Getting Naked
One of my favorite writers on organizational dynamics is Patrick Lencioni, author of such business fables as The Five Dysfunctions of a Team and The Four Obsessions of an Extraordinary Executive. He’s a sharp, engaging thinker and writer. He’s also a fellow Christ-follower, and many of his principles are Biblically based.
His brand new book, Getting Naked, is NOT about taking your clothes off; it’s about vulnerability in the corporate sector. It’s a good, quick (2 hours) read, and worth the cover price. While the book specifically deals with the consulting profession, I found it oddly applicable to pastoral work.
Here are the three main points of this book, along with one take-away from each topic. Through the story of a strategic consultant’s awakening, Lencioni tells us…
1. Don’t be afraid of losing the business: Too many pastors live in fear that if they make the wrong decision they will lose the church, or at least will lose someone important to the church. While leaders must steward responsibility well, we should always remember that is it not our church. An unreasonable fear of losing the church can lead to some pastoral sins, including treating big givers with more respect than small givers (Luke 21:1-4), being overly conservative with investing Kingdom resources (Luke 19:11-26), worrying too much about what people will think (Luke 7:33-35) and not telling people truth that might challenge them too much (John 6:25-71).
Take away #1—Tell the kind truth: If I am afraid of loosing the ministry, I’m not going to be honest with people who need me to be honest with them. My goal must always be their growth, rather than my church’s attendance or financial position.
2. Don’t be afraid of being embarrassed: Fear of embarrassment is a major hindrance to ministry. If I am more concerned with making myself look good than I am with really helping someone out, I’ve lost any authority I have to minister into his or her life.
Take away #2—Ask Dumb Questions: We can’t be afraid to reveal that we don’t know it all. In fact, instead of trying hard to create an appearance of having it all together, we probably should work to intentionally reveal when we don’t have it figured out. Lencioni says that one way to do this is to ask questions to which everyone else seems to know the answer when you don’t. Often others don’t know the answer either, and by asking the question you have just articulated what is in their heart and helped them to not be embarrassed. And then you can figure out the answer together. That’s more helpful than acting like you know it all.
3. Don’t be afraid of feeling inferior: There is no room for a bloated ego in ministry. Pride is at the root of sin, yet pastors can be some of the worst offenders in this. Fear of inferiority will often lead people to be pushy and arrogant, and that rarely allows for true servanthood (Mark 9:35/John 13).
Take away #3—Do the dirty work: This is all about being a servant. Though I passionately believe in distributed ministry, and releasing tasks to others so they can do their part, this never lets leaders off the hook from doing the actual “dirty work” at times. You may be released to spend time in prayer and the ministry of the Word (Acts 6), but sometimes you’ve got to roll up your sleeves and wait tables (or clean toilets, or set up chairs, etc,) to support the value of the task and the greater value of the people who are doing it.