Last July, I was blessed to be invited to be one of the coaches for “Pastor Camp,” a week-long stay with about 20 “young” pastors and 10 “mature” coaches.[1] It was a great week of pouring into younger people in ministry and, as one of the “mature” coaches, learning from the struggles and successes of the younger pastors.

The theme scriptures for the week were I and II Timothy, two of my favorite books in scripture, so I read them daily for the two weeks prior to the camp.

I became intrigued by the topics in Paul’s letters to Timothy that I was taught throughout my adult life in church leadership. The leadership topics I recalled being taught most often were “strong leader” words like “be strong” and “command” and “power” and “correct” and “rebuke.”

I wonder about a lot of things. Why have I heard so often about the need for church leaders to be “strong” and what does this actually mean? I’ve also spent a lot of time in the Old Testament book of Joshua in recent years, and God’s message to him to be strong and courageous remains fresh in my mind, too. But what does it mean to be strong and courageous? What does church leadership strength look like in the 21st Century? That’s something to talk about.

One of the oddities I’ve encountered over the past decade of work with church leaders is that many of those that self-describe as being “a strong leader” can leave a trail of hurt and damaged people and ministries in their wake. I was victimized myself by a self-described strong-leader pastor leader, in the end, I had to conclude was actually so fearful that he had to feign strength in order to get his own way with others. What does it mean to be strong?

Here's a list I compiled from Paul’s letters to Timothy that I have often heard being used to encourage church pastors and leaders to “be strong.”

1. Command certain people not to teach false doctrine (I Tim. 1:3)
2. Fight the battle well (I Tim. 1:18)
3. Command and teach these things (I Tim. 4:11)
4. Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young (I Tim. 4:12)
5. The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor (I Tim. 5:17)
6. Commands to those who are rich. (I Tim. 6:17 & 18)
7. The Spirit God gave us does not make us timid but gives us power (II Tim. 1:7)
8. Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you (II Tim. 1:14)
9. Be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus (II Tim. 2:1)
10. The soldier metaphor (II Tim. 2:3-4)
11. The athletic competition metaphor (II Tim. 2:5)
12. The hard-working farmer metaphor (II Tim 2: 6)
13. Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage (II Tim. 4:2)
14. I have fought the good fight (II Tim. 4:7)

For those of us reading this, if you are at least a bit of a stereotypical male, this list resonates with you. “Yeah!” you might say, that’s what it means to be strong. But there is more to the story. Here’s a second list of behaviors and characteristics for pastors and church leaders.

1. Love, pure heart, good conscience, sincere faith (I Tim. 1:5)
2. Prayer that we can live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness (I Tim 2:2) (Discipleship and leadership are two different things - everyone is to be a disciple; leadership is a gift and a choice)
3. Holy hands without anger or disputes (I Tim. 2:8)
4. Qualifications listed for elders, deacons, and deaconesses include nothing about being a “strong leader” (I Tim. 3:1-13)
5. Train yourself to be godly (I Tim 4:7)
6. Be examples in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity (I Tim. 4:12)
7. Don’t be harsh in your rebuke (I Tim: 5:1)
8. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness (I Tim 6:11)
9. Guard what has been entrusted to your care (I Tim. 6:20)
10. The Holy Spirit gives power, love, and self-discipline (II Tim. 1:7)
11. Flee evil desires: Pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace (II Tim. 2:22)
12. Gently instruct opponents (II Tim. 2:25)
13. Preach, correct, rebuke, encourage - with great patience and careful instruction (II Tim. 4:2)
14. Keep your head in all situations (II Tim. 4:5)

This list is significantly different from the first. Notice that list number two, to a great extent, commands us to not demonstrate the shadow side of “strength” in our exercise of leadership among God’s family. It is important to recognize that our lives should be characterized by the behaviors on both lists as we exercise pastoral leadership. I think we often need to remind ourselves that we are “pastors” rather than church commanders. Shepherds rather than cattle drivers.

• Do you consider yourself a “strong leader?” Have a thoughtful conversation between yourself and God – Are you living list #1 or both #1 and #2? Do you have someone you can be truthful with? You should. Have a conversation with that trusted person about the shadow side of your “strength.”
• Think back to the last few times you exercised “strong leadership.” How did the person(s) being led feel? Compare your actions and words with list #2 – is there correlation? Is there a trail of defeated, hurt people in the wake of your leadership? Do you find yourself defending claims of harshness by asserting that you were merely being a strong “leader?”
• The best defense against behaving badly is to have a plan and prompts in place to motivate us to behave well. Consider reprinting list #2 and referring to it before you engage in your next conversation or meeting that requires you to be a “strong leader.” Prepare yourself to comply with these wise words from Paul to Timothy. Exercise your “strength” pastorally.

Back to Joshua. “Be strong and courageous” has context. There are reasons why Joshua was to be able to be strong and courageous – it was not done by himself or on his own.

In verse 1:6, Joshua was told to “Be strong and courageous because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them.”[2] It was in the context of God’s demonstrated faithfulness to keep his promises that Joshua could be strong and courageous.

In verse 1:7, Joshua was told to “Be strong and very courageous (italics mine). Be careful to obey the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.” It was in the context of obedience to God’s Law that Joshua was to be strong and courageous.

In verse 1:9, Joshua was told to “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” It was in the context of having and knowing the presence of God was with him that Joshua was to be strong and courageous.

Being “strong” is but one characteristic of leadership practices that church leaders must cultivate and display. Alone, strength can be very destructive; but, within the whole counsel of God on the matter, strength is an admirable trait. How we use it and it’s impacts upon others is something to talk about.

Let us know if we can help and how your conversation goes. Contact Bob Osborne by e-mail at bob.osborne@efca.org. 

This is one of a series of articles intended to facilitate and guide church leaders’ conversations about significant issues that often are not talked about among pastors, boards, and church leadership teams. Visit the EFCA West website to see prior Something to Talk About articles.