Getting Things Rolling

Welcome to the discussion.

I will be reading a chapter a week in Spiritual Leadership by Henry and Richard Blackaby, that will serve as the basis of our discussion. I will likely draw from other material as I see fit.

Here is the Amazon link if you'd like to order it. http://www.amazon.com/Spiritual-Leadership-Moving-People-Agenda/dp/0805418458/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2/105-1462657-9296407?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1190775434&sr=8-2

I invite you to join me and add your comments.

Chapter 1. The Leader's Challenge

The Blackabys list a few stories to hook us: A discouraged executive who finds his values at odds with business strategies of his executive team. A pastor who finds that his preaching and visitation strategies have not been enough to ward off criticism in his consumer-driven congregation.

My son asked me this week why so many people hate President Bush. I tried to explain to him that any leadership position invites opposition. Like any other leader, the President has made errors, but the very fact that he leads a party means that 35-40% of the American public will almost always be opposed to him.

So, as leaders we should expect opposition. If you can't handle opposition, you can't handle leadership. This is even difficult for the street fighters among us, but it is an essential truth.

Think of leaders in the last century. Political giants -- Churchill, Roosevelt, Wilson, Mandela, and MLK Jr. Which ones did not have opposition? Religious giants -- Billy Graham (ushered out of the White House by Truman -- opposed by fundamentalists for being too inclusive) -- Pope John Paul (shot), Dali Lama (exiled). Sports stars -- Jerry Rice often was double teamed, baseball stars get beamed, I need not go any further down the list.

Some thoughts on this phenomena.
1. Expect opposition. The more success you have moving people onto God's agenda (the definition of leadership given by the Blackabys), the more opposition you should expect.
2. Learn how to deal with opposition in a Christian manner. You may be surprised how much information there is in the NT on how to deal with opposition. Given -- when you step out as a leader you paint a target on your back. However, it is worth the pain and suffering, because nothing is more needed in the world then leaders. This has always been so, and will always be so. Does it surprise you that God Himself looks for leaders? "The eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His..." 2 Chron. 16:9
3. If you do not fight for your follower's hearts and lives your enemy will.
4. ???

I welcome your comments, stories, questions, and Bible quotes. Perhaps you have a thought or lesson you've learned about facing or learning from opposition.