Thoughts on Christian Union Leadership 2:- Arrogance

I think this relates quite comfortably to my last post about humility (http://storytimewithaled.blogspot.com/2009/10/thoughts-on-christian-union-leadership.html)



When we think about CU leadership, we must remember some very important facts:-



Firstly, THE CU IS NOT A CHURCH.



I cannot stress that enough. The CU is a evangelistic mission team, being taught and grounded in the Bible by their local churches, not themselves. Yes Bible teaching in a CU context is important, but it is important to remember that it is the church that feeds us, and the CU encourages us on for mission. If the CU is your place for primary Bible teaching and growth, you either need to join a church, or change which church you attend.


In terms of leadership, it is almost impossible to establish a long term leadership strategy and direction for the CU, unlike a church. This is because CU leadership is temporary. On average, the longest a CU leader's tenure can last at most is two years, but mainly one, as there is an annual turnover, and you are only there on average for three years.



Secondly, because the CU is not a church, CU leaders are not on par with church leaders.



Now, I'm mainly speaking here about arrogance. It is a plague and a trap for all asked to take on some kind of leadership, and I think it is more rife in CU leadership rather than Church leadership.



Have a read of 1 Timothy 3:6 "He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil."



This passage comes in a section where Paul is listing what is basically a checklist for a Church leader. As I have already said, CU leadership is much different from Church leadership, however, I think this passage still applies.



You meet a lot of people in CU, from a lot of different backgrounds. Some may have been Christians for a long time, grounded in good Bible teaching churches. Others will not, and I find that the majority of students starting uni seem to be students who have come from semi-decent teaching backgrounds, but not brilliant ones. Others will have come from rubbish ones, and some may only think that they are Christians. It is for people like this that this verse warns against. For to be a recent convert to Christ is to one susceptible for the first time to the attacks of the satan. To be elevated to a position of leadership too quickly/early can elevate one's opinion of oneself, and that points them, and those under their ministry, away from Christ and onto the person.



A word of warning.