Developing the Church in 2040
Once upon a time there was a little church who had an honored and revered church leader. This respected man carried the congregation on his shoulders. A few years went by and that leader deceased, followed by the dwindling away of the church only two brief years later. This is not a fairy tale. This story represents the sad fate of many churches after the patriarchal leader of the church passes away. Why does this happen? The problem may be more complex, but one integral quality of a great leader is the development of other leaders. Great men develop and leave greater men after them so the above circumstance does not repeat itself.
Consider four examples of leadership development from the Bible. The first is a unfortunate example. Joshua was selected by God and Moses to be his right hand man and the next leader of Israel. Upon designating Joshua as the next shepherd of Israel, God declared to Moses, “Set a man over the congregation, who may go out before them and go in before them, who may lead them out and bring them in, that the congregation of the Lord may not be like sheep which have no shepherd,” (Joshua 27:16-17). From this point forward a careful Bible reader will notice Joshua at the right side of Moses. Joshua accompanied Moses half way up Mt. Sinai when the 10 commandments were first delivered in Ex. 32. No later than Joshua chapter one, Joshua is highly respected by all Israel after giving an inaugural address prior to leading the fall of Jericho. The Israelite nation would go on to follow Joshua at his word, and at Joshua’s death it would be said of him, “Israel served the Lord all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua, who had known all the works of the Lord which He had done for Israel,” (Joshua 24:31). Moses success in developing a stalwart leader out of Joshua is evident from scripture. However, as excellent a leader as Joshua was, he failed in one of the key qualities of leadership. Joshua failed to leave another Joshua after him. Certainly, Israel was faithful during the days of the elders that followed, but Joshua did not develop those elders as Moses had developed Joshua, leading to the dark ages of Israelite history during the judges.
Other premier examples of leadership development are seen in Elijah’s tutorship of Elisha who would follow to be the most profound prophet of miraculous ability in Israelite history. Look at Jehoiada who would guide the young king Joash from the time of a young child to when he would reign autonomously on the throne of Judah (2 Kings). Jesus Himself selected twelve men to be his right hand men, and among those twelve, Peter, James, and John would receive special interest from Jesus as they displayed strong leadership abilities. These three were especially selected to go with Jesus on the mount where He was transfigured in Matthew 17. When reading the gospels and Acts, these three are mentioned more than any of the other disciples besides Judas Iscariot. These men made sure the church thrived during the deepest of persecutions.
Moses, Elijah, Jehoiada, and Jesus all practiced leadership development and intended that the church in 2016 do the same. Every congregation is faced with this task. Without leaders who practice leadership development, it may be said of the church in 2040, “Everyone did what was right in his own eyes,” (Judges 21:25).
Aaron Battey