Sidney Williams
Much has been written on the subject of leadership and there are several measures one can use to quantify or assess the effectiveness of leadership, but the measure of spiritual leadership is another story all together. The Reverend Ralph West addressed this issue at the Hampton Minister’s Conference in 2007 during his sermon “The Measure of Your Ministry.” At the introduction of his sermon he dealt with what is NOT qualified as an accurate measure – buildings, budgets, and balances in your investment accounts. It is a human tendency to assume that spiritual leaders are anointed based on what we can see, but faith is the substance of things not seen and yet hoped for. Therefore, if we are to examine the aspects of Spiritual Leadership, then we must measure ministry with what we can’t see.
Measuring something that cannot be seen is difficult and not comprehensible, yet the endeavor is a worthy pursuit for those who depend on Spiritual Leadership. I am certain that there are some who question the premise of being dependent on Spiritual Leadership to begin with. Instead, many argue, we should look within to find the answers and there is no one qualified to lead another person. Rather than lead or give answers, guided facilitation is the preferred method in the information age. People are free to draw on different sources of truth and reject absolute truth. In this way, everyone is able to become their own spiritual leader without any substantial investment. This approach becomes problematic when self-made spiritual leaders attempt to guide others on a path they themselves have never traveled or when they give advice that can harmful both emotionally and physically.
In most instances, leaders are held accountable for outcomes. Corporate Leaders are held accountable for shareholders returns. Government Leaders are held accountable for improving the quality of life for their jurisdiction. Athletic Leaders are held accountable for championships. Healthcare leaders are held accountable for curing illnesses and disease. Military leaders are held accountable for winning wars. What outcomes are Spiritual Leaders held accountable for?
PERSONAL SACRIFICE.
Rev. West suggested that the ministry of the Apostle Paul is a ministry we can measure. First, we know that the Apostle Paul made great personal sacrifices or the sake of the Gospel. In other words, there was no material incentive for his pursuit of ministry. The Apostle Paul was not promised a prosperous synagogue or a position of status in the New Church. The reality was that he sacrificed his status among the religious leaders and was initially rejected by the New Church. Careful reflection of the early life of the Apostle Paul, we may draw the following conclusion: The initial cost of Spiritual Leadership is great personal sacrifice. I emphasize that this is only the initial cost because even a fool will make great personal sacrifices. Throughout out the ages there have been many cult leaders who claimed to be the messiah or a “Spiritual Leader” but they lead people to their destruction.
ENDURANCE
The second assessment we must consider is endurance in the face of adversity. The Apostle Paul had to endure many hardships and yet he pressed on and entered places where he knew he would suffer. The human tendency is avoid confrontation and hardships. Yet, Spiritual Leaders count the costs and are clear about why they must endure to the end. It is at this phase that we can begin to discern who is not a Spiritual Leader. The Apostle Paul reminds us that our human tendency craves those things that gratify our flesh, but the Spirit living in us, gives us the power to endure and overcome these cravings. Those who are not Spiritual Leaders will preoccupy themselves and others on worldly endeavors. Listen to their conversations and how they spend their day. Are they focused on self preservation or the mission of their faith? The Apostle Paul was always tired or poured out, because there was so much to do and so much ground to travel. He considered his personal ambition to be a thing of the past, and replaced it with the ambition of the Spiritual Leader he followed – Jesus the Christ.
FOLLOWSHIP.
The third assessment is knowing who the Spiritual Leader follows. Every leader must first be a disciple. By knowing who the leader follows, we can measure the deviation between what they do and say vs. what the leader whom they claim to follow does and says. Be cautious of people who only claim to only follow “Spirits” or personal insight. Even the Apostle Paul required an explanation and confirmation of his Spiritual encounter. One can also examine the life of Jesus, who was a fulfillment of generations of prophecy. The Gospel writers were able to explain and confirm the Christ based on the teachings of the prophets, who Jesus also studied and taught about. Therefore, Christian Spiritual Leaders should be Bible-Based and explain their decisions and directions according to Scripture.
SCHOLARSHIP
Fourth, Spiritual Leaders must be committed to life of study. Ask your Spiritual Leader what they have read lately and what new insights they have. In the Christian Church, one should be cautious of Spiritual Leaders who always seem to preach the same message or worse a message that provides no profound revelation. In our busy and hectic lives where many of us are trying to provide for our families and maintain our sanity, we depend on Spiritual Leaders to lift our Spirits and give us new insight into the mind of our creator or divine source of power. Spiritual Leaders should be able to inspire one another because of the time they have spent in the presence of the Divine regardless of doctrine or denomination. I am speaking of insight that is more than “canned” dogma or frequently recited prayers. Is there a fresh word?
INSPIRATION
Fifth, find out what other Spiritual Leaders are inspired by the Spiritual Leader you follow; be cautions of “loners” or people who are too deep for any other Spiritual Leader to understand. The Apostle Paul invested significant amounts of time trying to persuade and inspire the religious leaders of his time. This was also true of Jesus the Christ. In the birth narrative of Jesus we find the wise men or were spiritual leaders of a different faith who studied the cosmos, looking for divine insight. They were led by a divine source and inspired by the birth of one the greatest Spiritual Leaders off all time. Spiritual Leaders not only inspire other Spiritual Leaders, but they also help their followers transition into Spiritual Leaders rather than spiritual dependents or children. The Apostle Paul spoke fondly of the many men and women he inspired to become great Spiritual Leaders.
ATTRACTION
Sixth, Spiritual Leaders attract diverse groups of people who want to support their ministry. The Apostle Paul spoke often of the churches that partnered with him and helped pay for his many mission trips. These partners were not funding the Apostle Paul’s lifestyle. Instead, the money was used to broaden the reach of his ministry. Be careful of leaders who only want to build their churches and “campuses.” There is a point of saturation. Rather than reaching different ethnic groups and other countries that are in great need, there is human tendency to surround ourselves with people who are like us and deny the existence of others. Spiritual Leaders attract global ministries and community leaders attract local ministries. It is important to know the difference. Community leaders can be very successful, but there ministry is primarily focused on the physical and social needs of people like themselves.
MIRALCES
Seventh, signs and wonders follow Spiritual Leaders. The ultimate outcome of Spiritual Leadership is the manifestation of a divine encounter. Life can be unbearable and without value for most of humanity if not all of humanity, but divine encounters give us up hope of a brighter future. In fact, there is a level of desperation for such an encounter that many people will pay large sums of money for it. It is encounter that cannot be regulated or proven because it cannot be observed using the scientific method – sight, sound, touched, tasted or smelled. Some leaders argue that they can conjure these experiences or give us the ability to experience these encounters, but how do we really know who to trust or who to follow? It is not the person who has the power, but the power that creates signs and wonders works in concert with the ministry or service of Spiritual Leaders.
My personal experience was that for most of my life I attended church, but it was not until my early 30s that I was exposed to Spiritual Leadership. Not only did I experience signs and wonders, but all seven aspects of Spiritual Leadership were present Ebenezer AME Church in Fort Washington, MD. I witnessed great spiritual growth in this season of my life and subsequently accepted my call to ministry after 4 years. It was a tough transition from followship to leadership, but I subsequently served under another great Spiritual Leader, Rev. Harry L. Seawright, for 5 years and strengthened my response to the call. During this time of transition my mother passed away and I question my partnership with the divine. Who am I asked? Can God really use me? Will signs and wonders follow my ministry? I didn’t want to be just another leader in the community. I desired to be a partner with God. After much study, I realized that to experience the fullness of God I must give up everything and leave my place of knowing and go to place I did not know and where I would have to depend on God alone. It was all then that signs and wonders began to follow my ministry – not just answers to personal prayers, but I am witnessing lives being transformed under my Spiritual Leadership that only the power of God can do. I still have struggle with my own humanity, but I am thankful the divine encounters.
It is my prayer that after reading this blog that you will seek out real Spiritual Leadership and have your own divine encounters and discover your true purpose for living. Your comments or questions are welcomed and I look forward to hearing your testimonies. The best is still yet to come!
Leave a Comment
No comments yet.
Comments RSS TrackBack Identifier URI
