a leader is…

a leader is a cultural architect. it is a combination of engineering and artistry. it is not just about doing, but about creating. an ark. that others may enter in, and be safe, and free, and alive.

from the mouth’s of leaders

thanks angie.

acceptance and agreement

we know that people thrive in an environment of acceptance. and a culture that we should be building is a culture of acceptance. however, there is always the danger or the fear, more often than not, that of we just accept people, that it means we agree with their lifestyle, behaviour etc.

john burke in his book, no perfect people allowed, talks about a church built with a culture of acceptance- a “come as you are” environment. but he is quick to caution that a come as you are culture must include a “but don’t stay as you are” tag, if we are to become Christ Followers.

Grace accepts people as they are, and recognises that all people are “in process”. and that God is drawing people to Himself by His Spirit according to the individuals journey with Him. we, the church (especially its leaders), need to model and build an accepting environment.

when there is relationship, then truth telling becomes a powerful mode of growth. when there is no relationship, then truth telling may seem like judgment, and that can repel people from coming and investigating faith in Christ.

in mathew 13:24-29, Jesus tells a story about a plantation with wheat growing. however, in the cover of night, his enemy comes to plant weeds in that same plantation. the servants desired to go and pluck out the weeds, but the farmer says not to, because in doing so they might also pluck out the wheat.

perhaps in this parable, Jesus suggests that we too need to allow time for people to grow. and not to pluck them out hastily.

how to begin a culture of acceptance?

1. teach on it
teach on parables like the one in mathew 13. tell the stories of Jesus among sinners – the woman who lived in adultery, zaccheus and highlight how Jesus accepted people as they are, but He never left them as they are.

2. intentionally spend time with someone outside your comfort zone
we all have comfort zones when it comes to people we click with and those we don’t. intentionally spend time with one or two people outside of that zone – to understand them and their situation, not to judge them or even to help them.

3. teach your leaders to have an ongoing conversation with people outside the faith
oftentimes, we find ourselves wanting to convert people outside our faith. Jesus did the opposite. He walked with them. In Luke 24:13-35, Jesus comes alongside two men who are filled with doubt of their messiah. He could have stopped them and turned them around, but He chose to walk with them. He invites them to share their heart with Him, and He starts to talk to them truth from scripture. we need to learn to walk and talk with people far away from God.

4. tell the stories of acceptance and grace
use testimonies in your services.

5. use baptisms as an opportunity to highlight “grace”
baptisms become powerful moments when a person has come as they are, but chosen to not stay as they are.