I have been reading amazing posts like this from Mark Driscoll and Perry Noble, et al. [Read them...they will blow your mind].

I find it amazing that in our era of “post-modern” thoughts, preaching and leadership that the concept of “team” which is of utmost importance has trumped the concept of “leader.” If you did not understand this yet, leadership is a gift given by God [Romans 12]. It is to be exercised rightly.

In this era where many leaders do not exercise this gift rightly, we have formed teams, committees and boards. So glad Jesus didn’t operate that way. He led. He appointed leaders. The leaders appointed other leaders, and the gospel spread. Or look at the structure that Moses and Jethro crafted.

For those who are on staff or lay leaders at local churches, you will never know the burden that senior leaders carry. You can throw stones such as: Our leader is not under accountability [not true if there are a board of overseers, elders, denomination, external board, etc. over them.] Even if you have a rogue leader, that leader is still under authority from God who can take him or her out in a heartbeat.

“Well, the board and staff do whatever he or she wants.” Then that board/staff needs to grow some stones and learn to not be dysfunctional. If you don’t speak up, then you won’t be heard, so shut your mouth unless you are behind closed doors.

You can throw stones behind closed doors, but you better walk out in unity or you are destined to fail as a church. This is satan’s favorite tactic.

The leader also has responsibility to understand that he is not the end all. He is not always right. He is not the best at everything. But he does receive the vision, which should then be refined and owned in true, loving, biblical community.

Moses was not always right. But if the people had their way, they would have turned around and gone back to captivity. People grumbled at Moses. They thought he was nuts. They probably thought they could do a better job, so they set out to be church planters [tongue in cheek.]

Until you have sat in the senior chair, you better support your leader with all of your heart or grow a pair and leave. Stop milking the system and taking a paycheck for it until your dream job and dream leader comes along. Won’t happen.

If you are a senior leader who is not under the proper accountability and leading a bit rogue, come off your high horse and exercise your gift rightly.

Team is team. Leadership is leadership. They are 2 different concepts that must operate at times independently, and other times in community. What do you think?