Follow a Follower
There are many authors who are writing about leadership principles, but I see very few books being written about followership. Everyone wants to read about being a leader but here is the truth: Not everybody leads but everyone will have to follow. 98% of all God’s people will never have a leadership role in the Body of Christ. Yes, it is true that we all are called to lead people to Christ and to lead with a good example. But churches are getting swept into this idea of teaching their congregations how to be leaders. By doing so we are wasting our time. Why teach something that very few people will ever be. Even those that are leaders better first and foremost be a follower. Actually, Biblically speaking, God chooses leaders who were first the best followers.
As a pastor, my goal isn’t to be the best leader. My goal is to be the best follower. I follow Christ, and yes, I follow my own pastor and other ministers who are right on the heels of Jesus. The Apostle Paul said in 1 Corinthians 11:1, “Follow me as I follow Christ.” A person is never fit to lead unless they were first skillful as a follower. As I follow, I qualify as a leader. A leader who never learned to follow will be dominated by pride and arrogance. Unfortunately, this is what has happened to many pastors and ministers: They were placed in leadership without ever serving another man first. Promotion without following is dangerous. Nobody will ever know if your character is real until you first learn to follow and serve. I’m not impressed with anybody who can stay faithful in a visible position. They might be there for their own glory. I want to know if they can serve faithfully where nobody sees or recognizes them. Only then will their character be strong enough to carry the blessings of God.
I say this: Beware of any man who only desires to lead and doesn’t desire to follow. A man who doesn’t follow is a man who will never submit to anybody. Submission is the sign of true spirituality. Submission is the secret to a blessed life. We should submit to a pastor, to our spouse, to our employer, to our leaders, and to one another. Submission means to simply listen and prefer one another. When you insist on getting your own way you are stealing from yourself. It’s deception in full motion. You think you are looking out for yourself but you are actually destroying yourself. Ephesians 5:21 says, “Submit yourselves one to another in the fear of God.” Hebrews 13:17 says, “Obey them that have the rule over you and submit yourselves…”
God’s power would meet you if you would focus on what He called you to be. He first called you to be a follower. God isn’t responsible to take care of you if you are out of His will for your life. He first wanted you to be pastored. He wanted you to be a good sheep. If you will follow the Lord and a good pastor, you will marry right, make good financial decisions, and good moral decisions. Your life will dry up until you learn to follow and to follow somebody who follows Christ.
Pastor Tim
Family Church Jamestown is a non-denominational church located in Chautauqua County in Jamestown between Lakewood and Busti NY. The senior pastor of Family Church is Pastor Tim Stahlman a native to the Jamestown, NY area.
