leadership

When is it that we become adults? I know the legal answer is 18. But come on, I don’t think any of us are really under the allusion that we were adults on our 18th birthday. Maybe we could buy cigarettes, vote, and join the army, but at the end of the day we all knew we weren’t actual adults.

Or maybe it is when we go to college, leave our parents’ homes, get jobs, find spouses, or any of the other things that seem to be the proverbial exit ramps of childhood. However, all of us know plenty of people that have conquered any or all of the above milestones, yet adulthood has still alluded them.

I think this is a huge issue in church. I have so many friends, most of them in their mid twenties, who are just floating through life. They are great people, who are making good choices, working good jobs, going to good churches, but no one has ever given them permission to grow up…so when it comes to church they are still waiting for everyone else to call the shots, take the lead, make a difference. 

I wonder why so many of us will spend our 20’s pouring our time, energy, passions, and talents into our careers, yet when it comes to church we are spectators at best? What would happen if we quit waiting for permission, quit complaining about the way things are, and quit offering our critiques? What would happen if we simply grew up, and allowed our lives to do the preaching?

“Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith, and in purity.” – 1 Tim. 4:12

Is our generation leading the charge by setting an example for the believers in the way we talk, the way we live, the way we love, and the way we pursue purity? If not, what are we waiting for?

John the Baptist was a pretty amazing dude. Periodically I try to think about what John the Baptist would look like in 2009. Would he still be sporting the Camel Hair Blazer, eating bugs, and preaching with the fire of a fundamentalist, small town, southern Baptist preacher? Who knows.

But I read a verse this afternoon that gives pretty amazing insight into the type of guy John the Baptist was.  The verse is simple, yet extraordinarily difficult to live out.

“He must become greater; I must become less.” – John 3:30

Let that verse resonate for a moment. I love that verse because it gives us such insight into the type of man John was. Even when given the perfect opportunity (large crowds, devoted followers, long lines at the book signings) John the Baptist always shunned self advancement. Instead of pointing to himself, he pointed to Jesus.

For John, it was all about Jesus. He avoided the trap of self glorification. He knew that he was simply God’s messenger, and robbing God of his glory was something that John was not interested in. In fact, when the crowds wanted to worship John, questioning whether or not he was the Messiah he said, “Someone is coming soon who is greater than I am — so much so that I’m not even worthy to be his slave and untie the straps of his sandals.”

For those of you that are in positions of leadership, when the crowds swell, when your resume grows, when people suddenly are interested in your opinion — how do you respond?

As I was reflecting on this verse I just started praying that God would help us to be like John. I pray that God will help us be people that give all the glory to God — not simply with our lips, but with our lives.

Is it truly your desire to become less, so that Jesus can become greater in your life?