The Table Briefing: Leading With Courage And Compassion -- By: Darrell L. Bock

Journal: Bibliotheca Sacra
Volume: BSAC 176:701 (Jan 2019)
Article: The Table Briefing: Leading With Courage And Compassion
Author: Darrell L. Bock


The Table Briefing:
Leading With Courage And Compassion

Darrell L. Bock

and

Mikel Del Rosario

Darrell L. Bock is senior research professor in New Testament studies and executive director for cultural engagement at Dallas Theological Seminary in Dallas, Texas. Mikel Del Rosario is a doctoral student in New Testament studies, project manager for cultural engagement at Dallas Theological Seminary, and adjunct professor of Christian apologetics and world religion at William Jessup University, Rocklin, California.

Being a Christian leader is not easy. Every day brings challenges, tough questions, and hard decisions. With multiple perspectives just a click or tap away, many people in our communities are confused about spiritual things and are exposed to more questions about God, Jesus, and the Bible than ever before. At the same time, the cultures in which we minister are rapidly changing with demographic shifts across America. Add to this the polarization we see, even in the church, and it becomes clear that Christian leaders are facing challenging times. What qualities must a leader have to minister well today?

Knowing that leaders are concerned about our shifting times has led us at the Hendricks Center to focus on what effective cultural engagement requires for Christian leaders. Over the past decade of ministry, we have discovered five qualities that are vital for leaders ministering in rapidly shifting times: comprehension, compassion, courage, character, and competence.

On an episode of The Table Podcast called “Leading with Courage and Compassion,” we talked about these things with Bill Hendricks, executive director for leadership at the Hendricks Center. This article highlights key points of our conversations, both on and off the air.

Comprehension

First, Christian leaders must develop an understanding of Scripture and of the cultures in which they serve. People need ministers who can bring the whole counsel of the Scriptures to bear on current issues. While many Christian schools, universities, and seminaries prepare students to study the Bible and apply it to daily life, we must equip students to work in an additional way—beginning with real-life circumstances and moving back to the Bible. We speak of cultures because culture is not a monolith but is made up of several parts, some of which rub against each other. Bock uses an illustration from the world of sports to explain.

Bock: Leaders need to understand both Scripture and the culture around them, to “switch hit,” to be able to move in either direction—to “read and react....

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