“The smartest person in the room is the room.” Really?
“The smartest person in the room is the room.”
This catchy little phrase describes the value of multiple perspectives and collaboration.
The phrase has situational wisdom, but please don’t bring this quote to a kindergarten teacher!
I think this phrase offers insight into the leadership challenges that face the church in our day.
Leadership is central to God’s unfolding plan. Kings, generals, and prophets mark the landscape of history. Leadership was not of common interest throughout most of history because leadership was not available to common people.
The current American moment offers the opportunity to lead to more people than ever before. Believers with historically unprecedented freedom and resources are allowed to take initiative and take the lead in every arena of life.
With all this leadership opportunity leadership resources of a truly Christian perspective are rare. Most resources are rebranding the world’s paradigm and principles in christian-ese.
Christian leaders need the Word more than leadership gurus. Many are in danger with only secular leadership guidance.
Too many churches and church leaders are simply trotting out popular wisdom unvetted by the Word.
Our quote, “The smartest person in the room is the room.” Is only useful if it survives the test of God’s Word.
Does God think “The smartest person in the room is the room”?
Interestingly, God believes He is the Smartest Person in every room, even if the room is packed with experts!
Let God be true and every person a liar (cf. Romans 3:4).
Consensus must take a back seat to the Creator.
Scripture teaches us that sin impacts the human in all aspects (total depravity). This should revise the faith we have in the majority.
Consensus must be calibrated for corruption.
Scripture places a lesser value on popular agreement than our culture.
The role of the congregation is clear in protecting the Gospel, calling leaders, and advancing the mission in the New Testament.
However, we commonly see godly leaders who fall out of favor or face conflict with popular opinion in the Scripture.
Consensus is not Canon, simply a part of it.
Why are we discussing this? Because the church is struggling to raise up leaders in spite of clear commands in Scripture to raise up leaders (cf. 2 Timothy 2:2).
What if our culturally shaped preference for consensus and pluralism is contaminating our future leaders?
What if we are struggling to raise up real leaders because we make being popular more functionally important than biblical principles?
A bygone era placed productivity over people. We now live in the error of placing people’s opinions over principles.
There will be no leaders if celebrate following the crowd.
No leader is equipped to make hard decisions or take risks for eternity if the ultimate standard is, “Will this make me and others happy?”
People are taught to estimate things by minimizing risk rather than making things fruitful.
God creates each human accountable to God. Each person exists for the glory of God (Rev 4:11). Leaders, in every arena, are part of this doxological picture.
Leadership is a type of stewardship. Paul was not measuring himself by the court of human approval but by God’s perspective.
1 Corinthians 4:1-6 provides Paul’s perspective of his apostolic leadership that is insightful for every Christian leader:
This, then, is how you ought to regard us: as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the mysteries God has revealed. 2 Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful. 3 I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself. 4 My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me. 5 Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart. At that time each will receive their praise from God.
Paul wants the Corinthians to remember that he is a steward of responsibilities and revelation from God for the glory of Christ. Paul understands his core responsibility to be “faithfulness.”
The measurement of Paul’s faithfulness will not be revealed by internal confidence or popular approval but by the Lord on the Last Day.
Christ is Lord, not consensus.
Leaders can be misled by public opinion.
Don’t get me wrong, if the church will raise up effective leaders, they will be taught the practical skills of listening and consensus building.
But raising eternally effective leaders starts by prioritizing listening to the Word of God and conviction building for the glory of Christ.
Character and conviction are more central to a Biblical vision of leadership than consensus.
The only consensus worth having will be one that is led by people who are most convinced of what God commands, who then lead God’s people toward a consensus.
The smartest person in the room is the Lord!