Will You Lead?

By Jim Faughn

    Recently, I came across some material I have had for years. In that material, I was reminded of a book written years ago by brother Norman Hogan. The book was entitled Leadership in the Local Church.
    Contrary to what you might imagine from the title, this book is not at all merely for elders, deacons, preachers, and others in “leadership positions” in a congregation. The book contains material that, if taken to heart and put into practice, could benefit every member of every congregation of God’s people.
    The very first sentence in the very first chapter of the book should serve as a “wake up call” for all of us. Please carefully and prayerfully read, reread, and consider the implications of these words:

“If the members of a local church refuse to lead for Christ, it is certain that others, whose philosophy of life is alien to that of Christians, will lead people away from Christ.”

Did you not see in that statement what I did not see? 
    I did not see in that sentence any of the following words: elders, deacons, preachers, Bible class teachers. The word I saw was members.
    How do you react to brother Hogan’s statement? How do you react to the word “members?”
    Do you believe that he is accurate in what he wrote? If so, what are you doing about it?
    As you (and I) consider that, let me suggest something else I did not see in his statement. I did not read that he was discussing leading people to Christ. 
    Please do not misunderstand. I am, in no way, meaning to leave the impression that leading people to Christ is not important. It is vitally important. It is eternally important.
    However, what is under consideration here is leading for Christ. It seems to me that what is called for here would be individuals who will do more than lament the deterioration and decline of what some have called the “moral fabric” of our society – and other societies in the world.
    What brother Hogan thought was desperately needed were people who would take a stand based on firm convictions. They would do more than merely take a stand. They would move forward in the right direction and encourage others to follow.
    Leaders lead. They do not merely stand.
    Leaders act. They do not merely complain.
    Is our society all that you want it to be? What about your community? What about your workplace? What about your school? What about your congregation? What about your family?
    Are you leading for Christ?

- Jim Faughn, a retired preacher, serves as an elder for the Central Church of Christ in Paducah KY.  He may be contacted through the congregation's website: http://www.centralchurchofchrist.org