John 10 speaks of "hirelings" or "substitutes for the real thing" who want to "climb up some other way." Where leaders get into trouble is with independent acting, outside of the confines of congregational life in love. When we step out alone in public ways (without our leaders or church members on board) we are endangering the fragile relationship between clergy and laity. Often church members won't understand what we are thinking since they are focused only on our independent (re:trouble-making) actions! Such independent action may be symptom of the sinful desire to be Pastor/leader outside of the congregational life, so that the church serves us and not we the church.
Servant leaders will lead from the heart if we are willing to exercise independent spiritual thinking. Following the ineffable lead of God's Holy Spirit, welling up from within, under the guidance of Scripture, we can lead with integrity. This is about conversation, about communication, about bringing people together with how God is leading the shepherd. It is about persuasion, convincing, and challenging within the church. For me, this is an implication of John's imagery of the good shepherd. In Baptist life much of leadership is about consultation and conversation, reaching understandings, and moving forward. It is about free pulpits and free people, but not clashing mavericks clamoring for attention with the trappings of the church but without its authority. Churches should not exist to validate pastors' desires or egos, but their callings. Is the calling to love and serve others who love Christ, or to be affirmed and served in one's own desires?
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