Jesus Was A Terrible Leader

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Jesus Was A Terrible Leader

March 26, 2008 by Jonathan Brink

I was thinking about Jesus and leadership today. I was thinking about what we typically think of when we think of growth in the typical church paradigm. For some, but not all, numerical growth is the obvious standard. And I get this because butts in the seats is measurable.

We celebrate the 101 fasting growing church in America and make lists. And I think about how this would feel if I were number 102. That would suck. The first question I would ask would be, “How do I make that list?” (As a side note, how about the churches that made the list this year and then found out they were not really on the list and had to be removed because of an error. Bummer.)

But if this is the measure we use, then Jesus was a terrible leader, in the short run. He wouldn’t get a job in today’s church marketplace. Think about it. He spent three years with 12 people. He talked to a lot of people but his primary focus was on twelve people who didn’t always get a long and didn’t always get it.

“Where’s the growth” people would ask? “How are we gonna pay the bills” others would say, albeit quietly in from the other side of the room. “This guy just doesn’t seem to get it.”

And yet Jesus changed the world. Nice.

I wonder if those in leadership will someday follow the model Jesus developed. He followed His Father’s voice to transform the lives of twelve ordinary people.

Posted in Jesus, church leadership, discipleship, humor, leadership, pastors | 8 Comments

8 Responses to “Jesus Was A Terrible Leader”

on March 27, 2008 at 8:35 am1 Daniel

And you know the wonderful thing? Those 12 went out and started a religion that has had tremendous growth over the last 2000 years. I keep wondering more and more if that’s not the role of a church planter or even our small/community/whatever you call it groups. Training leaders to go out and change the world rather than trying to train the world to change themselves.
on March 28, 2008 at 6:40 am2 Kay

Jonathan,

I think you might like THIS POST (it’s a great bit of satire), and then the follow-up one HERE (which is not satirical, and echoes your thoughts).

Kay, who is going to hit “submit comment” now and hope that my HTML is ok.
on March 28, 2008 at 11:09 pm3 jonathanbrink

Daniel, I would suggest that its both and inward and an outward journey of transformation. God calls us to follow so it changes us so we can change the world.
on March 28, 2008 at 11:10 pm4 jonathanbrink

Kay, I love Brant. His leadership satire is brilliant.
on March 30, 2008 at 8:50 am5 kathyescobar

hey jonathan, i wanted to let you know i loved this post!!! i so need to remember this….lately i have been feeling ik e a terrible leader because the refuge has felt especially uphill lately & this was a good reminder that is only because i make it harder than it needs to be with my old thinking of sustainability & “what good leaders must produce.” thanks for sharing.
on March 30, 2008 at 9:31 am6 jonathanbrink

thanks Kathy.
on March 31, 2008 at 10:32 am7 Ariah Fine

I agree with Kathy,

Excellent excellent post.

How do we get ourselves as church members and others to really get this, internalize and set up a structure so that we can follow Christ’s leading
on March 31, 2008 at 10:39 am8 jonathanbrink

Ariah, a group of us are actually working on this. We’ll post more in the future.