For a number of years now, churches have latched on to the “leadership training” fad. The idea is that everyone is a leader, and needs to be trained as such to be more effective in the kingdom. Really? Is everyone a chief? If so, where are the Indians? Those who claim everyone is a leader have to have a pretty thin definition of leader. Yes, everyone has influence in someone else’s life at some point, but that does not make them a leader or require that they undergo leadership training.
Despite the fact that I don’t think everyone is a leader, I wouldn’t be bothered by all of this leadership training if churches were also focused on theological training. In my experience, however, people being trained in leadership are getting virtually no theological training at all. People well-versed in leadership couldn’t exegete their way out of a paper bag or tell you the first thing about the Bible’s teaching on justification. Let’s get first things first. Theological training is a necessity for every Christian. Leadership training is a luxury.
Thinking to Believe 
January 30, 2021 at 11:15 am
TR, interesting that you use “chief’ and “Indians.” I kind of get what you are trying to say but you sound like you crossed the line and are talking like a Nicolaitan. we are ALL brothers and sisters in Christ, our leaders are not our lords. I think teacher and student is actually a better analogy and once taught the student may not be called to be a teacher but is not subservient to the teacher.
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January 30, 2021 at 4:38 pm
TR — You seem to assume “theological training” is equivalent to “bible training.” It may be nit-picking (I think I know what you mean), but I would raise a flag on that equivalency.
“Theological training” is much broader than simply training in one theological approach. Theologians study the various approaches to the transcendent idea of “God,” of which there are many; the Bible is related to but one of those.
Bible scholars, on the other hand. deal only in the various approaches to biblical interpretation. I feel safe in noting that there are enough of those to keep us productively occupied.
Both are worthy opportunities, but let’s not confuse the two.
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February 1, 2021 at 6:18 am
Paul, well said.
Unfortunately in many charismatic churches the Chief is the pastor and every one else are dumb Indians.
If anyone needs to ask permission of their pastor for important life decisions like marriage etc…. then my advice to those people would be to leave that church and run for the hills !
Naz
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February 1, 2021 at 1:09 pm
Naz, it’s been a while I hope all is well for you and yours in these interesting times. I would have just liked your comment but i couldn’t — probably a result of my accounts being suspended lol.
anyway — I agree, seems we correctly point out the errors of having a pope but go ahead and make our pastor one.
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February 3, 2021 at 12:19 am
Paul and Naz, I think you are both reading something into the post that is simply not there. This is not about a hierarchy. It’s the simple point that for there to be leaders, there must also be people to lead.
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February 3, 2021 at 6:05 am
Jason, sorry for diverging ….perhaps addressing “how” one should lead is a separate topic.
Regarding the topic at hand, I agree that more theological training is needed. Many Christians don’t know how to explain the gospel from a doctrinal point of view. That said, in communicating to others we need to be able to explain in layman’s terms what the gospel is so that anyone can understand it.
Naz
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February 3, 2021 at 6:06 am
Paul, hope all is well with you also. I wish someone would stop this insanity so we can live like free people again. Best regards,
Naz
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February 4, 2021 at 10:43 pm
TR, possible but that could be because of your use of “chief” & “Indians” which implies hierarchy.
leader also can be defined as hierarchical term imo.
but if you say that’s not what you mean ……. that’s okay with me.
we will always have God as our leader, but at what point does a Kingdom member not need another Kingdom member to lead them if at all ?
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February 5, 2021 at 10:38 am
Of course there is a hierarchy of authority in the church. The NT is explicit about this. That doesn’t mean the person in authority over others is more important than others, but the concept of equal value does not annul the concept of a hierarchy in terms of authority.
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February 7, 2021 at 11:59 am
TR, interesting how you ignore the question of when a Kingdom member no longer needs “leading” by another Kingdom member.
true and I agree ……. “there is a hierarchy of authority in the church.” and “That doesn’t mean the person in authority over others is more important than others,” but you are not distinguishing the here & the now vs the future /how Jesus talks about how are “leaders” should behave.
in this age — the NT is red letter clear…….. those in authority are not to lord that authority over us and they are supposed to serve us. besides calling for prays/fasting and judging bad behaviors are leaders shouldn’t be leading us at all — it should be more of a teaching role.
in the coming age (ie. millennial reign)…. which depends on what scenario you profess — those leaders will be the raised from the dead/glorified bodies ones ruling over the still mortal ones that lived through the tribulation. they won’t be ruling and reigning over others raised/given their glorified bodies at the Second Coming because there won’t be any need to do that —- our hardened hearts will be replaced and we will joyfully follow God.
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