Brett Tilford

Consistency is a trait I’m beginning to hold in high esteem.

There was a time when I valued change – plenty and often – over the drag of “one foot in front of the other” consistency. Change is exciting and sexy. It grabs peoples attention and polarizes them. Those can be good things, but if you want to change the world, you’ll have to be willing to engage the mundane. Practicing, honing, listening, emailing, calling, arguing, and organizing. Then rinse and repeat.

I’ve found the hard part isn’t starting something – it’s sticking with it long enough to have an impact.

Leaders are a rare breed – but leaders who don’t want to lead are rarer still. I think we need more leaders who don’t want to lead.

By “don’t want to lead” I mean that they’re reluctant and choose the times and places they step up wisely. Why? Because they know leadership comes with a price tag – it’s not all stages and great speeches. It’s serving. It’s blood and sweat and tears. It’s giving a damn day after day. It’s smiling when everyone’s crying and offering hope when there’s none left. It’s speaking life into people when they don’t want to hear it. It’s trying and failing and trying again. It’s listening. It’s exhausting. It’s existing for the good of other people – to help them win. It’s a life poured out. Period.

If someone is begging to lead – don’t let them. I don’t care how smart, well spoken, or ambitious they are. I don’t care what previous positions or titles they’ve had – they’ve never lead. They’re begging because they’re in it for themselves (ego, insecurity, etc.) or they’re stupid. Either way they’ll fail.

Great – but reluctant – people are who you should look for. Leaders you have to beg and cajole. People who fully realize the price they’ll pay – but do it anyway.

I want a church that isn’t…

So heavenly minded it’s no earthly good.

So earthly minded it’s no earthly good.

Afraid of doubt instead of seeing it as part of the human experience and as central to faith.

Obsessed with sin (thus stoking it’s desire) instead of helping us confront and move beyond it.

Interested in the spectacle of a miracle instead of becoming that miracle for others.

Focused on serving those who can return the favor.

So busy cutting at others that we forget to cut at ourselves (acknowledging our own violence and shortcomings).

Trying to sell us the snakeoil of a better life instead of teaching us to lay down our life.

Vying for power and labeling it “God’s blessing” rather than refusing it.

Busy hating enemies and loving friends instead of loving enemies and hating (confronting) friends.