(This is taken from “Organic Leadership” by Niel Cole…I had to share)

Jesus is not about safe. He is the one who said things like “I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves MT 10:16.” I did not come to bring peace but a sword Mt 10:34.”

We often approach ministiry with a theology of SAFE:

Self-preservation=our mission

Avoidance fo the world and risk=wisdom

Financial Security=responsible faith

Education=maturity

Self-preservation is actively choosing an alternative to the life of God…It a direct move away from faith…Use your desire to live as a motivation to die, for this is the only path leading to true life in God’s upside down kingdom. When presented with a choice between self-preservation and the cross, there should be no choice. “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me. (lk 9:23)”

This is what a theology of DEATH looks like:

Dying daily to who we are

Empowering others (not self) as our life

Accepting risk as normative

Theology as not just knowledge but practice

Holding tight to Christ and having an open hand with all else that we “possess”

The role of leaders it to equip others so they are no longer necessary. The more disposable we are as leaders the more valuable we are, but the less attetion will be paid to us. The true success of a leader isn’t what they have done, but what others have done around them. Every leader should have an exit strategy. Jesus had the ultimate exit strategy. Jesus knew He was going to the cross and had to build his disciples accordingly. We should also go to the cross and live a life that empowers others.

Thoughts