Spiritual Leadership

I am reading this book by Dr Tim Elmore and it shook my understanding of what a spiritual leader is. It's what, as the book discribed, I am not. Consider what he wrote what a spiritual leader is not

1) Not a preacher
- We don't have to always lecture people in our sphere of influence

2) Not a boss (dictator)
- Jesus had a servant-leadership qualitiies
- God didn't call us to be bossy, narrow and stubborn
- We're not dictators, but developers.

3) Not the Holy Spirit
- Coz our role is to share God's love and not convict people of sin.

4) Not a talker
- Always have something to say about anything
- A bad listener

5) Not an idealist
- Tend to sound "hyper-spiritual" and thus impractical and idealistic.

Dr Elmore wrote that it's easy to slip into one of these stereotypes because of few men reflect true biblical leadership. Is that true of my church? No, it doesn't reflect in my leaders. In fact I have leaders who are great example of what biblical leadership is all about. I am the exactly opposite of what they are. I am so eager to point out other's mistakes and find it so difficult at times to encourage. Because of my habit of spotting the wrong things, I became less and less of a "developer". The book emphasised the importance of relationships. Our relationship to God is based on our relationship with Him. Everything that we do, should be done because of our relationship with Him. Not doctrine. Everything is about Christ. I don't have a relationship with doctrine, but the person, Jesus Christ. Of course knowing Christ means we need to know sound doctrine which we should persue in our relationship with God.

U know, I am learning so much about myself and I hate it! I wish I could disagree with Dr Elmore's view, until I read something that tells me I am not wrong. I shall continue to read and be humbled by it. So my conclusion for now is this: what I've perceived as spiritual leadership is not wrong. Correcting and warning others about their spiritual condition is a thing that even Jesus did. However I realised that I do very little "developing". I tend to have a "brimestones and fire" kind of "preachiness" that I am now so ashamed about. ARhghgh... It's time I become balance. If I tell people off, I also want to provide guidance to them in a way that Jesus also did to his disciples. He is such a perfect role model to me. I am so blessed when I think about how Jesus taught Peter. Oh, I feel so like him!!! But before I cut another person's ear off, I am willing now to let go of my silliness and let the Holy Spirit empower me MORE for the Glory of God!