A few years ago, I was a visiting student at Magdalen College, one of the colleges of Oxford University in England. It was an amazing experience for me because I was used to the regimented lifestyle of the Virginia Military Institute where my entire day was usually spoken for and "having fun" usually wasn't in the agenda. At Oxford, I met an amazing group of friends who have gone on to do awesome things in the Kingdom, most notably my roommate Eddie Kirkland who is now a worship leader at North Point Community Church in Atlanta. Eddie and I hung out with a group of Christian girls from California who were also studying abroad. One of them was Kristy Franco, who to my great joy later became Kristy Hepfer. Often the group of us would go out to one of Oxford's dance clubs. I know what you're thinking, but it was all innocent I promise. You can go to a club and still be a follower of Jesus! Due to the intense winters in England, we all had to bundle up to walk to the mile or two to the clubs, especially Kristy because she hates the cold. When we got there, however, we checked our coats at the door. We did this because, unlike the cold harsh environment outside the club, the inside of the club was warm and vibrant. We didn't want to be hindered by our big bulky coats. We wanted to be free to dance and have fun. And we had a blast!
I think this is a good analogy for leadership. Just like the club I mentioned above had a warm and vibrant atmosphere, we want warm and vibrant atmospheres in our organizations, churches, and businesses. If we want that atmosphere, we sometimes need to check our attitudes at the door. I've learned this recently in my life, although I wish I would have learned it before. My "flesh man" is naturally negative, and that natural bent combined with four years at a nearly all male military college and 4 years in the the all male submarine force have made me cold at best, especially when it comes to work. But recently, after an interaction with one of my friends at work, I realized that I wouldn't even want me around with the the way I'd been acting. My words were often a sea of negativity filled with complaints, bitterness, and anger. I felt that I was justified in this attitude because I didn't agree with the way the ship was managed. I saw inefficiencies in our processes, poor management practices, and what I felt was improper treatment of people including myself. I believed that all of this entitled me to the negative attitude that I was harboring and displaying. That is until I realized that it was directly contrary to the Word of God.
To illustrate this point, lets look at what Paul has to say in Philippians 2:1-15:
If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus; Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped. But made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled himself and became obedient to death-even death on a cross. Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name. That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed-not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence-continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling for it is God who works in you to will and act according to his good purpose. Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe.
This is an incredibly dense passage, that if we internalize and put into practice in our lives we will actually shine like stars in our world. Why? Because hardly anyone is doing these things. I will cover each of these points in more detail in the coming weeks, but for now I'd like to lay them out in general terms.
1. Do Nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit.
2. In humility consider others as better than yourselves.
3. Look to the interests of others.
4. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.
5. Make yourself nothing and take the nature of a servant.
6. Humble yourself and become obedient.
7. Work out your salvation with fear and trembling.
8. Do everything without complaining or arguing.
Looking at my own thoughts and attitudes towards my work, I can see that I failed to measure up to God's standard. If we truly want to be leaders, we must put these truths into practice and check our own attitudes at the door. If we are able to do this, the outcome will be powerful. This is God's formula for us to shine in a world that desperately needs God's light. I urge you to read and meditate on Philippians 2:1-15 this week. Think about how you can begin to apply these principles in your life. I would love to hear your thoughts and comments.
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