Little Leaders, Part 2

What do little leaders do? What are they about? John gives us a couple of things from his gospel: John 1:19: “Who are you?”

Now that’s a good thing. I like this question because apparently John’s ministry has been growing…he’s got a following…he’s shaking things up. So they send some leaders out to ask him: “Who are you?”

I don’t know if that’s ever happened to you. You’ve been involved in a ministry or a project and things are going well and people begin to ask questions. I used to love it when parents would call and ask, “What are you doing in that youth group? My son has completely changed, he’s like a different kid. He’s nice to his sister. He’s doing well in school. Yesterday we came home and he was on his knees in his bedroom praying. What is going on in that youth group? I mean…is it some kind of a cult?” And I’d just say, “Your son has fallen in love with Jesus and Jesus is reshaping him.”

The thing about little leaders that just amazes me is that little leaders don’t so much know who they are as they know who they’re not. John’s answer is beautiful: They came and asked him who he was and he replied, “I am not the Christ.” I love that he didn’t say, “I’m John the Baptist. Don’t you know who I am? I’m the one who’s been out in the wilderness. I’m the one who’s been baptizing. Haven’t you seen my crowds?” No: he says, “I am not the Christ.” Isn’t that great?

That’s important for us to remember because there will be times in our ministries and our jobs and wherever else we spend time when we begin to think that things are going well because of us…because we’re good or important or talented. We might start to think that we’re the redeemer, the creator, the restorer…That’s a heavy load to carry. You’ve got to get a lot bigger if you’re going to carry that load.

John said, “I’m not the Christ.” So they asked, “Then who are you? Are you Elijah?” John said, “I am not.” “Are you the prophet?” “No, I’m not.” His main confession was “I am not.”

This is key, especially as we consider God’s name. Do you remember when Moses had his encounter with the burning bush? He gets to the point in the conversation where God is sending him to go and lead his people out of Egypt and he says to God, “You’re asking me to go and do this impossible task. People are going to ask me, ‘What is this God’s name that told you to do this?’” So Moses asks, “Who are you? What is your name?” At this point in history, no one had ever heard God answer that question. They didn’t know what his name was. He had never spoken it to a man or woman before. Moses says, “I got to know your name.” And God says, “I am that I am. Tell them ‘I am” sent you to them.” Wow! This has incredible implications for us as we minister! As we minister in our youth groups, in our neighborhoods, at our places of employment, we need to be able to say “I am sent me to you.”

It also has an important corollary because if his name is “I am” then my name is “I am not”. That’s my name. That’s your name. We’ve got the same name…isn’t that cool?!? Can you imagine going to a Christian conference and everyone is walking around with those nametags on and they each have the same name on it: I am not. “Hi, I am not! My name is I am not!” We’re all “I am not”…I am not the savior. I am not the Lord. I am not running anything. I’m not in control of anything. I can’t sustain anything. I am not. I am not the solution maker. I am not the problem solver. I am not the remedy maker. I am not the relationship fixer. I am not the one who can pull all of this off. I am not!”

They asked John who he was and he said, “I am not the Christ. I’m just a little voice out here in the wilderness saying, ‘Get ready because Jesus is coming.’ I’m just a little teeny tiny guy. I’m sure that John would echo the psalmist who wrote, ‘Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere. I’d rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than to dwell in the tents of the wicked.’”

There’s something in us that fights against this idea, though. There’s something that fights against smallness. There’s something that says, “I don’t want to be little.” Our culture celebrates bigness. You know, “He came from a little town in So. California and he made a name for himself.” Or, “He came from rags to riches.” Or, “He had this idea and he had a long time of nurturing that idea but eventually it grew into a giant conglomeration.” Somehow our culture rewards bigger or growth. But I believe that scripture calls us to live a life where we say, “I’m just teeny tiny. I’m microscopic. And I’m ok with that!”

And the psalmist had it right long before there was a hubble telescope: “When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars that you have ordained…What is man that you are mindful of him?” He got it right! There are countless billions of stars out there and they are all doing what God told them to do: The heavens declare the works of his hands.

And all of a sudden, I’m leading something, I’m building something, I’m in charge of something…and I realize that I am so, so, so, so, so, so tiny! And so are you! You’re small! And even smaller than you think! Your name is I am not. But the cool thing with that phrase is that it has some symmetry because of the amazing love of God and his intention towards us, he’s come after us and redeemed us and breathed into us life. And I am here today to tell you, “I am not but I know I am.” That’s the core: “I am not but I know I am.” So it’s ok that I am not because I know I am. And it’s ok to be little as long as you know I am and I am knows you. You can say, “I don’t have to be big. I don’t have to be in charge. I am already at the pinnacle of my journey to greatness because I know I am and I am knows me. And it is never going to get any better than that.” My own sense of value and significance in the world is never going to eclipse that simple reality. I am not but I know I am. And that’s good enough for me.

At the end of the day, John knew who he wasn’t and he knew who he was. Little leaders know who they’re not and they know who he is.