We all love to give our perspective, offer our opinion, and counsel others how to live. That’s because we are generally confident that we have figured life out and that people are eager to hear what we have to say. In truth we are probably more interested in hearing ourselves talk more than anything else.

Others might grow by hearing us talk, but not much. They are more likely to grow if we drive them to the Word and encourage them in the process of discovery. This way truth becomes their own. Discovery can ignite an internal path of transformation, while rules, regulations, and lectures are more likely to numb the mind and chill the heart.

Let’s drive others to the Word and to the joys of discovery.

“Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.” (Acts 17:11)

This is not the time to quit doing what you know is right. Sure it is hard! Change causes friction—and if you are to be moving from where you are to where you need to be, you will have friction, there’s just no way around it.

We must pray for boldness and grace as we follow through with what He has called us to do. This is the third request (see earlier post) that I have made to God, “Lord, give me boldness, because I know that doing the right thing is going to be hard…really hard. And, give me grace. Help me to have a right spirit through it all and help me to be full of joy.”

When attacked, there are two reactions that I find ever lurking in the back of my mind. The first is just to quit. The second is to get angry. Neither one of these will produce anything that pleases God. So, daily, I find myself running back to the Word, arguing myself back to truth, then praying through every part of this exercise of faith. It is not just “God’s will” for the ministry, He is also busy changing my life. I can say, “I don’t need this,” but God is bringing exactly what I need. Through this very struggle, I come to know Him more fully.

The fight—being criticized, judged, and misrepresented. This is what we don’t like, and this is what can make us want to quit. But remember, this same tension will also break us and drive us to greater levels of dependence—and fruitfulness. It’s worth it. Don’t quit.

While training for ministry I threw a lot of notes and files into my briefcase along the way—for future use. I am not talking about the fundamentals of the faith, but more of Christian living issues. I didn’t have a lot of time or a lot of interest in diving into the cultural debates on music, dress, facial hair, etc., and while what I was hearing from the experts didn’t always make a lot of sense, at that time of my life I just took people at their word. I was young, hungry, and eager. I really just wanted to get out into ministry and serve the Lord. There were a lot of things in my briefcase like that, that I really didn’t take time to examine in depth because I viewed them as “secondary.” I just took what I got, didn’t ask a lot of questions, and got busy starting a church.

Some of the concerns came when I pulled these files out of my briefcase and started teaching new converts what the Christian life should look like. Some of the these secondary things were not getting through and I and I was starting to get frustrated. I tried being more intense but that didn’t seem to work either. Then, having kids and working with college students brought this challenge to a whole new level. What does the Bible say? What doesn’t it say? It caused me to dig deeper. I started to rethink some things…with an open Bible.

So what do you do when you find you were wrong? Dig in, hold your position, and yell louder? Or, do you admit it and then do the right thing? I have had friends tell me, “I’m too old to change,” or “It’s just too hard to do at this point.” Well, we may be old and it may be hard, but I also think we have a great opportunity to encourage and influence this next generation by being honest with the Word of God and bold in doing what is right—no matter what the cost. They need that kind of leadership. They need that kind of example.

There are a number of things I have had to rethink—and at somewhat of an accelerated pace. Having kids of my own and being around students all the time has forced me many times to be honest with what the Bible does and doesn’t say. Over the past several years I have read through the scriptures multiple times—all with an intense desire to find what pleases God. I have come to the conclusion that some of my positions, though well intended, were more conservatively pragmatic than they were biblical.

Times are changing more quickly for my children than they were for me. It will be better for me to pass on to them the ability to discern the Word, as well as the times they live in, than to follow traditions, many of which have lost relevance.

We should not fear taking a fresh look, rethinking—with an open Bible, and an open mind.

When we start seeing things as God sees them, we can be certain that change will be in order. The more clearly we see the differences the more obvious this will become. But change is not easy. And that’s why I think many of us are tempted to stay where we are and with what we have become comfortable with.

“Lord give me wisdom to navigate from where I am to where I need to be.” This is the second of the requests I have referred to (see original post). Thankfully the Lord knows not only “what” it should look like, but “how” we get there. Even if we have the the right goal, we can make the fatal mistake of reaching for it in our own strength and wisdom.

For us as leaders there is even more at stake. Not only are we responsible for our own lives but for the lives of others. Feeling that weight is a healthy thing and a time when Proverbs 3:5, 6 becomes the air we need to breathe; “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths.”

“Seeing things as God sees them” is the first step, but God also calls us into continuing action, to lead the way and to navigate from where we are to where we need to be. Timing, teaching, pace, decisions, choosing what hills to die on, etc…all of these are important.

My dad is a retired Navy captain and he would refer to the command from the bridge, “moving foreword with all deliberate speed.” I love that phrase. It is not “puttering along” and it is not “full throttle.” It is a purposeful and calculated pace—one that communicates resolve and one that does not shrink back in fear.

My prayer is that when God shows us what needs to change in our lives and ministries that we immediately ask Him how these changes should take place. Then follow, teaching as we go. That’s what leaders do.