Jesus Christ, Level 5 Leader

By e May 2, 2005 Jesus Stuff, Leadership and Management No Comments

I am fascinated by how well great truths mirror the teaching and examples in the Holy Scriptures. Cases where the modern-day teacher derives his or her thesis from scripture (e.g. Dale Carnegie) are interesting, but it is those cases where empirical data leads to the same conclusions as the teachings preserved as scripture that intrigue me most. One such example is Jim Collins and the concepts explored in his book Good to Great. Collins entered into his study of why and how some companies make the leap from a “good” company to a “great” company specifically looking for answers other than leadership. What he and his team found, however, is that the organizations that make the leap always did so with the guidance of a specific type of leader. The traits of this “Level 5 Leader” are remarkably unsurprising to anyone familiar with the life and teachings of Jesus Christ.

The Description of Level 5 Leaders found at the end of Good to Great Chapter 2 is: “Level 5 refers to a five-level hierarchy of executive capabilities, with Level 5 at the top. Level 5 leaders embody a paradoxical mix of personal humility and professional will. They are ambitious, to be sure, but ambitious first and foremost for the company, not themselves.” Collins goes on to describe the attributes of a Level 5 leader:

  • Level 5 leaders set up their successors for even greater success in the next generation…
  • Level 5 leaders display a compelling modesty, are self-effacing and understated…
  • Level 5 leaders are fanatically driven, infected with an incurable need to produce sustained results. They are resolved to do whatever it takes to make the company great, no matter how big or hard the decisions.
  • Level 5 leaders display a workmanlike diligence – more plow horse than show horse.
  • Level 5 leaders look out the window to attribute success to factors other than themselves. When things go poorly, however, they look in the mirror and blame themselves, taking full responsibility…

Jesus displays the qualities of a Level 5 leader, and the result of His work clearly demonstrate that He not only lead from Good to Great, but also that he Built to Last. It would also be interesting to consider how Jesus Christ took the “good” law, prophets, and traditions of His Jewish faith and transformed them into the “great” Christian faith, but everything hinges upon Jesus Himself.

Jesus set us up for success. In addition to promising that He will never leave us (Matthew 28:20), He promised to send us the Holy Spirit (John 14:26). Jesus made it clear that He must leave in order to send the assistance we need to succeed (John 16:7). He did not leave his disciples with “well, I hope you’ll make it without me”, but instead promised that we would do even greater things (John 14:12) than He.

Jesus did not cling to His position in heaven (Philippians 2:6), but came to show us how to live. God did not descend from heaven on a flaming chariot or lead an army through the streets of the Holy City. He chose to be born as a child, and not as king, son of kings, but as the (apparently) out-of-wedlock child of a working-class family. When rejected by strangers, Jesus declined to seek revenge for having been slighted, and humbly moved on to the next village (Luke 9:56). When rejected by his neighbors (Matthew 13:57) He did not force himself upon them. When deserted (Luke 22) in His darkest hour by His closest friends, Jesus not only forgave, He also entrusted them individually (John 21:15-19) and corporately (Matthew 26:16) with even greater responsibility.

Jesus was diligently focused upon the work He was sent to accomplish. From childhood (Luke 2:49), to the cross (Luke 23:32-43), and beyond (Luke 13-35) Jesus was driven to produce results. He set His face like flint (Isaiah 50:7) to complete His mission at the cost of His own life. He even chose the betrayer (John 13:18-30) required to complete His mission.

Jesus did not parade through the streets clamoring for attention (Isaiah 42:2). After healing the sick and blind, Jesus gave instructions to “tell no one” (Matthew 8:4), and instructed us also to “beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them” (Matthew 6:1). Jesus rejected the temptations (Luke 4:1-13) of “miracle, mystery, and authority” (borrowing the words of Dostoyevsky’s Grand Inquisitor in Brothers Karamazov) as the path to His goals. Jesus was no show-horse (Isaiah 53:2).

Jesus was free with praise and careful with blame. Over and over, He gave credit to the believer’s faith (Matthew 9:22, Matthew 15:28), and spoke of doing nothing on His own (John 5:19). When confronting an angry mob, Jesus gently suggested that they consider their own sins before punishing another’s (John 8:7). When things seemed to be going poorly, Jesus was quick to point out that He could call legions of angels (Matthew 26:53) to His defense, and was choosing not to. This (again, apparent) disaster was completely His responsibility.

Obedient to His Father’s will even though it meant death (Philippians 2:8), and yet a leader worthy of all praise, Jesus demonstrates the humility and will of a Level 5 Leader. Indeed, Jesus is the world’s only Level 6 leader. Only He makes His power our power; only He offers us the opportunity to be a part of an eternal kingdom.

Faith vs. Feelings – Remembering what we have heard

By e April 29, 2005 Jesus Stuff No Comments

My wife reminded me… “So we must listen very carefully to the truth we have heard, or we may drift away from it.” (Hebrews 2:1 NLT)

Funny enough, I was thinking about that this morning while I brushed my teeth. Even though I know that my doubts about an upcoming step were clearly addressed a few weeks ago, they creep back. Only remembering that He put doubt to rest at that time remains to keep me from doubting now. The feeling of reassurance fades, but the certainty that it was given remains and is sufficient.

Wrestling with Consolation and Desolation

By e April 29, 2005 Jesus Stuff 2 Comments

I am having a difficult time reconciling the concept of desolation as a tool in God’s hands and the promise of Jesus that we will never thirst. On the one hand, experience and the word of people who testify in words and in love that they are disciples of Jesus Christ speak of desolation as a valuable, and perhaps necessary, experience. On the other hand, the testimony of this same Jesus.

I know that the classical writers (John of the Cross), experienced periods of desolation and describe them as part of the maturation process.  Zaleski reference Mother Teresa’s fifty years of spiritual darkness. Teresa of Avila says that dryness and desolation of spirit may be better signs of progress than sweetness. Therese of Lisieux wrote “Do not believe I am swimming in consolations…my consolation is to have none on earth.” Jesus himself cried out in anguish at having been forsaken by His Father.

But Jesus said “…whoever drinks of the water that I give him shall never thirst…” (John 4:14) and “…he who comes to Me will never hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst.” (John 6:35). Furthermore, Jesus says “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish and it will be done for you.” (John 15:7).

I do not know how to reconcile this. Perhaps I misunderstand either the words of Jesus or of His followers (hrm… could be a translation issue… maybe suffer from thirst versus feeling thirsty?). Perhaps those who speak of desolation neglected to seek His presence or grieved His spirit in some way. Or, perhaps, having been in intimate contact with the the unbearable glory of God, everything else pales to such a degree that it can only be comprehended as darkness.

I need to read more about this (starting Ascent of Mount Carmel now) and welcome comments.

Priorities – Others over Self

By e April 25, 2005 Jesus Stuff No Comments

Jesus tells us to love our neighbor as ourself (Mark 12:31) and to love one another the way He loved us (John 13:34). How did He love us? More than Himself.

Jesus declares that our neighbor is not only those who share our faith, race, or class, but also as everyone who needs our help. This command to love one another as ourself is not merely a philosophical ideal. When the crowd asked John the Baptist what they should do, he gave very practical advice: if we have food or more clothes than we can wear at one time, we should share that with someone who has none. Our command is not only that we avoid cause harm, but also that we treat others as we would like to be treated. This is not merely one of the “cause no harm” standards that are so popular in our selfish culture; this is a “do good” standard, and it applies to everyone we touch.

Love between believers is so important that Jesus declares that it is the identifying characteristic of His disciples. Not our words, even when they are good, and not prophetic utterances or miracles in His name, but our love for the body of Christ. Paul encourages us to not only look out for our own interests, but also for the interests of others. That is a good starting point, but only takes us to the point of loving others as much as ourself. In Jesus, we see an example of loving more. I love how the New Living Translation captures this so well… “He made himself nothing“. By both word and action, Jesus taught that there is no greater love than to lay down our life for our friends. Paul punctuates the point when he instructs the Philippians to consider each other more important than themselves.

Jesus declared that we are his friends if we obey his commandments. If we are obeying His commandments then we are loving our neighbor as much as ourself. If we identify so closely with Jesus that His friends are our friends then we are laying down our life for the body of Christ. How serious are we about loving when it isn’t convenient, and when it is perhaps even painful?

Priorities Index

God has not spoken to me much the past few days, and I hate it.

By e April 14, 2005 Jesus Stuff 2 Comments

God has not spoken to me much the past few days, and I hate it.

I was depressed yesterday and could not bear the thought of praying. I have recognized that tendency in myself before. Instead of pleading for his presence, I withdraw. There could hardly be a more foolish response. I do not watch much TV, but I sat down last night with my love and we watched “America’s Next Top Model” and “American Idol” together. One of the wannabe models was released because she just didn’t have passion. Bo was low in the Idol vote count, and I was disappointed that he was too cool to care. It wasn’t until this morning that I realized that I am having the same problem.

I realized this morning that it is not primarily His guidance I miss, but His presence. His word promises that He will give guidance, and He has been faithful to do so. God rarely gives instructions in a time and manner of my choosing, but, in retrospect, His timing is always perfect. Jesus is my Lord, and he directs my steps, but it is my friend Jesus that I miss. I miss His warmth, His comfort, His whispered “peace, be still”, and His occasional “Rock on Brother!” The sad thing is that I miss it only because I have failed to ask for it.

We value most those things we have lacked. For the family who has lost a child, the promise that “No longer will there be in it an infant who lives but a few days” rings loudly. Of the promises in Isaiah 65, one is dearest to my heart: “It will also come to pass that before they call, I will answer, and while they are still speaking, I will hear.” The Lord has taught me to thirst for Him. When I stop thirsting, He is kind enough to withdraw His presence until I draw near to Him again with my heart.

God has not spoken to me much the past few days, and it has been a blessing.