This Is My Desire
I am proposing that the only way to overcome the Powers is through imitation of Christ,
in particular his desires, which always leads to how we act.
-J.R. Woodward-
Scandals in the leadership of clergy in the church are a phenomenon that has existed for centuries and occur in any part of the world and any church denomination. Cases that have ensnared these priests include, for example, infidelity, corruption, violence (verbal, physical, sexual), authoritarianism, and so on. When I was a teenager and first heard that one of the senior Pastors in our denomination was having an extramarital affair, I almost couldn’t believe it. However, in our tradition, parents and the elders in the church usually teach the next generation to give an honorable place to pastors, both in our minds and in our treatment. The most basic reason is that pastors are servants of God whose lives are close to God. This is the kind of image that is usually taught and passed down from generation to generation.
However, I then began to realize that a pastor is also an ordinary human being with everything about him that has dynamics. I then increasingly understood that a pastor in his ministry and life can also experience boredom, confusion, pressure, anxiety, and downturn. As I become a full-time minister and get to know many of my fellow ministers, my understanding of the potential fragility of a pastor in his ministry and family life will become greater if the factors that support and trigger it are not handled appropriately.
Woodward’s brilliant writing in this week’s reading book is a valuable treasure that can help pastors and the support system around them to understand potential weaknesses in pastors and turn them into potentials that bring strength to a pastor’s ministry. Woodward warns that in ministry and leadership, there is great power entrusted to a pastor. Woodward writes, “There is worldly power, which Jesus eschewed, but there is also a holy power, brought by the Spirit.”[1] Woodward shows that these forces can influence a pastor in carrying out his ministry and applying the authority entrusted to him.
Therefore, Woodward emphasized the noble purpose of writing this book, “I write this book with hope for the fallen and as a vaccination for those who have not fallen but are capable of doing so (which includes us all). I want to describe a reality where we, as flesh-and-blood people, recognize the unseen dark forces that work against us, because if we fail to name, unmask, and engage them, we are likely to fall. (xxvii).” For Woodward, the potential to experience fragility and fall exists in every human being, including a priest. This writing is intended to help anyone, including church leaders and servants, to recognize the power of darkness that threatens us.
In this research, Woodward departed from Rene Girard’s theories and thoughts regarding “Mimetic.” Woodward says, “His mimetic theory demonstrates the link between the Powers and imitation and desire (mimetic desire). Mimetic desire suggests that humans are the most imitative creatures on earth and that we imitate the desires of our models. This can be seen in all sectors of society— from Madison Avenue to the fashion industry to the network effect in stock trading to keeping up with the Joneses. Although our physical needs for sex and food are instinctual, our wants are mimetic. Girard helps us to understand our “hidden models” and how they shape our desires.”[2] Woodward uses Girard’s theory to help readers realize the mimetic potential in humans while showing that humans are relational creatures who imitate each other. Therefore, Woodward uses Girard’s idea that a person’s mimetic potential is used to imitate Christ. He insists, “because through Girard we learn that, ultimately, we will either imitate the Powers or Christ. There is no neutral ground. And our ultimate model will determine the nature of our incarnational leadership.”[3]
Girard’s “Mimetic” theory makes us aware that the influence of other people’s examples greatly shapes us because within us there is a desire to imitate those who are models for us. Chris Fleming, in his book, René Girard: Violence and Mimesis writes, “Girard describes desire as mimetic because of what he sees as the overriding importance of imitation in the constitution of our desires.”[4] Fleming then shows us Girard’s pivotal emphasis on mimetic, “Girard suggests, we learn what to desire from copying the desires of others: ‘To say that our desires are imitative or mimetic is to root them neither in their objects nor in ourselves but in a third party, the model or mediator, whose desire we imitate in the hope of resembling him or her.”[5] From Girard’s theory, we can understand that through the mimetic process, we are motivated to imitate whoever our model is because we like to imitate him/her, and we love to be our model. Woodward writes, “We become what we love, and ultimately, what we love is what we worship.”[6]
A portentous assertion made by Woodward invites us to an authentic discernment, “Who we choose as models determines our desires; and ultimately, either Jesus or the Powers will be our arch-model.”[7] Woodward gives three indicators to measure it. First, are we building God’s kingdom or our kingdom? Second, are we following Satan’s impulses or trusting and relying on God and His promises and His timing? Finally, does the image of the ministry system that we create reflect the world system or God’s kingdom?[8]
Woodward’s thoughts enable us to be aware of finding, realizing, and avoiding these potentials within ourselves: authoritarian, abusive, manipulative, corrupt, exploitative, and destructive church leaders and servants, To be able to support the realization of this hope, the only one who must be a model for us to imitate is Jesus Christ, not anyone else. We can have role models who we admire because of their intelligence, authority, kindness, and so on. However, only Jesus is the true model. Here are the reasons, first, He is the image of God in human form. Second, “If we imitate the desires of Christ, it will result in true missional leadership, evidenced by others-centeredness, humility, and a kenotic (self-emptying) approach to leadership.”[9]
I, then recall what Jules Glanzer wrote in his book, The Sound of Leadership. He writes, “More important than listening to the people is listening to the voice of God. God’s call to leadership and guidance along the way is one of the foundational tones to God-honoring, kingdom-seeking, biblically rooted leadership.”[10] Not only listened to God’s voice, but he also emphasized the importance of seeing as God sees. He writes, “Carefully observe the various aspects of the situation and attempt to see the situation the way God sees it. Observing the who, what, when, where, and why of a situation provides the leader with a healthy view of the perceived reality.”[11] This is my desire: to imitate Christ. Imitating Him shapes our leadership and ministry, enabling us to continually radiate bright lights and project beautiful voices, as the Bible says, “Because He is the image of the invisible God.”[12]
[1] J.R. Woodward, The Scandal of Leadership: Unmasking the Powers of Domination in the Church (Cody, WY: 100 Movements Publishing, an Imprint of Movement Leaders Collective, 2023), xxiii.
[2] Ibid, xxxvii.
[3] Ibid.
[4] Chris Fleming, René Girard: Violence and Mimesis (Cambridge: Polity Press Ltd, 2004), 10.
[5] Ibid.
[6] Woodward, The Scandal of Leadership, 109.
[7] Ibid, xxxix.
[8] Ibid, xxiv.
[9] Ibid, xxxvi.
[10] Jules Glanzer, The Sound of Leadership: Kingdom Notes to Fine Tune Your Life and Influence (Plano, TX: Invite Press, 2023), Scribd Version, page 39 of 230.
[11] Ibid.
[12] Colossians 1:15. NIV.
11 responses to “This Is My Desire”
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Dinka~
I truly appreciate where you landed on your post! You wrote: “Not only listened to God’s voice, but he also emphasized the importance of seeing as God sees. He writes, “Carefully observe the various aspects of the situation and attempt to see the situation the way God sees it. Observing the who, what, when, where, and why of a situation provides the leader with a healthy view of the perceived reality.”[11] This is my desire: to imitate Christ. Imitating Him shapes our leadership and ministry, enabling us to continually radiate bright lights and project beautiful voices, as the Bible says, “Because He is the image of the invisible God.” ”
Have you had a recent example of how God has given you His eyes to see as He sees in your leadership?
Hi Pam!
Thank you for your excellent comments and questions.
Seeing as He sees requires a process and time which in my opinion continues throughout the leadership period and even throughout our lives.
Regarding your question, my wife and I, in our ministry, always try not to make any difference in the way we serve all members of our congregation. In our denomination, we have a tradition of regular visits as well as for people who are hospitalized. My wife and I have the principle of not discriminating between members of our congregation, whoever they are, have the right to receive service and treatment from us as ministers equally and sincerely. That’s what we still do until today.
Thanks Dinka…you summarize Woodward’s interaction with Girard well–although it’s still a concept I struggle to full understand–imitating someone’s desires. It seems to me that we can imitate people’s actions, their way of being and doing things, and we can learn their values and why they do what they do….and in that process of imitation, our desires are formed to be more like the one we are imitating. I would have to do a deeper dive and a closer reading of Girard to really wrestle his idea to the ground. Also, love that last quote about listening to God in our leadership rather than people….so important for Pastoral leaders! Not only because we want to lead people as we are lead by the Shepherd….but also just a practical necessity: If there are 50 people in your church there are likely 51 opinions on what you should be doing! In my context in Canada, ‘people pleasing’ is one of the most common reasons for Pastoral burnout among clergy. Lord, help us listen (to you) well!
Hi Scott!
Thanks for your comment. I appreciate it!
One of the greatest temptations in ministry is wanting to please everyone. I agree with that because it also happened in our experience here (and I think it probably happens in many places too).
However, in my opinion, there are times when we also have to sort and choose and show firmness and seriousness regarding what we choose. The basis for being firm, which we sometimes have to do is, firstly the Bible and, secondly our church regulations.
Dinka, GREAT stuff,
You wrote: “a pastor is also an ordinary human being…a pastor in his ministry and life can also experience boredom, confusion, pressure, anxiety, and downturn.”
You and I know how human and ordinary we are. I think keeping that attitude is vital to resisting the Powers.
Blessings on your final efforts of the semester, friend.
Hey Tim, that is an excellent point you brought out in Dinka’s post…”human and ordinary” I like it so much I’m going to adopt it myself…keep seeing myself as human and ordinary no matter what Christ does through me. Thanks bro!
Hi Todd!
Yes! I resonate with your opinion.
We are ordinary humans who were appointed and entrusted with the noble task by God to carry out His work in this world. Therefore, by our presence in the world, we believe that we are carrying out a noble divine task, that is why we need to always ask for the guidance of the Holy Spirit who guards our hearts and minds.
Hi Tim!
Thank you for your comments which helped me to see more deeply about “power”.
I agree with your view that the strength of “power” often captivates and strongly attracts our flesh. That’s why the Bible reminds us all to always watch and pray, in any situation. This is an ongoing process that we continue to do throughout our service and life.
God bless you also in your end-of-semester process, my friend!
Dinka,
I appreciate your take on Woodward. You wrote, ” Woodward’s brilliant writing in this week’s reading book is a valuable treasure that can help pastors and the support system around them to understand potential weaknesses in pastors and turn them into potentials that bring strength to a pastor’s ministry.” How would you advise other Pastors to use this information?
Hi Jonita!
It’s a good question.
In my humble opinion, Woodward’s writings help pastors and synods to increasingly emphasize the importance of regular retreat and recollection programs every year. This program aims to refresh the hearts and minds of pastors, as well as to make pastors aware and confirm the true meaning of God’s call, which they must hold firmly and uphold.
Thank you, Dinka, for your thoughtful response.