"A spiritually plateaued leader
- avoids relationships of personal accountability
- rarely applies the truths of God's word to him-or herself personally
- has replaced his or her joy, peace and love with envy and resentment
- frequently looks for greener pastures in other places
- finds faults in others more often than in self
- is burned out from lots of busyness that has been substituted for simple intimacy with Christ
- compromises on ethical principles once held dear
- stays within safe areas of expertise rather than branching out into new learning endeavors
- is unable to acknowledge the wisdom of others
- has reduced the Christian life to a routine (Terry Walling, quoted by Neil Cole, Organic Leadership, pp. 22-25)
Several years ago, I had a fellow pastor from a church in central Illinois, say that at this stage of his life (we were both in our 50's age wise), what he concentrated on doing was "to finish well." So many had not, and so many do not. In a chapter I was reading today in Cole's book, J. Robert Clinton was quoted as saying from research on spiritual leaders that only about 1 out of 3 finish well. Two thirds fall by the wayside at some point. So a very valid concern for a spiritual leader is "to finish well."
Growth for a spiritual leader continues to be important, regardless of age or stage of ministry. I think these characteristics mentioned above are a good starting point for spiritual leaders to see where they are at whatever stage they are in life/ministry.
(Sorry, I guess I did add to and/or embellish what were Terry Walling's characteristics. But I was challenged and inspired by them.)
Where are you? (2 Timothy 4:6-8)
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