Leaders and Followers

It is often said that better leaders are needed in our churches, non-profits, and other ministries.

I get this complaint.  We offer education, discipleship, and a whole bevy of options for leadership training.  We try to address this lack.

I offer an observation.  

What happened to teaching people how to be good followers?  

I think this is a great need in our churches and ministries.

What is needed?

Followers who will let the leaders lead.  

Followers who offer perspective, but support the leader's decisions.

Followers who pray for God to lead the leaders and for grace to support the leaders.

Followers who pray and ask for God's favor for others, period.

Followers who reject gossip and talking behind the leaders back without question.

Followers who dig in and do without complaint.

Followers who encourage.

Followers who know the hardship and responsibility of leadership.

Followers who teach others to be good followers.

I believe most churches would do well if somehow we could teach people how to be good followers.  Western individualism and human pride have made it difficult to be a good follower.

I have rarely seen a church split where there were no leaders.  

I have seen many where there were too many leaders, leading different groups and refusing to follow anyone but themselves.  These folks always blame "the leader" but they should look in the mirror and ask themselves if they have done everything they can to be a good follower.