Leadership is not about power, position, or politics - not in the Church. Leadership is about walking together with God and helping others do the same. That is why Paul told Timothy how an elder should be viewed in the community.
He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil's trap. (1 Timothy 3:7 NIV)
A good reputation doesn't happen overnight. In fact, a good reputation is not easy to foster. It takes time, energy, effort and, of course, consistency. Not only that, it takes consistency over a long period of time. A "good reputation" in the community is met with suspicion in the short term. Over time, that "good reputation" gets tested by people. They want to find out what you're really made of. Over a long time, though, a "good reputation" only happens when someone is consistently good. There's no shortcut.
Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. (Colossians 4:5-6 NIV)
Remember, again, what leadership is all about in the church. It's about helping people walk together with God. That means we need to spend time with people who are not walking together with God. That's the only way to empower one more. When we encounter people who are not walking together with God, we need wisdom, God's wisdom, to know what to (or not to) say. God wants us to do this together as a team.
The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. (1 Corinthians 3:8 NIV)
How about you? Do "outsiders" see you as someone who walks together with God? Do you have a good reputation with them? Is God working through you, along with others, to empower one more? Are you consistent in the community?
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