Whose disciple are you?
It seems that many times, in adoration of leadership, many people miss the point that it is not the pastor or leader who is to be followed or worshipped. When Jesus gave the disciples the Great Commission in Matthew 28 he said, “Therefore go and make disciples in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” Notice he did not say, “Make your own disciples and teach them to follow your lead.”
So often in the church, members of the body look up to their leaders with an unhealthy adoration that leads some to put their trust, their faith, and even their obedience unto their leader. But as Christian leaders we need to teach people to be disciples of Christ and to obey Christ’s commandments, not our own.
I am an advocate for strong leadership. I am an advocate for respect of strong leadership. I am even an advocate for directive and corrective leadership. But I am strongly opposed to leaders that create followers of themselves rather than followers of Christ.
As leaders we need to have authority, but to exercise it in humility. We need to gain respect, but defer adoration. We need to make disciples and followers of Christ, not dependent followers of ourselves.
If we can use our influence to move Christians to a deeper realization of, relationship with, and obedience to Christ rather than loyalty to ourselves, we will be doing a much better job of fulfilling the Great Commission.
