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The Pastor as Leader: Risk-Taker
by James W. Moss, Sr.
In Courage is a Three Letter Word, Walter Anderson wrote, “The payoff in this world is not on brilliance, or even genius. It’s on courage, the capacity, the willingness to take risks. The people I admire are the ones who have the subtlety of mind and the analytical capacity, the intelligence to know precisely the risk they’re taking and take it anyway.”
What are you doing that would utterly fail if God wasn’t helping? Faith only begins when we move beyond our apparent resources.
A leader has to be willing to walk out front. I have been amazed as I have done a little reading on Civil War History. The number of generals who died in battle because they were out in front of their troops amazed me. Now the generals hide in the rear, far from the front. There is always the risk of becoming a casualty as a leader moves out front to introduce change. Always remember, every change, even a good one, is a trauma for someone.
There are three major risks in change. First, change may make the current practices obsolete. In fact if that new change is introduced, I may become obsolete. Therefore I will shoot the advocate for change. Second, there is the risk that the change will fail. The time, energy, and resources will be wasted. Third, if the proposed change succeeds, the success may create unforeseen problems. Those new problems may be more than we can deal with.
When do leaders risk a fight? Leaders will battle over life and safety issues. Specifically, there is something wrong with the facility that if it is not fixed may result in the injury of a person. Leaders fight when the overwhelming evidence is in their favor. You know you are right and there is absolutely no question about it. They will also fight when principle or integrity is at stake. Leaders can’t forfeit their core principles or integrity to keep peace in the family. A pastor leader will fight when the life of the church is on the line. A misstep at this juncture will impair the church’s future for years to come.
I play on a slow-pitch softball team. In our league the magic number is eight players. We can play with eight. We will be at a disadvantage, but we can play the game with eight. Softball players don’t want to hear the word forfeit. That means you lose the game without a pitch being thrown. I count over and over again until we have eight players on site. Then I look for which eight.
With all that in mind, when do leaders forfeit? I am amazed at how frequently leaders find it so difficult to forfeit. However, forfeiting in appropriate situations is not all bad. Leaders should forfeit when they are wrong. That is a novel idea. But not everyone is right all the time. A person who can honestly say, “I made a mistake—forgive me,” frequently will gain all kinds of points. Leaders should forfeit when the decision has been irrevocably made. It is a done deal. It is over. Nothing is going to change. Back away and forfeit. Leaders back away when they aren’t prepared. I’m not sure why, but it has been my observation that Christian leaders so often don’t take the preparation time necessary to do a job right. They would never be that haphazard in secular jobs or in their hobbies. However, if the homework is not done, then put the project on hold. You may wish to forfeit if proceeding will cost you your capacity to minister. I’m not advocating that on every such issue. Remember, Jesus prayed two days to discern God’s will before returning to the environs of Jerusalem to raise Lazarus from the dead. He knew that he would be forfeiting his ministry as he exchanged his life for that of Lazarus.
Pastor leaders are resilient. They bounce back from difficult times. Pressure is applied to us from the outside. Anxiety is the internal reaction to external pressure that is either real or anticipated. Leaders bounce back from defeats. Winston Churchill had suffered a number of defeats before he emerged as a world leader in World War II. Milton Hershey went bankrupt several times before he found the formula for the chocolate candy bar that made his fortune.
Courage is moving forward in the face of fear. Fear induces appropriate caution in difficult times. But it shouldn’t be debilitating. Pastor leaders have to instill hope in their people. Our hope has to be placed in Jesus who will never fail us. Hope inspires and produces joy. Pastor leaders are the risk takers whose hope is in the resurrected Lord.
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Next:
The Pastor as Leader: Accountability
Also see:
 | The Pastor as Leader: Vision-Caster |
| The Pastor as Leader: Survivor |
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Read about Jim's seminars and books.
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August 10, 2004. Volume 7, Issue 14. People Spots Online is prepared by James W. Moss, Sr., and Church Consultants. It is provided as a service by New Life Ministries, www.NewLifeMinistries-NLM.org. Articles may be duplicated and reproduced in any way with proper credit. A new article is produced about every two weeks. To be added to a list to receive these messages directly by e-mail, send a request to churchconsultants@yahoo.com.