To be honest. I'm not really sure what the qualifications are to write an article, such as this. But I truly feel that I'm being compelled to do so. So I will try to give you my own insight, if I may.
First off. Let me say, I'm a christian man with christian values. But I have doubts, make mistakes, and I've even been known to question God, on occasion. Does that sound sinful? Lord forgive me, but I think not!
I have no intention of talking about my church, and how the leadership is structured, because I do not believe that a great church leader is taught! I believe that he or she is chosen! They are chosen by God, and God alone! A long time before they reach adulthood, God has spoken to them, and chosen them, to be a leader in his church!
You see. My church is not made of stone and glass. My church is the world, as a whole! Of course, I believe that anyone can be taught about God, but I don't believe that you ascend to a point of leadership by reaching certain levels of attainment, through a structured program, instituted by your local church!
I believe that you are taught by God, become closer to God, and learn to live a Godly life, by living life itself! Not by something that you were taught from some book, unless that book was the Bible, and the Bible alone!
The attributes of any real church leader, are really very simple, and they are. A love of humanity. A true sense of humility. A heart full of compassion and love, given to him or her by the Lord God Almighty! But first, and most important, Faith!
There are many others, but if this person is really a chosen church leader, then these are by far the most important. All the rest that most modern christians feel that their particular church leader should have, they will acquire, in time.
Now. I know a lot of people will not understand this article, and some of you may even be offended by it! That is neither my intent, nor my intention!
My background in the church is very long indeed. I have searched for God most of my adult life! Never even realizing that God was in myself, the entire time!
I've been a Baptist,a Methodist, a Presbyterian, a Catholic, a Pentecostal, and the list goes on and on, and the one concrete fact that I have been able to determine, in all this time is this......
Every religious leader, regardless of which faith or church, will inevitably let you down, in one form or another! The reason this is the case, is because regardless of how high we tend to put someone on a pedestal, which is the nature of humankind, they will fail because they are HUMAN!
Just like the good Lord made them!
When anyone, male or female, ascends to the leadership role of their church, the constant pressure that is put on them by their own congregation to be totally pure, and God-like, is Enormous!
There is no way a mere mortal man or woman, even though they are chosen by God himself, can be a perfect being! That is not the way God designed us, so therefore it is not in our nature to be a perfect being!
So. In closing. This article is not only about the attributes that a great Church leader must possess. It's also about the attributes that his own congregation must have, in order for this man to be the great leader they so desperately need!
Those God-Given qualities must be, Forgiveness, Forbearance, and last but most importantly, Understanding!
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