Fuzzy Leadership & The Grand Disconnect

The Grand Disconnect

I believe that one of the major obstacles for getting the proper paradigm for leadership the way Jesus modeled it is getting rid of the Grand Disconnect. What is the Grand Disconnect?
Simply this: When we read and see what Jesus did, we have this tendency to see it as something that it was just Jesus. But in reality it was (and is) God doing it . . .


So Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise.
(Joh 5:19 ESV)


Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'?
(Joh 14:9 ESV)

So here we have THE Creator of everything seen & unseen, (HE who has ALL Power; He who can just speak and what was not now is . . . ) Moving and Breathing among us.

And He doesn't make us do anything. Instead, He invites. He shows us the Way but doesn't make us walk it or force it on us. He may choose to rattle our cage (thinking of Saul soon-to-be-Paul here . . .) but choice is still our option.

So when we read of Jesus washing the feet of the disciples, we are seeing God Almighty washing the feet of ordinary, messed-up, mistake-prone folks like you and me. This is HE who could (with all Just & Rightness & Authority) point His finger at us and say "DO IT!" and we would because He has the Might and the Power.


Then he said to me, "This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of hosts.
(Zec 4:6 ESV)

If there was anyone who had the right (AND the Power) to be a control-freak it would be Jesus.
But we don't see Him being that or doing that. He invites us in, opens up the way in for us, but doesn't force. I want to say that He models but somehow that doesn't feel right (has a shadow of disconnect in it). It is more of a healthy enabling; an empowering . . . or at least a "potential-ing" (gee, new word there! May my English and Grammar teachers forgive me . . .) of empowering.

And in the reading of John 13:1-14, I see God "potential-ing" the disciples in the way of leadership that is of the Kingdom. Not a leadership that controls, manipulates nor coerces.
But a leadership that truly enables, empowers and invites.

"But what about confrontation?"
Yes, He does challenge us. He shakes and rattles us. But always from the core of Love.
This is something we shall explore later . . .

Fuzzy Accountability

I have had some conversations as of late in regards to "Loving others without agend" and walking in the Freedom that Jesus gives us . . . and allowing others to do the same.
Inevitably the person I am talking to asks:
"But what about Accountability???"
As in: " . . . if we don't "keep" someone "on track" (I.E. "Command & Control") then terrible things are going to happen . . . "
(The reality being that the only person I can really "control" is myself {and that's on a good day}. Influence is another subject . . .)

The last I checked, the only accounting a follower of Jesus has to do is that to Papa with what has been done with the life they have been given.

I am quite sure that discipline/accountability exists in the Kingdom, but I have a funny feeling that they have a totally different paradigm . . . a totally different "mode of being".

Discipline/Accountability in the Kingdom is based on & flows from a deep Love that is relational to the core; It is always available and never abandons (but does let go at times).

In fact, any real authority or influence I have with another person is that which they give to me.
(Barring any type of domineering, "command & control" or "Lording it over" dysfunction).
Reflect upon this: Think about the people that Papa has put in your life; the ones who really influenced you and/or impacted you in a positive way in regards to Papa, Jesus, Holy Spirit and the Kingdom. What was it that opened that door of influence, leadership or authority???

Genuine Relationship. And that cannot be forced, coerced or manipulated (else it will mutate and eventually die . . .)

Of course, we will make mistakes and get things messed-up. But Jesus doesn't leave us there when that happens. He beckons us "Arise!", woo's us to follow and teaches us His way of leading.

Fuzzy Confessions . . .

As things begin to unfold in "Fuzzy Leadership" one may begin to feel as if the tale is a form of deconstruction. Which it is not. It is intended solely for construction. Perhaps along the line of reformation (which is greatly needed).

In the conversation, I will by necessity cover some of the misuses and abuses of leadership within Ekklesia. However it may seem that I am "pointing the finger" as such. Be it known however that I am well aware that anytime I point a finger that there are three other fingers of that same hand pointing back at myself.

I.E.: I know of the misuses and abuses of leadership in Ekklesia because of my own failings in that very area.

"Mia Culpa" . . .

In this Journey we suffer bumps, bruises and wounding. And it is inevitable that we inflict our own share of that upon others. God grant us the grace to ask and offer forgiveness to one another for that.

But it must not end there. A realization of the Ephesian 4:13 calling includes a Kingdom perspective of leadership.

Without a paradigm shift in that realm, we will only re-create the same problems in a variant form of the Matrix ~ box ~ stronghold ~ prison ~ grave.

Not so with you . . .

Is what Jesus told His disciples when talking about the exercising of authority in Matthew 20:25.
And so commences my exploration of what I have come to call "Fuzzy Leadership".

The of way Jesus interacted with others, indeed with everything, was always radically different than the "normal" (I.E.: The world's) way. So the Kingdom ways of authority, "ruling", "obeying" and "submitting" must have radically different paradigms and methods than those of the various world "systems". But it seems that "the church" has, for the last 1800 or-so years has pretty much operated much in the same manner as those "worldly systems".

"Command & Control" has been thoroughly adopted as the "motis operandi" of ICOR (Institutionalized Church/Organized Religion) christianity.
The small "c" is on purpose, for I am a follower of Jesus and consider myself a Christian, but not part of ICOR (or at least, like Neo, I have begun the Journey of seeing the Matrix for what it is.
Suffice it to say I am a recovering "tight-ass church dude" . . .)

So, what could have Jesus possibly meant when He said " . . . not so with you"? (Heavy on the rhetorical there . . .). I think it is pretty clear; we ain't supposed to "exercise authority" and "lord it over one another" as the world does. In fact, we are not to "lord it over" anyone, and the authority thing has totally different paradigms, as we shall explore.

The misuse and abuse of authority in the "command & control" ideology of ICOR is probably the foremost reason why Followers of Jesus are leaving the (matrix) institution and seeking intimacy with Him. "Equip, Train and Release" has been mutated by ICOR into something else, and the "release" part has been removed.

But Jesus has other ideas . . . and the matrix shakes as more and more folks become "unplugged".

Fasten your seat belts . . .

The 4 R's: Final Thoughts and Things to Come

Final Thoughts . . .

As in all things that matter (and if anything matters, then everything matters!) it is a process and a journey. In the path of reconciliation, nothing (and no one) is ever abandoned. But sometimes it will require letting go . . .

There is wisdom to be had in remembering the Serenity Prayer:

“God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as He did, this sinful world
as it is, not as I would have it;
Trusting that He will make all things right
if I surrender to His Will;
That I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with Him
Forever in the next.
Amen.” -- Reinhold Niebuhr

Though there be hardships on the Journey, we are never alone.

Coming sometime (as opposed to coming soon . . . my work schedule is crazy . . .) I will visit the following "Rhema-nations" . . .

Fuzzy Leadership

Brokenness

"Loosing my Religion"

& "Expectancy vs. Expectation"

Until then . . .

~ Shalom

Reconciliation ~ Part 2

Does the Past Count?

Not dealing with the offense will hinder forward movement. At the personal level, key scriptures are Matthew 5.21~24, 1 Cor. 10.32, & Col. 3.8~15 (there are probably more but these will suffice). On the larger scale, you can look to 1^st Samuel chapter 21. Thanks be to God that because of the work of the Cross that there be no need for the offending party be slain. The Law of Reaping & Sowing has been supplanted by the ways of Grace, which means that the curses outlined in Deut. 28.16~68 are dealt with. But there still remain consequences for past actions (or non-actions). We still live in a broken world and all things have not been healed. And in those places of brokenness where offense has not been dealt with, there perhaps remains some level of curse still active.

Part of the challenge is to find open doors that will lead to reconciliation. Without an openness/willingness of all the parties involved, then there will be little chance of the process happening. Still, opening gestures must be made. Perhaps that itself will be the seed of change that is needed for further healing and growth.

Conversational Resonance

Many great conversations happening out there in the Ekklesia-verse.
I am encouraged when I see different parts of ekklesia touching upon similar themes.
To me this speaks of whisperings from Papa God to His children. My prayer is that we would have ears to hear . . .

For Christian Mysticism, check out Carl McColman's blog here.

For Atonement talk, check out Zoecarnate here.

and some more on Atonement by Derek Flood here.

and some paradigm shifting on Eschatology by Martin Scott here (the podcasts can be found on his blog here . . .)