Death by wall …

What’s one of the most effective ways of killing the passion of a young minister?

Be a wall of opposition.

That’s what happened to the last young minister I spent a brief period consulting with. It was his first senior minister position. He seemed to be approaching his new responsibilities humbly and soberly. But he was scared. Not of failing, but of the wall of opposition already erected by the elders.

The church was more than a couple decades old, long enough that, statistically speaking, it would likely be declining if not already in the throes of death. The existing leadership team was composed of old-school elders who knew what they believed, nevertheless were fairly biblically illiterate. They cherished the status quo. The young minister cherished a biblical model of a vibrant church striving diligently to achieve its part of the Great Commission.

After a few months of smiling warmly while pushing back at the young leader, the minister changed. Now he was talking about how he was blessed to be where he was at, how well things were going, and quietly dropped his consultations.

He had surrendered his passion for biblical church mission to the “comfort” of the stagnation. It was easier. He could stop fighting, stop pushing, and just work.

The wall of opposition did its work: it killed his passion.

Ultimately, it will kill that church.

The doors might remain open. Nice things may even be done in Jesus’ name. But the very purpose for that local church’s existence will be long dead.

Leaders, fellow staffers, and local church members often give little thought to the effect of their opposition to their leaders. They throw out their opinions, especially their criticisms and disagreements, without any consideration of their affect on their leader.

Leaders are human beings. Some more fragile than others. But all of them can feel beaten up, unsupported, even unloved and more than a little threatened by the opposition recklessly expressed by the very people they are trying to lead, love, and serve. Even the strongest of leaders can endure only so much before they either leave or surrender.

Before adding your brick to a wall of opposition, consider this exhortation from the writer of Hebrews, “Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you” (Hebrews 13:17).

Are you expressing confidence in, and support of, your leaders? Does your followership feed the passion for mission in your local congregation, or smother it? Are you tearing down, or building up, your leaders?

Scotty