Cool organization or compelling leadership?

I was discussing some of our big ideas for this new church with a friend yesterday. How we're trying to find the right rhythm of worshiping, growing in our faith, and serving our community. How we want to establish structures and patterns and rhythms that are healthy, honor God, and have transforming power in our lives and in the lives of others. It's an exhilarating ride. It's a time of exploration and creativity. It's fun.

As our conversation continued, we turned to a frustrating reality: no matter how carefully we craft our structures; no matter how perfectly we engineer our policies and plans; no matter how well we organize our methods and systems; some people will not buy it. Some people won't care for our approach. Some people will want to buck the system, do it their way. Some people will rebel, flake out, give up, or drift away.

What's this all mean? That the system is not our savior. Systems are great. Plans are essential. Organization is necessary. But the bottom line is Jesus, not our cool plans. People need an encounter with the Lord.

The Bible talks about organization a bit. It gives broad insight into the how question. But it's much more interested in the who question. It's about knowing Jesus. It's about loving God and neighbor. And it's about following someone. Jesus said, "Follow me." And amazingly, Paul said, "Imitate me." He didn't implore people to live according to a system; he implored them to learn to be like someone who was already a disciple.

And so as our conversation was wrapping up, we faced that reality. Systems are great, but we need someone to follow. Organization and structures are great, but the church needs leaders. Some people will love our ideas and our plans and jump in. But many will need to connect with someone who they can follow.

It's a humbling, even daunting prospect. But can it really be any other way?