"Can the blind lead..."

I want to start writing about leadership using the parables of Christ. I love the Gospel of Luke because of the stories and parables that Jesus uses to illustrate timeless truths that are to guide our lives as leaders and followers of Truth.

After Luke has retold some of Jesus' teaching from the Sermon on the Mount He moves into His first illustrative parable:

• “Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit? A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother's eye (Luke 6:39-42 ESV).”

I was struck by the first words, "Can a blind man lead..." The answer to the question seems simple enough; no! Of course not. Jesus pointed out the obvious with a simple conclusion that the blind man and his blind followers will fall of the path into a pit. 

But the answer goes deeper into the heart of a leader. He wasn't talking about a physically blind leader but one who was blind to his own arrogance. The sin of arrogance in a leader is revealed by a simple test; the arrogant leader is always focused on the often inconsequential faults of his followers while ignoring the glaring faults of his own life. 

Sure people have faults, sins and behaviors that are apparent to others but Jesus said these are mere specks; particles of dust that life blows into the face of people. The problem is not the speck but the log in the eye of the leader. The followers may have blurred vision but the leader with a log protruding from his eye is blind, and blind leaders are incapable of truly leading. As the the old saying goes, "there is none so blind who cannot (or will not) see." Perhaps the saying is based on the verse from Jeremiah 5:21 ESV, “Hear this, O foolish and senseless people, who have eyes, but see not, who have ears, but hear not”. 

The leader who is blind to his own faults but is always pointing out the faults of others is labeled by Christ as a hypocrite; a pretender. As a leader I must be aware of my own personal log jam and the primary energy of leadership is not vision casting but keeping my own moral character clear of the sins and ego needs that deprive us of a clear vision.

Paul wrote to Timothy his young protege about keeping his character pure and free of spiritual and moral blindness. Paul had been a man with a massive log in his own eye as he hid behind the strict moral code of the Pharisees. Then he was struck by Light and he was aware of his spiritual blindness and it was at that moment that he began to see with new eyes. I love how Paul kept himself grounded as a leader when he said in 1 Timothy 1:15, "This saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost." Paul was grounded by his own sinful nature and the great grace of God. How can we ever thrust judgment on others when we are fully aware of our own sinful logs?

When a leader is humbled by God's gracious redemption of their lives, only then will he or she be able to truly lead.

3x5

Today we have our weekly staff meeting. As the Pastor of Leadership Development it is my responsibility to set the agenda and lead our meeting. Today we are going to do a SWOT exercise. SWOT stands Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (or Challenges). The first two deal with the internal and the second two deal with the external issues. We are going to look at our church and use this metrics as a tool to begin some deeper analysis of our mission and ministry. 


A few years ago I read the autobiography of General Norman Schwarzkopf, titled It Doesn't Take A Hero. It was a length tome and I found it to be inspiring as you looked into the heart of this leader and discovered what made him tick. One of the daily exercises that he performed was with a 3x5 card. On one side he wrote at the top "Opportunities" and on the back he wrote "Challenges".  He indicated that the challenges he faced where not the corporate leadership issues but the private core and character issues of his own life. Every day of every year this was a discipline that he performed; a simple 3x5 guided his daily path.

As I think about coming along side my pastor, Jason Warren, I know it is important for us to discover the SWOT of this church. But as I thought about the process I know that we must first discover the SWOT in our own personal lives. We lead from whom we are. Leadership is about growth and change and before the organization grows and changes the leaders must first grow and change. 

Paul wrote to Timothy, "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work" (2 Timothy 3:16-17 ESV). The leader must understand competent and competency begins in the heart, the core of a person. I don't believe Paul had 3x5 cards but he knew that if Timothy was to grow as a competent leader he had to understand himself in view of God's plans and purposes. 

If you were to have a 3x5 card in front of you today what would you write as your SWOT? It could be overwhelming as you fill up the card. Why not try doing what the general did and just answer the following about today...what are my opportunities and what are my challenges. Every leader must be able to answer these two questions.