In my last post I looked at some areas of leadership. I want to spend some time on each of them in a bit more detail. I had previously looked at the first area, Vision/Meaning. The next one I want to look at is Framing/Reframing.
Something that is not readily obvious is that what we see depends on how we look. Sound strange? Think about it. When pictures are framed the colour of the frame brings out certain aspects of the picture, as does matting. The frame and matting greatly influence what we see. That is why the framing of art is an ‘art.’ For us to see things differently we often have to ‘frame’ them differently or ‘reframe’ them entirely.
Think of James and John. Jesus nicknamed them the ‘Sons of Thunder.’ What was their problem? The way they viewed the world, more specifically the way they viewed other people. What made the problem worse was that while they thought they were promoting the kingdom of heaven they were actually moving in the opposite spirit to Jesus. They were opposing the very one they claimed to love and serve. Their actions, in opposition to Jesus ministry, flowed from how they viewed the world around them and His kingdom. They were sincere but were sincerely wrong.
17 James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James, to whom He gave the name Boanerges, that is, “Sons of Thunder”; Mark 3:17 (NKJV) 51 Now it came to pass, when the time had come for Him to be received up, that He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem, 52 and sent messengers before His face. And as they went, they entered a village of the Samaritans, to prepare for Him. 53 But they did not receive Him, because His face was set for the journey to Jerusalem. 54 And when His disciples James and John saw this, they said, “Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them, just as Elijah did?” 55 But He turned and rebuked them, and said, “You do not know what manner of spirit you are of. 56 For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives but to save them.” And they went to another village. Luke 9:51-56 (NKJV)
What spirit are we operating in? Do we need to reframe areas of our lives so that we are actually moving in unity and harmony with the Holy Spirit? There is no question about whether we influence those around us, the only question is how we are influencing them.
The key to a right influence is found in two things in the scriptures. We need to submit to the Leadership of the Holy Spirit and have our minds renewed. I have heard songs and teaching on the need to be controlled by the Spirit. It is bad theology. He wants to lead and guide us but He chooses not to control us because He wants us to choose to follow Him. Being led along in handcuffs while struggling is not submission!
16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. Galatians 5:16 (NKJV) 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Galatians 5:18 (NKJV)
We need to actively cooperate with the Word and the Spirit to think like Jesus.
5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, Philippians 2:5 (NKJV) 17 This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, Ephesians 4:17 (NKJV) 23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, Ephesians 4:23 (NKJV)
Recently I went through some of this. I have been reading a book and disagreed with some of the theology of the author. Yet when I read it again and set aside my judgements and sat with the Holy Spirit I began to question the rightness of my perspective. I haven’t reached a final conclusion but am seeking to be led by Him in this area because I want to be like Jesus to others. I have had a lot of my perspectives changed as I have walked with Him over the years. This is the path to spiritual maturity.
I pray we will all be teachable and have His frame on the situations and people we encounter. Having the Holy Spirit lead us and transform our minds is simply wise reflective leadership of self and others.
