Leadership as Practice of Abiding in Christ
When asked to choose a book about leadership that has been in print for at least 300 years, it was interesting to search and not find anything that was explicitly stated as a leadership book. It got me thinking about how, in the Christian tradition that I’m familiar with, there was much more emphasis placed on spiritual formation and discipleship that on leadership in any particular way. This naturally caused me to reflect on texts I had come across in my seminary studies or in pastoral ministry that I had never focused in and actually read. On the bookshelf in our pastoral study was a short book by Brother Lawrence titled, “Practicing the Presence of God.”
Brother Lawrence was a Carmelite monk from France in the early 1600s. As a young man, he fought as a solider and sustained an injury that left him with chronic pain for the remainder of his life. Lawrence was drawn to the spiritual life of faith and a desire to “walk continually in God’s presence.” He worked in a monastery in Paris as a cook, at it was there that he learned to go about his daily routines and activities “in the presence of God.” It was in the consistent practice over a period of many years that Brother Lawrence learned how to be in constant communion with God, enjoying His presence and impacting people around him so greatly that it caused a man named Joseph de Beaufort to interview Lawrence near the end of his life. The writings we have in “Practicing the Presence of God” are recordings of these interviews as well as some letters that Lawrence wrote to various recipients discussing this spiritual discipline of abiding always with a God who is love.
So much about leadership today is about action and influence, transforming organizations, empowering people and “moving things around” as Dr. Clark likes to say. But what I’ve been reminded of as I’ve read this text are the words of Jesus in John 15:5: “Abide in me and you will bear much fruit…apart from me you can do nothing.”[1] Leadership in the Christian tradition has focused over the centuries more on imitating Christ and reflecting God’s love than techniques or tips for organizational success. “Practicing the Presence of God” falls very much in this tradition. Brother Lawrence reminds us that, “We ought not to be weary of doing little things for the love of God, who regards not the greatness of the work, but the love with which it is performed.”[2]
Doing little things for God and abiding continually in His presence are often not the first thing one comes across when reading leadership books from the past one hundred years. The emphasis is on doing big things, not little things and of being independent, set apart, unique, one of a kind and commanding. This contrast causes me to evaluate my own style of leadership and the narratives that I have lived into that a leader is someone who has all the answers or who can perform the best under pressure. This “Defining Ego” that Walker expresses in his book “Undefended Leader” continues to be the shadow of the true self and leader that God is working to develop in me. I desire to be the type of leader that Lawrence describes, “never hasty nor loitering, uninterrupted composure.”[3] The only way, it seems this is possible, is to become an apprentice of Jesus, instead of a leader. John Mark Comer in his book “Practicing the Way”[4] reminds us that leadership is following Jesus. When we “apprentice” ourselves to Jesus to be with him, become like him and does as he did, we become the type of people, and therefore, the type of leaders, that God has created us to be. I found a lot of similarities between Comer’s book and Brother Lawrence’s words, and it reminds me again that leadership in the kingdom of God is one of serving, resting and trusting in the presence of Christ, in order that we will bear much fruit.
As I continue to learn how to practice leadership in the contexts God leads me in, I want to remember the essential nature of Christian leadership: abiding in Christ. Brother Lawrence reminds us:
““I cannot imagine how religious persons can live satisfied without the practice of the presence of GOD. For my part I keep myself retired with Him in the depth of centre of my soul as much as I can; and while I am so with Him I fear nothing; but the least turning from Him is insupportable.”[5]
May it be so of me. May it be so of us.
[1] John 15:5, NIV.
[2] Brother Lawrence, Practicing the Presence of God.
[3] Brother Lawrence, Practicing the Presence of God
[4] John Mark Comer, Practicing the Way
[5] Brother Lawrence, Practicing the Presence of God
About the Author
Ryan Thorson
Follower of Jesus. Husband. Father. Pastor. Coach. I am passionate about helping people discover the gift of Sabbath and slow down spirituality in the context of our busy world.11 responses to “Leadership as Practice of Abiding in Christ”
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Ryan, thank you for this post. I appreciate you bringing Brother Lawrence and Comer into the conversation. How do the principles you mentioned in your post interact with your NPO research on Sabbath?
Thanks Chad! I think Sabbath is a key component of learning to be apprenticed to Jesus and is one of the rhythms we can practice as followers of Jesus to know Him more. Dallas Willard described Jesus as “relaxed” and I think that is consistent with what Brother Lawrence experienced as well.
Hi Ryan, thanks for your post. It’s not uncommon for me to need to be re-centered around Christ in my leadership, as I tend to focus on organizational success. Do you experience that same temptation, and if so, how do you fight against that?
Hey Christy! I am the same way. In the words of Home Depot, I am a “doer who gets things done”. I have to be continually reminded that my being with Jesus must sustain my doing for Jesus. Brother Lawrence has reminded me of this.
Ryan, thanks for reminding me about Brother Lawrence. His life is inspiring and challenging. I also appreciate that you brought in the idea that developing as an apprentice is also developing as a leader. Obviously though, not all apprentices are going lead at the higher levels of organizational life. How do you develop leadership skill to help lead the organizational component in church?
Hey Graham. Great point. There are vocational skills that must be learned from those that are gifted. Obviously, having a servant’s heart and attentiveness to Jesus ought to be core requirements, but often we settle for management skills before those things are cultivated.
Ryan thanks for this and how you engaged us over the thought of Christian presence. You referenced, ” desire to be the type of leader that Lawrence describes, “never hasty nor loitering, uninterrupted composure.”
How can you keep this at the forefront?
Hey Daren. Learning to identify when I’m not in the easy yoke of Christ has been key. When I’m over or under functioning I need to slow down and re-center with Christ. The daily office and prayer of examen have been helpful practices for me in this way.
Hi Ryan,
Thank you for refreshing my memory about Brother Lawrence, The Practice of the Presence of God. I loved reading the book in one of my Spiritual Formation classes. The core of Brother Lawrence’s teaching is the idea of maintaining a constant awareness of God’s presence in everyday life. I was drawn to his emphasize that awareness can be cultivated through simple acts and routine tasks, transforming even mundane activities into opportunities for spiritual connection. If you were to have coffee with Brother Lawrence, what question(s) you would ask him?
Great question Shela. I’d ask to know more about the love of God that He had experienced, in order to know God more. I’d want to know more about his chronic pain and how he learned to practice the presence of God while managing that suffering. And I’d like to know what he thinks about our world today and how we can cultivate the same type of attentiveness to God in the midst of our contemporary world.
Ryan, I love Brother Lawrence’s book! I was required to read it a few years ago in the context of a certification in spiritual formation.
As you’ve now encountered this book and Lawrence’s admonition to practice the presence of God, abiding in Jesus in such a way that God can produce abundant fruit just from our abiding in him, how do you “practice” God’s presence? How have you done so in the past and how does this book change – or does it? – your perspective on this for the future?