What is a Leader?

OK, I have to admit that I delayed posting this blog because I didn't want to admit that I watched 'The Apprentice'. But here goes, anyway.

I seem to be surrounded by people talking about leadership. Not just Donald Trump and Martha Stewart, but work and church, too.

After analyzing everything that everyone says, I've come to the conclusion that the definition I heard in church is actually the best. You can tell if someone is a leader, because there are people following them. (Confidential note to Donald Trump: you could get rid of a lot of the obnoxious Apprentice candidates a lot sooner if you understood this principle).

Have you noticed that people love to talk about what great leaders they are? The more they talk, the more people want to run away. But here are some examples of leadership I have noticed from church.

Do you remember the youth group leader who shaved her head? The next week one of the kids had shaved their head. And the following week, two more had shaved their heads. We could discuss the value of this, but the topic is leadership rather than hairstyles. Admit it, it takes a real leader to get people to imitate you by shaving their heads.

Or how about another youth group leader with an affinity for flip-flops. Suddenly, half the church seems to have forgotten that shoes and socks are even a possibility. Again, it takes a leader to generate a following.

On the other hand, the gentleman who wore the reindeer antlers did not acquire any converts. Apparently, not an example of leadership in action.

You see what an easy test this is? Think how much money The Donald could save -- instead of doing weekly projects that cost tens of thousands of dollars, all he has to do is hand out a razor, a pair of sandals, and a pair of antlers, without explaining why. The following week, it would be easy to count how many candidates were participating in each.

To be honest, I would definitely flunk leadership with this type of test. I think the only thing anyone has ever copied me wearing is my wonderful pair of wool slippers from L.L.Bean. So for stylistically challenged people like me, maybe we could have another category, such as books. Do the people around you want to read the books you read?

We can even see personal influence in how people speak. My old pastor used to say that you can tell if someone is a leader by whether people quote him. Considering the fact that I haven't heard him preach for years, but I'm still quoting him, I guess that confirms that he is a leader (not that there was any question about it). Every time I'm teaching, I catch myself saying: If you haven't heard anything else that I've said...

Of course, leadership can be used for ill as well as for good. Think of the reckless teens who lead their friends into danger and sometimes tragedy. Think of hazing ringleaders. Think of the 'queen bee' type girls, who teach their followers to ostracize and mock the ones outside the charmed circle.

But whenever we see someone with a mis-used gift of leadership, consider the fact that if you can influence them for good, there is no telling what a marvelous outcome there might be, as their own leadership gifts get redirected in a more positive way. It opens up interesting prayer opportunities.

And in the meanwhile, I'm going to send Donald Trump a pair of antlers...