Humble Authority (Titus 2:15)

“Declare these things; exhort and rebuke with all authority. Let no one disregard you.”

This is a good word for sound leadership, I suppose. One of the characteristics or qualities of someone who is a good leader is genuine humility. Generally anyone who is convinced that they are the best person to lead anything has already demonstrated a character flaw that puts their qualifications in doubt. This is especially the case in endeavors that resemble religion. The last person you want in charge of a spiritual endeavor is someone who thinks they have all the answers and is ready to tell everyone else exactly how to think and live.

That being said, if you can find a truly qualified individual for leadership, their natural humility and healthy self-awareness will require that they be reminded that they do need to lead. There are some basic truths, some understanding of vision and purpose that need to be clearly communicated. Every community of believers is always in danger of straying off course, of becoming distracted from their reason for being. There are just so many ways to make a church ineffective through the temptation of the good. There are so many good things that a church can do that have nothing to do with God’s mission. Leadership needs to keep the vision and purpose front and center at all times.