CLP 474 Colorado Christian University Spiritual Leadership Discussion
ANSWER
From McNeal’s perspective:
- Conflict is Inevitable: Leaders, no matter how skilled, cannot entirely avoid conflicts. Even highly capable leaders like Moses, David, Paul, and Jesus faced challenges and crises during their leadership.
- Conflict Doesn’t Necessarily Indicate Displeasure: The presence of conflict doesn’t necessarily mean that God is displeased with a leader. Conflict is a natural part of leadership and doesn’t always reflect divine dissatisfaction.
- Differential Responses to Conflict: McNeal highlights that some leaders are strengthened by conflict, while others collapse under its pressure. This implies that how leaders handle and respond to conflict is a crucial factor in determining their outcomes.
From Scazzero’s perspective:
- Limits and Losses: Scazzero emphasizes the role of limits in our lives. He suggests that limitations are inherent to human existence and even the most gifted individuals have significant boundaries. These limits are meant to keep us grounded and humble.
- Humility and Loss: Scazzero connects the concept of humility to the Latin word “humus,” meaning “of the earth.” This suggests that humility comes from recognizing our human limitations and understanding our place in the grand scheme of things.
- Coping with Loss: Scazzero mentions that when faced with losses, people often respond by denying the reality, blaming others or circumstances, rationalizing, turning to addictive behaviors, or avoiding the pain. He implies that a healthier approach would involve acknowledging and processing the losses in a more conscious and constructive manner.
Both sources touch on important aspects of leadership, personal growth, and emotional well-being. McNeal emphasizes that conflict is a normal part of leadership and that how leaders navigate it determines their outcomes. Scazzero highlights the significance of recognizing our limits and responding to losses in a way that promotes humility and emotional health. Together, these ideas offer insights into the challenges faced by leaders and the internal and external factors that play a role in their leadership journeys.
QUESTION
Description
When leaders are unable to weather crises in their ministry, the implications are broad and often lead to great damage both to the organizations and to the people these leaders were leading. Moses, David, Paul, and Jesus each experienced crises in their leadership. In A Work of Heart (2011), McNeal writes,
We learn from these four that leaders cannot escape conflict. No amount of leadership skill can enable one to avoid it entirely. The presence of conflict doesn’t necessarily signal the displeasure of God with the leader…How is it that conflict strengthens some and collapses others? (p. 156)
In Emotionally Healthy Spirituality (2006), Scazzero writes,
Limits are behind all loss. We cannot do anything we want. God has placed enormous limits around even the most gifted of us. Why? To keep us grounded, to keep us humble. In fact, the very meaning of the word humility has its roots in the Latin humus, meaning “of the earth.” Our culture routinely interprets losses as alien invasions that interrupt our normal lives. We numb our pain through denial, blaming, rationalizations, addictions, and avoidance. (p. 135)