When discipleship and leadership development become unbalanced

James Bruyn April 3, 2018

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What happens when we emphasize leadership development over developing disciples or focus on discipleship over leadership development? 

When we build a platform or scaffolding, both sides have to be built up equally or the platform becomes lopsided. A person standing on an uneven platform has a hard time maintaining their balance and getting any work done.

What if we viewed leadership skills and discipleship as two separate sides supporting the platform that a person builds their life upon? 

When a person grows more as a leader than a disciple or grows faster as a disciple than a leader, then the platform they are standing upon becomes skewed. A person who matures equally in leadership and discipleship maintains a stable life because they stand on a level surface.

Dangers of focusing on discipleship

Discipleship allows people to discover their Creator and to enjoy a personal relationship with their Creator while they contribute to God’s creation. Through discipleship, a ‘disciple’ learns what it means to walk with God, to be filled with the Spirit, and to know the joy of the forgiveness of their sins.

Focusing on discipleship alone neglects the fact that God created disciples with unique skills and talents. When a person emphasizes spiritual development over leadership development, the skills and talents that God has blessed a disciple with can become underdeveloped. 

In extreme cases, a disciple devalues the gifts and talents that Christ has blessed them with. Society loses when a disciple is aware of their calling and contribution to the world but never learns the leadership skills to make that contribution effectively. 

Who do you know that walks close to God but has never developed the leadership skills to accomplish the purpose God created them for? How could you help them develop their leadership skills?

Dangers of focusing on leadership development

Leadership development allows people to develop the skills and abilities God blessed them with so that they can meaningfully contribute to God’s creation. Through leadership development, a leader learns how to strategize, communicate, manage and a myriad of other skills needed to lead a group of people or an organization towards a goal. 

When a person emphasizes leadership development and accomplishing a goal using their skills and talents, the role that God plays in the leader’s life and this world is neglected. 

Leadership development that neglects the spiritual formation of the leader results in a leader who:

• Doesn’t know the life of faith
• Never expects to see a miracle
• Relies on their own strength and abilities
• Doesn’t acknowledge God as the source of their skills or successes
• Doesn’t glorify God
• Is motivated by outcomes instead of love
• Can become ensnared by sin

Society will never see God’s glory or power when a leader makes an effective contribution to the world, but doesn’t acknowledge God.

Who do you know who the world call’s successful (and who may know all about Jesus), but doesn’t know the joy of walking by faith, or have never seen a miracle in their career? How could you help them grow in their faith?

Discipleship and leadership together

Together, leadership development and discipleship allow a person to live a secure life enjoying fellowship with God and life on earth. Together, leadership development and discipleship form men and women after God’s own heart, just like King David. 

Our world is much richer and God is glorified when a person walks by faith and humbly leads with the skills God has blessed them with.

How can you ensure that the people you lead are growing as disciples and as leaders?

Photo source: istock 

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James Bruyn is a bi-vocational visionary leader, writer and speaker who enjoys helping individuals integrate their faith in God with their daily life. He leads a ministry to Christians in the marketplace in Calgary, provides leadership coaching, and consults for the rail industry. He writes a weekly devotional and also has a devotional book, 31 Days with God at Work (Marketplace 2018). Learn More »

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