Putting You in the Box

I have been thinking a lot lately about different leadership styles and personalities. It is amazing how God uses different people from different walks of life in the Bible. Think about Moses, Noah, Joshua, Josiah, Peter, Lydia & the Apostle Paul. I could go on and on. The point is all of these people are different. Different in their leadership, how they handled problems, the way they communicated. With all that said, why is it that we in the American church try to put people in a box???

I will use myself as an example as to not offend anyone. Over the last 18 years of ministry I have had people try to change me. Some change has been good. Like going from being a selfish person to unselfishness. Being over bearing to not so over bearing. Learning to shut up and listen instead of talk all the time.

Then there have been those that have tried to change what makes me, ME! Some don't like how I get so excited about every sermon series, really that is ME and if you listen to sermons since I was 13 you will hear the same kind of excitment. Others don't like how I dress. Then how should I dress, I will ask them? The response is comical at best because their response is they want me to dress like them. You have got to be kidding me. Then there was the time where someone's mother said she wasn't coming back to church because I wear jeans. Uh, apparently she has a huge misunderstanding of the Gospel and what the church is here for. Mam, Jesus said it's not the outward appearance that matters, but the heart, the inside of a person.

I think you get the point. If you are a pastor or church leader let me encourage you to be YOU! U B U! God made all of us with different personalities and looks so just be yourself. Don't try to preach like some else, just be yourself. Don't try to lead like Bill Hybels, lead like God has designed you.

I hope this is an encouragement to some of you today as you lead in a world that wants to put you in a box.