Leadership Lessons

To quote Albert Mohler, "Here is a simple rule to keep in mind: When D. A. Carson writes a book, buy it." Well, back in 1993 Carson wrote a book that is particularly apropos for our conference: The Cross and Christian Ministry: Leadership Lessons from 1 Corinthians. It is simply a must-have. Through his careful exposition of specific texts in 1 Corinthians, Carson has pinpointed reliance on the gospel as the essence of Christian leadership. This book is so good, I'll whet your appetite with the first paragraph of the preface on page 9:

"For too long, many evangelicals have viewed the cross exclusively as the means by which God in Christ Jesus achieved our redemption. Of course, no Christian would want to minimize the centrality of the cross in God's redemptive purposes. But if we view it as the means of our salvation and nothing more, we shall overlook many of its functions in the New Testament. In particular . . . we shall fail to see how the cross stands as the test and the standard of all vital Christian ministry. The cross not only establishes what we are to preach, but how we are to preach. It prescribes what Christian leaders must be and how Christians must view Christian leaders."

Carson points out time and again how the gospel is critical to genuine Christian leadership. For example, after unfolding the folly of "man's wisdom" as seen in 1 Cor. 1:25, Carson reminds us (on p.26) that the church in our area of the world "tends to run through cycles of fads" (e.g., many books being written on ministry planning and "vision"). While acknowledging that these fads often bring about helpful emphases for Christian leaders, he warns of a subtle yet dangerous shift that can take place:

"I fear that the cross, without ever being disowned, is constantly in danger of being dismissed from the central place it must enjoy, by relatively peripheral insights that take on far too much weight. Whenever the periphery is in danger of displacing the center, we are not far removed from idolatry."

What he is saying is that we need to be vigilant to keep the gospel at the center of what we do, for when it ceases being at the center we cease being good leaders. Paul told Timothy the same thing in 1 Timothy 4. In verse 10, he said that godliness is "the end [to which] we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe." Paul affirms in this verse the way in which leadership efforts are infused with real power: when they are done in the hope of what Jesus has already done. Despite all of this effort toward godliness, Paul then warns Timothy just six verses later to "Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers." Strive for godliness in the hope of the Savior. Even if you're doing it at one point, you can lose the focus if you are not watchful! If you guard your life and your doctrine (i.e., by making sure they center on the hope in the cross), salvation for you and those you lead are the result. Carson's warning of idolatry is what is the result if you don't.

Pray that the conference will be full of this type of teaching and warning. That the hope of the risen Savior will be what stands out in the messages. And that we will fellowship in that hope, both at the conference and beyond.