Encouragement to the Leaders We Know

This article is addressed to Christian leaders in the workplace and in the church. If you are not one, reading it will help you prepare to be one, and to be an encouragement to them. Please forward as the Holy Spirit directs.

But?to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. And He Himself gave some?to be?apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry,?for the edifying of?the body of Christ. Ephesians 4:7,11-12

The Lord cares deeply for the faithful men and women He has gifted to His church. Being an apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, and teacher is an incredible and challenging endeavor during peaceful times. In times of storms and chaos, such opportunities threaten to burden, distract, discourage, and destroy. The same applies to elders, deacons, and women called to disciple the next generation of leaders. Those strong in the Lord and in the power of His might will survive (Ephesians 6:10), but the battle is not for the faint of heart (2Timothy 2:3).

God has shown me some things, in my research for a new writing project, that I hope will encourage you to press on for the prize (Philippians 3:14), and to not grow weary in doing good (Galatians 6:9). I pray for your patience and discernment to hear what the Lord has in this article for your encouragement, faith, and desire. I trust He will give you all three.

A Kairos Moment

To successfully navigate the storms and chaos we face in this critical season, we must first recognize the “Kairos moment” God has orchestrated for the church His Son is building. Please note, we do mean to suggest that the storms and chaos are for the church’s benefit.

Kairos is an ancient Greek word which means:?a time when conditions are right for the accomplishment of a crucial action; the opportune and decisive moment (merriam-webster.com , n.d.).?Kairos moments are not measured by minutes or hours but by what is happening (Walker, 2020).?Kairos moments are special moments of opportunity that God can use to tear us away from the world and transfer our allegiance from the kingdom of the world to another one (Greear, 2012).

God uses storms and chaos to force decisions, to shake loose what does not belong, and to draw people out of their comfort zones. Kairos moments, by their nature, invite and prompt change. Most people, including most leaders, resist change and embrace comfort zones. Ironically, storms and chaos tend to make us hold tighter to what we know – a temptation we would do well to resist.

The Kairos moment God has orchestrated for the church in this season is simply too powerful to ignore. Indeed, those who resist will not only be shaken loose, but miss incredible opportunities to glorify God and advance His kingdom. Four cultural shifts, occurring simultaneously, mark the Kairos moment: ?

1.?????? The Decade of Discord – Transition periods for the American socio-economic and institutional cycles have merged in the 2020s (The Storm before the Calm; George Friedman). See also Neil Howe’s The Fourth Turning is Here (2020), another historically-based argument for the storms and chaos proposition. Having survived the first third of the decade, we can now add technological and philosophical upheaval to the mix of storms on our near horizon. The storms just keep on coming. Dramatic societal change, for good and evil, is certain. How will the church respond?

2.?????? The Meaning Crisis – Western civilization suffers from a myriad of crises: loneliness, identity, addiction, suicide, etc. The meaning crisis lies at the heart of these. Beginning with the Enlightenment, human reason and science replaced religion as the go-to worldview for meaning and purpose. The storms and chaos of this decade have finally exposed and demonstrably exacerbated the failings of Modernity, providing an unexpected opportunity for the biblical worldview to step back into prominence (Vervaeke, 2021). Is the church ready to provide refuge, encouragement, and wisdom to the lost and hurting?

3.?????? The Returning – The disillusioned, dechurched, wandering, and prodigal sons and daughters of God are returning to the church. They will not be looking for the form of church they left, but something truly Christian. The younger generations – particularly Millennial prodigals of the Baby Boomers – will be the next leaders of the church. Who will lead them into the kingdom? How do we prepare them and ourselves for exile in a truly hostile Babylon?

4.?????? Attitude Conflict – Social scientists and Christian leaders have noted a continuing shift in Western attitudes toward the church. Prior to the sexual revolution, Western culture generally favored the church. Those attitudes have passed through neutral and are now entering a period of growing hostility. However, cognitive scientists are beginning to recognize that religion offers much of the solution to our expanding list of crises. People are hungry for the very solutions offered by Christianity: meaning, purpose, identity, community, fulfillment, etc. Will the church shake off its timidity, confess its hypocrisy, and sacrificially reinvest in the formation of Western culture?

Church leaders who desire to finish well have all the opportunity God can muster staring us right in the face. We can either dig in our heels and resist the necessary change, or run the race with endurance to the end. The joy we find along the way will be surpassed only by the glory we receive at the finish line.

Community Transformation

But we all, with unveiled face, beholding?as in a mirror?the glory of the Lord,?are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. 2Corinthians 3:18

God has allowed and orchestrated this Kairos moment for several reasons related to our leadership responsibilities. Each of these – offered here in summary form – is explained more fully in The Storms Have Only Just Begun , and on our website .

1.?????? To test our foundations (Matthew 7:24-27). The storms we face in this chaotic decade have destroyed, and will continue to destroy, the houses of people around us. If they cannot find a strong house of refuge, encouragement, and wisdom nearby, they will likely turn further into the world for those things. Consequently, the need and opportunity to reach people with the Gospel has never been greater; people tend to listen to strong houses when they lose their own.

Becoming a strong house will include our own testing and humble response. The storms and chaos are not intended to prove God, but us!! The storms of life measure our obedience and love for our King. Such tests are for our good: to expose weak foundations and shoddily built structures.

When was the last time you asked for a thorough inspection?

2.?????? To remind us who we are (2Timothy 2:3-4). Most people, including Christians, would rather sit on the sidelines than get in the game. There are a couple of reasons for this. First, what is going on around us is not a game at all; it is a war, and who wants to get involved in that? Secondly, putting on the whole armor of God every day is a distraction from the entertainments of this world. Wearing the armor of salvation, faith, truth, etc. makes us look weird to our neighbors. Being a good soldier requires a level of disentanglement with the affairs of this life that is uncomfortable and sacrificial.

God is using the storms and chaos to invite us to remember the kind of men and women He created and saved us to be. So, let us remember: We are soldiers, warriors, and mighty men and women of God!! The only place for us right now is on the battlefield. God is using the storms and chaos to draw us into the battle with Him.

Where do you see yourself on the battlefield?

3.?????? To force decisions (Luke 13:24; Romans 12:2). Striving to enter through the narrow gate requires leaving baggage behind – laying aside every weight and sin that so easily ensnares us. It also requires discipline to hear and recognize God’s voice, that we might find encouragement and direction. Eventually, entering through the narrow gate will require our striving to make difficult and eternally significant decisions. God is using the storms and chaos to bring this matter to bear – to force a decision.

Romans 12:2 also describes a fork in the road that every Christian faces throughout his or her life – a point of decision between conformity with the world and transformation into kingdom citizens who desire to know and obey God’s will. Like those loitering outside the narrow gate, many Christians have been standing at the fork of Romans 12:2 trying to find an easier way forward. The continuing storms and chaos of this decade will expose the notion of compromise as a deception, forcing us to move forward in one direction or another.

How might God use you to encourage someone facing these challenging decisions?

4.?????? To transform us (2Corinthians 3:18). Consider the ugly, plant-bound, and leaf-eating caterpillar who transforms into a beautiful, free-flying, and nectar-eating butterfly. Trusting in God’s process, the caterpillar dies to his old ways of life to become a glorious new form of God’s creation.

Similarly, God will use the chaos of this decade to dramatically transform the individuals, families, and fellowships who keep their eyes focused on the Lord and their minds set on things above. The Holy Spirit waits for God’s people to submit to His transforming work.

It will help us and those we love to know that chaos is normal for every Christian committed to following Jesus Christ. Sacrifice marked the life of Jesus, and He sent us as the Father sent Him. As He did with His Son, our Father in heaven has great purpose for the storms and chaos He introduces or allows into our lives.

What person in Christ do you desire to be? What does butterfly look like for you?

It is important to recognize that each one of God’s reasons for storms and chaos relates to communities of faith as much as they do to individuals. The principles of foundation inspection, developing Christian courage, moving away from conformity with the world, and participating with the Holy Spirit in our transformation can be applied to the spheres of influence God has entrusted to our care.

Seeing What Cannot Be Seen

For?our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen?are?eternal. 2Corinthians 4:17-18

Christian leaders are distinct from all others in one particular way important in seasons of storms and chaos: We do not have to see the end of things to trust that our Captain will bring us through successfully. God carefully orchestrates time and space for His purposes. By His sovereign will, we have been birthed and saved into this decade of storms and chaos. If we will respond biblically, we will become:

1.?????? Decisive leaders, encouraging and helping others find their way through the narrow gate and down the road which leads to eternal life;

2.?????? Strong houses of refuge, encouragement, and wisdom;

3.?????? Jesus’ mighty men and women; and,

4.?????? Kingdom warriors, empowered to make disciples and transform our spheres of influence.

Remember, God has grace for everything He desires and requires of us. Yes, there will be sacrifice, tribulation, and even persecution; these are promised to all who follow Jesus. More importantly, we can avoid wasting the pain by allowing the Holy Spirit to convict, guide, and transform us.

Remember, that light at the end of the tunnel is the glory of God and the coming forth of His sons and daughters!?

Have a strong day in the Lord,

?

Rob

#iamjustthepen

Friedman, G. (2020). The Storm before the Calm: America's Discord, the Coming Crisis of the 2020s, and the Triumph Beyond. New York, NY: Anchor Books.

Greear, J.D. (2012). 5 Crucial Truths for Following God in “Kairos” Moments. J.D. Greear Ministries: https://jdgreear.com/5-crucial-truths-for-following-god-in-kairos-moments/ .

Merriam-Webster. (n.d.). Kairos. In?Merriam-Webster.com dictionary. Retrieved May 11, 2024, from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kairos

Vervaeke, J. and others. (2021). The 4 Horsemen of Meaning. The Dr. Jordan B. Peterson Podcast. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCvQsqSCWjA .

Walker, C. (2020). How a Kairos Moment Changes the World. PRMI: https://www.prmi.org/how-a-kairos-moment-changes-the-world/ .