Reflections LEAD: John Ortberg

I don't think that there has ever been a time when I have not been challenged and/or surprised by John Ortberg when I have heard him speak. Listening to him do the primary teaching through the Old Testament several years ago was a high lite in many different ways. His presentation at the leadership conference did nothing to change that.

The focus of Ortberg's presentation was on the Shadow Mission of leaders. He used the story of Esther in the Old Testament as a way of illustrating those dynamics in a number of ways. The key point of the Shadow Mission Ortberg said, was that it is our authentic mission hijacked by our ego and our wounds with no Jesus present. I've been thinking about this statement for almost two weeks now and it is still rather unsettling. I'm not going to use this blog for that level of self-revelation in addressing what could be my shadow mission but I want you to know that I'm working hard not just at recognizing it, but also raising the questions about redeeming it and moving beyond the power it has to control me.
The other part of what Ortberg suggests is significant for the church is addressing the reality that every local church (as well as denominations, etc.) has a Shadow Mission. What does it mean to acknowledge that and put it out for the light of day? Would it loose the power of controlling us if we named it for what it is and began to look for ways that might keep us from falling into its trap? I think it has some potential.
For instance in our local setting I would say that our shadow mission over the last several years has been, "Don't offend anyone because they might leave." [I want to make it clear that this is my first reflection on the issue and it is not one that I have spent a great deal of time talking about, praying about, or looking for clear discernment over. As well as saying it is my impression and I take ownership of that completely.] This is not to say that offending people should ever be our goal, in church or anywhere else. The reality that I see is that we have resisted encouraging debate, discussion, and disagreement because we are afraid of the potential fall out. Because of that we as a church have suffered. We have lost the ability to engage one another in ways that generate healthy dialogue and bring forth new energy because we don't want to risk people getting upset and taking their toys and going someplace else to play.
The truth though (as I see it) is that because we have not fought off this Shadow Mission we have had people leave. They have left because we we haven't engaged them or allowed them to engage in the tension of discerning among competing needs and desires. We have not said the hard things because we didn't want to offend and in that we have left unhealthy behavior go unchecked. So the very thing that we have tried to avoid has actually happened but in a way that on the surface has allowed us to appear to remain happily pursuing the mission God has given us.
These are just some thoughts in relationship to Ortberg's presentation that I have had and I would be glad to engage in discussion on line or off line about them. I would even be glad to be wrong on this one (in fact I would be happy if I was). So talk back to me if you are out there.