Thermostat or Thermometer

In the introduction to his book, Called to Lead: 26 Leadership Lessons from the Life of the Apostle Paul, John MacArthur succinctly clarifies the nature of leadership:

"Leadership is influence. The ideal leader is someone whose life and character motivate people to follow. The best kind of leadership derives its authority first from the force of a righteous example, and not merely from the power of prestige, personality, or position. By contrast, much of the world’s “leadership” is nothing but manipulation of people by threats and rewards. That is not true leadership; it’s exploitation. Real leadership seeks to motivate people from the inside, by an appeal to the heart, not by external pressure and coercion."  (vi-vii)

This paragraph was formative in the early years of my ministry, and its wisdom continues to provide me with clarity to this day. Leadership is the willingness to exert influence, make decisions, and communicate clearly when circumstances are difficult, solutions are unclear, and the consequences are significant. Leadership must be patient, but it can't be passive. From a Christian perspective, truly courageous leadership is not driven by personal opinions or self-promotion; it is motivated by biblical convictions and the need to point people to Christ. Courageous spiritual leadership is so convinced of the word of God and concerned for the church of God that it is willing to pay any price necessary to lovingly lead people to follow Christ.

I was reminded of MacArthur’s explanation of leadership when I recently read Leadership and Emotional Sabotage by Joe Rigney. In this short volume Rigney calls for leaders to exhibit resolve and fortitude in an age that is marked by fear and anxiety. In his own words, Rigney wrote the book to

"encourage and strengthen Christian leaders to fulfill their calling by leading with gravity and gladness, with sober-mindedness and maturity, with steady purpose and deep joy, so that we rebuild the walls of Christendom and show forth the excellencies of the living God in the joy and gladness of our families, our churches, our schools, and our communities." (5)

In other words, the goal of the book is to exhort leaders to lead! This might seem like a simplistic goal, but in reality, it is hard to find leaders who have the courage to exert influence. In an age of polling data, mass grievances, and micro-aggressions, most leaders can only muster up the fortitude to react to the latest complaint or perceived need. As a result, most leaders are being circuitously led through the ever-evolving labyrinth of how the people under their leadership feel in the moment.

In response to some of these common deficiencies in leadership, Rigney encourages leaders to be alert to the “spiritual temperature” of those under their care but to remember that a leader is “not merely a thermometer; he’s a thermostat” (Rigney, Leadership and Emotional Sabotage, 59). This is really helpful picture of leadership! A good leader knows the temperature of the room, but it is not enough to merely know the temperature of the room. By virtue of their own lived-out and articulated convictions, leaders influence the temperature of the room. In other words, real leaders are proactively influencing, informing, and equipping the people they are leading rather than constantly reacting to the latest complaint, fear, or militant preference. As MacArthur puts it, “leadership is influence.”

This is a clear enough principle, but how do we put it into practice? The urgency of the now, the burden of dealing with disgruntled people, and the difficulty of disagreements makes it easy for leaders to turn into followers by replacing proactive influence with reactive appeasement. It is amazing how quickly thermostats can turn into thermometers! Thankfully, there are some biblical character qualities that, by God’s grace, leaders can cultivate in order to protect them from abdication.

Characteristics of a Spiritual Thermostat

• A Communion with Christ… that will protect you from coveting the approval of man (Heb 10:22-25).

“and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,” (Hebrews 10:21–24, ESV)

• A Fear of the Lord… that will protect you from the fear of man in your leadership (Matt 10:28).

“And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” (Matthew 10:28, ESV)

• A Commitment to the Truth… that will protect you from ministry distraction (2 Tim 4:1-5).

“I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.” (2 Timothy 4:1–5, ESV)

• A Spiritual Stability… that will protect you from the waves of doubt and allow you to speak the truth in love (Eph 4:14).

“so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,” (Ephesians 4:14–15, ESV)

• A Courageous Hope… that will protect you from the systemic anxiety of our generation (Isa 40:31).

“but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:31, ESV)

• A Biblical Discernment… that will protect you from wrong (worldly) expectations and direct you to God's good and acceptable and perfect will (Rom 12:2).

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Romans 12:2, ESV)

• A Genuine Love… that will protect you from resenting those God has called you to serve (1 Thess 2:8).

“So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us.” (1 Thessalonians 2:8, ESV)