Creating a Culture of Excellence, Pt.5a
By5.LEADERS INITIATE PAINFUL CONVERSATIONS
I realize that I may get a few less Christmas Cards in the mail this year because of this one! As leaders we must be willing to clearly explain the expectations of our organization (in this case the church of Jesus Christ) but then we must have the courage to call people on the carpet. We must be willing to take off our “cute and cuddly” papa bear suit and hold people accountable to the standards of Scripture.
We must be willing to call out “a lack of excellence in any area” as soon as we see it! Even if it means offending someone, hurting someone’s feelings, or firing a staff member! Here is how the deacon Stephen dealt with this (and he was speaking to the entire nation of Israel):
“You stubborn people! You are heathen at heart and deaf to the truth. Must you forever resist the Holy Spirit? That’s what your ancestors did, and so do you! (Act 7:51 NLT)
You deliberately disobeyed God’s law, even though you received it from the hands of angels.” The Jewish leaders were infuriated by Stephen’s accusation, and they shook their fists at him in rage. (Act 7:53-54 NLT)
Stephen had to call the nation of Israel on the carpet. Imagine being this leader! Imagine being the guy who after thousands of years of Messianic preparation in the nation of Israel has to come onto the scene and declare, “YEAH, UMM YOU MISSED IT. NOT ONLY DID YOU COMPLETELY MISS IT, BUT YOU KILLED GOD’S SON. YOU KILLED YOUR OWN MESSIAH.”
Stephen knew that this was not going to be well received. That should be a great lesson for every young preacher (actually old ones too:) – that we can’t gauge our sermon preparation or sermon delivery on how well people receive it or even respond to it. Our responsibility is to be loyal to Jesus more than the crowd!
If as a preacher and biblical communicator you are never saying anything to cause tension, to cause people to get upset, to get people to walk out then you aren’t communicating the message of Jesus (not all of it)! Seriously, quit being a bible preacher and take up ballet or something:)
