成为爱的一体，无有分别，心甘情愿的成为他们的仆人。作为领袖是否可以谦卑以至于可以倾听所带领人的心声，背负重担，安慰他们受伤的心灵。与喜乐的人同乐，与哀哭的人同哭，这需要一颗谦卑的心，这也是教会领袖要去向上帝求的服事的生命。
教会领袖面对自己的盲点， 是选择谦卑合作还是假装刚强，明明需要圣灵给予众同工的智慧来做成主的工，但若始终坚持自己认为对的方案，最终会让跟从的人成为被亏负的对象。
在建设神国度的路上，牧者领袖需要带领人去自己也没去过的领域，这时我们要做的不是逞强作势，而是承认自己的软弱，向上帝敞开自己，向他人寻求帮助。这个过程中，圣灵会加倍给众人智慧和启示，接着大家的看见，让整体服事事半功倍。也能让教会中不同领域的肢体们找到使命感和归属感，从而更加坚固基督的身体。
五、 “我是无可取代的”——固步自封的引导力
根据提摩太后书2:2，成为领袖，本质上是成为服侍众人的仆人，就像耶稣的一生一样，从始至终成为众人的仆人。人在很多的尊敬与赞美中，很容易有一种错觉：我是完全无可取代的存在，没有我在这里，他们做不好的，没有我的指导，这里就无法运作。这些想法本身其实是对神的工作的拦阻，更是对主的工人们的一种轻看。
全知全能神可以瞬间完成他的一切的工，上帝为了让在爱里未得完全的罪人通过参与服事，生命从而得到造就和成长，因此祂呼召拣选了简陋的瓦器成为教会领袖、牧者、同工。教会领袖的选择和才能不是被神使用的理由， 乃是因祂那深不可测的智慧和丰盛的怜悯。
六、 谦卑倾听后的解答 才有心灵的共鸣
"Understand"这个合成词中，意指：“ 站在下面的时候，才能够理解” 。
当领袖睿智地给出自己的建议前，先要站在谦卑的位置先去听懂对方，了解对方的真实需要，不然你怎么了解你带领的人在心智和情绪上的挣扎？你又如何能够真正准确的和神心意的带领他们呢？
牧者可能忽略了一个事实：不谦卑的先去倾听对方，不去问问题，那么你的有限和无知会阻碍上帝在需要帮助之人身上的工作。
七、你的服事燃烧的是灯芯还是灯油？
中国汉字“忙”这个字在形容“心死了”。作为教会领袖每日都会很忙碌，但这个忙碌的里面如果没有在圣灵里的祷告，很容易成为马大的服事。教会领袖站在生命影响生命的位置，心需要更加谦卑，与主联合。若是没有在圣灵里的祷告，灵性的枯干和软弱一定会在服侍群羊的过程中以不同的方式彰显出来，成为侍奉道路上的遗憾。真理的圣灵最盼望主的工人们回到祂的里面祷告。耶稣客西马尼园的祷告是得胜十字架苦难的关键时刻，在服事的道路上，教会领袖需要带着玛丽亚的心做马大的服事。
提醒 教会领袖，警惕 “独角戏”(One-Man Show) 的领导力模式
Becoming a church leader is a constant test of one’s spirituality and humanity. The significance of the existence of the shepherd is to become the channel of God’s words and to be the supervisor, watchman, and guide of the whole flock. But the lonely situation at the top often makes pastors feel lonely, and church leaders sometimes fall into temptation (self-righteousness, vanity, and busyness), and even gradually lose themselves in the way of service. As church leaders and pastors, what do they need to be particularly vigilant about?
The following seven points are for your reference.
1. The hardest part of being a church leader is controlling yourself.
As a church leader, it is a kind of courage and freedom for you to train yourself to do the right things and not to do the wrong things when you are alone. One’s loss of spirituality begins with the loss of the ability to reflect.
According to Romans 2:21, we see that the apostle Paul denounced the hypocrisy of the Jewish faith community of the time. Today, we also see the danger that those who are willing to teach are more likely to lose themselves in teaching. They even do things that worry the Holy Spirit in the lure of money, in the temptation of sex, and in the control of impatience and the flesh.
As a church leader, it is even more important to practice reflecting on oneself three times a day in Christ. Only on this spiritual basis can we experience Paul’s victorious declaration of “punish my body and slave it”. If church leaders fail to learn and grow from their mistakes, that is a true failure of church leadership.
2. Self-denial and compassion for those served
To become a leader is not because of how good or special a person is, but because of God’s special trust and mercy. When church leaders accept that their own lives are not perfect and stop harshly criticizing themselves from a self-centered perspective, such pastoral leaders are likely to develop more compassion for those they lead and thus bring out life-affecting and wonderful service outcomes.
When a church leader’s mind is caught up in legalism, he(she) habitually criticizes himself for his own inadequacies. At the same time, he also berates the people he leads. In this process, it was difficult for him to feel God’s love for him. In the long run, church leaders tend to lose their attachment to God’s spirit of love and compassion. He forgets that he is the first to be forgiven and accepted, and if he does not get out of this mistake, he becomes ruthless and self-centered.
3. Be like the people you’re facing, and always remember to save some people.
Referring to 1 Cor. 9:19-23, church leaders need to ask themselves: Am I the same person no matter who I am with?
"Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible.To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law.To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings." (1 Cor. 9:19-23)
4. Be aware of the leading culture of “one-man show”.
Church leaders need to look at whether there is bureaucracy in their service. As church leaders, can we let go of our own cognitive framework, experience, heritage, and past glories? In order to love people with all kinds of personalities, we should be willing to become their servants. Is he a leader that is humble enough to listen to the hearts of those he leads, to bear burdens, and to comfort their wounded hearts? It takes humility to rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep, and this is the life of service that church leaders seek from God.
In the face of their own blind spots, the church leaders can either choose humility and cooperation or pretend to be strong. They clearly need the wisdom of the Holy Spirit to give their fellow workers to complete the work of the Lord, but if they always insist on what they think is right, they will eventually make those who follow them become the objects of failure.
In the process of building God’s kingdom, when the shepherd needs to lead people to places where they have never been before, it is not suitable to pretend to be brave, but to admit our weakness, to open ourselves up to God, and to ask others for help. In this process, the Holy Spirit will double the wisdom and revelation to everyone, and then everyone will see so that the whole service will be twice as effective. It can also help members of different parts of the church find a sense of purpose and belonging, thus strengthening the body of Christ.
5. “I am Irreplaceable” -- be alert of self-contained leadership.
According to 2 Timothy 2:2, being a leader is essentially being a servant to all, just as Jesus did throughout his life, being a servant to all. In the midst of so much respect and admiration, it’s easy to get the illusion that “I’m completely irreplaceable”, “they can’t do well without me”, and “this place can’t function without my guidance”. These thoughts are in themselves a hindrance to God’s work and a contempt for his workers.
The all-knowing and omnipotent God can complete all his works in an instant. In order to enable sinners who are not perfect in love to participate in the service, their lives can be shaped and grown. Therefore, God called for simple clay vessels to become church leaders, pastors, and co-workers. The selection of church leaders and talents are not the reasons for God’s use, but because of his unfathomable wisdom and abundance of mercy.
6. The resonance of heart comes from the answer after humble listening.
The compound word “understand” means “you understand when you stand below”. How else can you understand the mental and emotional struggles of those under your leadership if you fail to stand in a position of humility and understand the real needs of the other persons before you give advice wisely? How can you truly and accurately lead them with God’s will?
A pastor may have overlooked the fact that if you listen first and ask questions without humility, your limitations and ignorance will hinder God’s work on those in need.
7. Does your ministry burn wick or oil?
The Chinese character for “busyness” means “death at heart”. The church leader may be busy every day, but without prayer in the Holy Spirit, it would have been easy to become like Martha’s service. Church leaders stand in a position where life influences life, and their hearts need to be humbler and more united with The Lord.
Without prayer in the Holy Spirit, spiritual dryness and weakness would have manifested themselves in different ways in the service of the flock, becoming a regret in the way of service. The Spirit of truth most longs for the workers of The Lord to return to him for prayer. The prayer in Gethsemane is the key moment of victory over the cross. On the path of servanthood, church leaders need to be Mary while doing the service of Martha.
- Translated by Nicolas Cao
Reminder: Church Leaders, Be Aware of 'One-Man Show' Leadership Model
