"The Essence of Christian Leadership"

           Last Sunday, I began a new sermon series on “Christian Leadership.”  In that first message, I suggested that we broaden our conventional understanding of leadership.  Instead of thinking of leadership as the sole privilege of the “person in charge,” I suggested that we look for leadership opportunities in all sorts of different roles that we have.  For instance, leadership should include the role of parents with their children; the role of older siblings with their younger brothers and sisters; the role of schoolchildren on the playground; the way we conduct ourselves at work; the way we treat our neighbors; the way we treat those who are marginalized and suffer from a lack of housing, food, or medical care; and the way in which we engage others as members of society. 

            When we broaden our view of leadership to include the possibilities that exist in our various roles and relationships, then it is clear that God calls all of us to be leaders much of the time through our various roles.  So, when we examine what it means to be a Christian leader, then we should begin by recognizing that Christian leadership includes everyone.

            This week, I want us to focus our reflections on the essence of Christian leadership, which I believe involves visionary leadership.  We might pause here and ask what exactly is visionary leadership?  I would define visionary Christian leadership like this:

            Visionary Christian Leadership is the art of picturing God’s preferred future for Christians in terms that inspire our souls and invigorate our wills.

            I base my definition on the Christian conviction that something profound and earth-changing occurred with the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Through the person Jesus of Nazareth, the Divine breaks into human and natural history, beginning the transformation of the universe.  In this transformative event, God’s Reign is established here on earth.  Jesus’ Resurrection provides the confirmation that God’s Reign has begun. 

Yet, even though God’s Reign has clearly begun, it is not yet completed.  We continue to live in a world torn by conflict; broken by injustice; marred by hunger, homeless, and inadequate healthcare.  We live in a world where there is pervasive spiritual darkness, along with much fear, guilt, and loneliness.  We live in a world confronted with myriad ecological challenges, including global climate change and a growing shortage of potable water.  While God’s Reign may already be established in the heart of individual Christians along with spiritual communities, much needs to be done before we can say that God’s Reign has been completely established.

As persons of faith, we live in a world full of darkness, yet through our faith we can see the glimmers of a new sunrise and a new day on the horizon.  As persons who see this new day through faith, God calls us into a sort of junior partnership, in which we work to expand God’s Reign until it is completed and extends to the ends of the earth. 

Visionary Christian Leadership, thus, is the art of the “big picture;” that is, looking beyond the darkness of this broken world to see the emerging sunrise of God’s eventual Reign.  In addition, visionary Christian leadership is the ability to articulate and share this bigger picture, so that those around us catch a glimpse of this bigger picture and are, consequently, inspired and invigorated to work towards achieving this goal.

My understanding of visionary Christian leadership is grounded in the scriptural account of the early church, as contained in the Book of Acts.  My scripture for this Sunday comes from Peter’s first sermon on the day of Pentecost, in Acts 2:  12-24.  Peter’s sermon begins in response to persons who witness the unfolding of Pentecost, but don’t understand what is happening.  These persons joke that the followers of Christ must be drunk.  Peter stands to defend himself and the other Christians.  He notes that since it is only 9 am, it is unlikely that everyone has had enough wine to become drunk.

Then, Peter explains how the whole world has been transformed through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  He begins his explanation with a quotation from the prophet Joel:

“In the last days it will be, God declares,

that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh,

and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,

and your young men shall see visions

and your old men shall dream dreams.

Even upon my slaves; both men and women,

in those days I will pour out my Spirit; and they shall prophesy.”

                -- as quoted by Peter in Acts 2:  17-18

Peter recognizes that this in-breaking of the Reign of God into human and natural history forms a tipping point.  Peter’s reference to the “last days” indicates that we have now entered into this new period of transformation.   Even though God’s Reign has yet to be fully established, nothing will ever be the same again because the seed of God’s Reign has been planted by Jesus’ death and resurrection.  For Peter, the Reign of God has already been established within the hearts of Christ’s followers through the in-flowing of the Holy Spirit.  This in-dwelling of God’s Reign through the Holy Spirit means that Jesus’ disciples view the world differently; our worldview has been transformed—and we, ourselves, are transformed.

Powered by God in the form of the Holy Spirit, followers of Christ are called to work towards expanding God’s Reign throughout the world.  Followers of Christ begin to envision a different world; a world of peace, justice, human and environmental flourishing, as well as spiritual fulfillment--all under God’s Reign.  That is, “sons and daughters shall prophesy” … “young men shall see visions” of the possibilities for God’s Reign… “old men dream dreams” of a world transformed through God’s Reign.

            Peter’s sermon provides the basis for my understanding of visionary Christian leadership.  Visionary Christian leadership is the ability to look beyond the present reality in many different relationships and see the latent possibilities for those relationships through the power of the Holy Spirit to transform and create something new.  It is the ability to look at seemingly intractable conflict and see the possibilities of peace through the power of the Holy Spirit; to see the possibilities for justice in the face of injustice; prosperity despite overwhelming hunger and homelessness; hope in spite of despair; a sustainable natural world despite global climate change and many other forms of degradation. 

Fundamentally, visionary Christian leadership is the ability to see the first rays of sunlight, even at the darkest night.  It is the ability to transform relationships, through the power of God’s Holy Spirit and a vision of what God’s Reign will be.

Come, join us this Sunday (September 20th), as we explore in more depth what visionary Christian leadership is and how it can transform our lives and our world.  Christ United Methodist Church, is located at 4530 A Street in Lincoln, Nebraska.  Our classic worship services are at 8:30 and 11:00 on Sunday mornings. 

Everyone is welcome and accepted because God loves us all.