new church life: march/april 2016
The teachings for the
New Church offer us a
further understanding
of leadership. The Lord
leads us. Understanding
His leadership will
teach us more about
the foundation of how
all leadership works.
People know that every person is led of
himself by his love, and by other people in
accordance with it, and not by his intellect.
He is led by his intellect and in accordance
with it only when his love or will forms
it; and when this is the case, it can be said
also of the intellect that it is led, though
even then it is not the intellect that is led,
but the will from which it springs. (Divine
Providence 165)
“The Lord leads by influx.” Influx
has come into English as another word:
influence. The Lord leads by influence.
The Lord does not do this to control us
but to influence us to a good life, a life
of heaven. He influences us through
love or our will. He is constantly trying
to influence us through our better
angels. He stirs up our love for Him and for our neighbors to lead us to live a
heavenly life. He also teaches us through enlightenment and His Word, and
when that teaching touches our hearts, it is also His leadership.
We do not have the same ability to flow into people’s hearts that the
Lord does. But we do have the ability to influence people’s hearts. Often the
content of what we say is directed to influence someone’s thinking. But there
are times when we need to address our words to their hearts. And even apart
from directing the content of communication to someone’s heart, the tone of
voice, body language and many other factors affect the heart, regardless of the
content of what we are saying.
Leadership is a study that can help you in all social endeavors. The tools
of leadership can help you in your personal life and in all professions in which
you need to influence someone else.
The study of leadership is also important for us as a church. If we would
like to influence people to consider a New Church perspective or attend our
church, the study of leadership can support that goal.
The Rev. Derrick A. M. Lumsden is pastor of the
Sower’s Chapel congregation in Sarver, Pennsylvania,
where he lives with his wife, Eden (King) and their four
children. He had previously served in South Africa.
Contact: [email protected]
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