If you’re a church leader who thinks strategically, you’re probably going to get criticized. Maybe even more than you ever dreamed.
For some reason, being strategic is often viewed as being unspiritual in the church. Why?
I mean, if you want the church to flounder, be unstrategic. Never use your mind, only use your heart. Never think, only feel.
Saying the church should never be strategic is like saying God wasn’t strategic when he designed the universe or even when he designed you. Everything was just random or emotional; God never invoked what we best understand as rational thought.
The truth is God showed incredible precision and unfathomable accuracy and detail when creating the galaxies.
If God created us to think, why do people criticize leaders who use their minds when leading?
It’s a real question. Talk to many Christians, and you’d think logic and strategy are the enemies of the faith. (Just read the comments scattered throughout the blog…you’ll see the mindset there.)
You know who pays the price for this? Among others, the church. Because so often, churches are poorly led as a result.
To be fair, we’ve all probably met a few church leaders who were strategic but who showed little evidence of a profound and personal relationship with Jesus. That’s just wrong, and that’s not what this post is justifying.
You can be strategic and deeply devoted to Jesus. You can think and be faithful.
However, if you’re a strategic leader, get ready.
As soon as the conversation gets specific and detailed, some people start criticizing. Here’s what you need to be prepared to hear.
Just because these phrases sound spiritual doesn’t mean they’re always helpful. And just because they’re true doesn’t mean they should shut down intelligent, prayerful discussion.
But too often, they do, and the church pays a horrible price.
