06.04.10

WWJD – 2

Posted in formation, leadership at 9:23 am by len

Last week I posted some thoughts on leadership as an imitation of Christ. If we seek to imitate Christ, we have to imitate that which he called us to imitate, and not merely his Person. He came among us as Lord and Master, but he then set an intentional example of suffering service. If we look to his position or being, we would aim for the Heroic model. if we look to his word and his example, we would aim for the Host.

But what had not struck me at the time was how rooted this distinction is in a Hellenistic and modern worldview. It points to the distinction between a belief system and a way of life. Even a “worldview” is perilously close to a belief system. Sadly, it is possible to form people in a worldview, yet not form them as followers of Christ. I recall Richard Rohr expressing this difference in a gripping way. Rohr remarked that Jesus did not call us to worship him, but to follow Him. (Though neither did he reject worship when it was offered).

In McLaren, “Finding our Way Again,” Brian relates a story, recalling an engagement with leadership and organizational scientist Peter Senge. Brian was asked to interview him live by satellite at the beginning of a conference, and during the conversation Senge asked a question: “Why are books on Buddhism so popular, and not books on Christianity?” Brian, feeling somewhat on the spot, pushed the question back to Senge. Senge suggested his own answer:

“I think it’s because Buddhism presents itself as a way of life, and Christianity presents itself as a system of belief. So I would want to get Christian ministers thinking about how to rediscover their own faith as a way of life, because that’s what people are searching for today. That’s what they need the most.” (3).

We can worship Jesus in His divinity. But we are called to follow him in his humanity. He was over us as Lord and Master and Creator. He was lowly and vulnerable and among us as a servant. To lead as a Jesus follower is to lead from among and from below: by example, and by conversation, as a brother among brethren.

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