Whenever I speak about controversial subjects someone will always ask me, "So did you get any angry e-mails about what you talked about yesterday?" My response is almost always the same. Yes! It has amazed me since I have been in ministry the way individuals respond to messages that deal with issues that are spoken about in the media/public all the time and yet deemed inappropriate from the stage at church. Now granted, I understand that when children are in the room there has to be some discernment, but that works both ways. In fact, I can remember several years ago speaking about Joseph and Mary and how hard it must have been for them to remain sexually pure before marriage. I mean it's only logical that Mary and Joseph dealt with the same issues we all deal with right? Well, one individual didn't like what I had said and sent me an e-mail saying he was highly offended that I had used the word sex 11 times in the message. I don't know where he came up with the number 11, but I had both the transcript and the tape and the reality was I said the word sex twice. This guy just chose to get mad.
Sometimes I think people are just looking for reasons to be offended which is something as a leader, I, along with every other leader I know, has had to learn to deal with. I like what Oren Harari author of The Leadership Secrets of Colin Powell says about this issue. I read this this morning, he says, "Leadership can't be a popularity contest. Trying not to offend anyone or trying to get everyone to like you, will set you on the road to mediocrity. Why? Because leaders who are afraid to make people angry are likely to waver and procrastinate when it comes time to make tough choices. Leaders who care more about being liked than being effective are unlikely to confront the people who need confronting...They won't challenge the status quo. And inevitably, by not challenging tradition, they hurt both their own credibility and their organization's performance." That is one of the most inspirational quotes on leadership I have ever read!
This Sunday I am going to be dealing with the issue of "Is God Homophobic?" I know there are already some who are concerned about the content and how it will impact their children. Well, rest assured that we will make sure that younger children will have a place to go during the service because this really is one of those messages that has an age limitation. However, for those individuals that choose to stay, you must know that this message may disturb you, it may provoke you, or, it may give you hope. I am OK with any of those three responses because the bottom line is what I am going to say needs to be said. It's a message about love and restoration. It's a message about being obedient. It's a message about truth. So, no matter the outcome, because it's not about me but all about God, I know I will sleep comfortably as I have truly come to grips with the fact that leadership really isn't a popularity contest. No, leadership is about challenging the status quo and dealing with the hard issues even when the immediate outcome isn't always fun to deal with.
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