{"id":37312,"date":"2024-04-09T11:58:34","date_gmt":"2024-04-09T18:58:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/?p=37312"},"modified":"2024-04-09T11:58:34","modified_gmt":"2024-04-09T18:58:34","slug":"invisible-vulnerability","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/invisible-vulnerability\/","title":{"rendered":"Invisible Vulnerability"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cIt is madness to wear ladies\u2019 straw hats and velvet hats to church: we should all be wearing crash helmets. Ushers should issue life preservers and signal flares: they should lash us to our pews. For the sleeping god may wake someday and take offense, or the waking god may draw us out to where we can never return.\u201d<\/span>[1]<\/a><\/sup><\/em><\/p>\n

Every morning the most highly classified document in the United States government is delivered to the president. \u00a0It\u2019s called the President\u2019s Daily Brief. \u00a0Delivered by the director of national intelligence, the brief summarizes critical information that the United States\u2019 intelligence agencies have learned in the last twenty-four hours. \u00a0Every morning, the president listens and hears the raw, detailed account of all the threats facing the country. \u00a0Afterwards, he hears the rest of that day\u2019s agenda: ceremonies, meetings, press conferences, dinners. \u00a0All the while, the person in this office knows what no one else can comprehend with the same degree of detail. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Every word is confidential. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

However, if you are like me and watched 2-3 seasons of\u00a0Scandal<\/em><\/span>, you become immediately aware of greater and more evil powers assailing the White House attempting to destroy the leader of the free world. \u00a0What makes this show cringy and unbearable to watch is what lies at the heart of \u201cpresident\u2019s\u201d desire: dominance of a woman who is his mistress and not his wife. Watching too many episodes of this show started making me feel cynical about all people in power\u2013I started asking myself, \u201cIs there no escaping the influence of powers no matter who you are?\u201d \u00a0The president of the United States carries an image of authority that can be perceived as the good and flourishing life. \u00a0However, for those who have authority, (of nations, families or churches) there\u2019s an\u00a0invisible vulnerability<\/span><\/em>\u00a0that all kinds of leaders bear\u2013a vulnerability that no other person can see\u2013except the powers at be, in the spiritual world, according to this week\u2019s reading.<\/span><\/p>\n

JR Woodward\u2019s extensive work,\u00a0Scandal of Leadership: Unmasking the Powers of Domination in the Church<\/span><\/em>[2]<\/a><\/sup>\u00a0starts with a conceptual framework of The leader, Imitation, a Theology of Power and Imitation of Christ. \u00a0 With a myriad of scholarly works, models and philosophies, Woodward is largely saying that domineering leadership must be seen from a cosmic viewpoint\u2013he answers the dilemma of dominance stating leaders must become aware of their desires. What the author really drives home is that all of us should be mindful of what is at work and what is seeking to subvert our leadership. He repeats three themes of Image, Institution and Ideology<\/strong>. I offer three questions following each one:<\/span><\/p>\n

Image: How Am I as a leader concerned about Status and Prestige?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

The first time I heard Dallas Willard speak in person was in a room with 20 other leaders at a very small conference in Orlando, Florida. I had just finished reading two of his books,\u00a0The Divine Conspiracy<\/span><\/em>[<\/em>3]<\/a><\/sup>\u00a0and several of his writings on the Spiritual Disciplines. \u00a0It was 2004 and my first book had just been published so I was prepared to take notes not only on his content but also how a renowned theologian like Dallas Willard would present his talks to us; I was concerned with status and prestige as a new author and I was desperate to learn how he handled feeling weak after experiencing any spiritual warfare. \u00a0With pen in hand and an eager spirit, I was not prepared for this seemingly mild man who did absolutely nothing to draw our attention as he began. The topic of his lecture that morning was the humility of Christ. Although I was surprised by how uncharismatic Dallas delivered his speech, I was on the edge of my seat listening to every word: \u00a0\u201cunder no uncertain terms should a Christian leader show pride\u2013not in words, eye contact, body language, persuasive talking, dressing for attention\u2013but every behavior about the leader should mimic Christ\u2019s humility.\u201d[4]<\/a><\/sup>\u00a0 Those few hours with Dallas came back in flashes as I researched humility for my NPO and came across academic research (not faith based) calling forth similar behaviors in leaders.[5]<\/a><\/sup>\u00a0I can testify to what Woodward said about the \u201csubversive work of power,\u201d[6]<\/a><\/sup>\u00a0which he bases on Graham Houston\u2019s work helping us see how leadership is connected to the Powers through mimetic desire. \u00a0Dallas Willard\u2019s example of choosing weakness in humility saved me from the destructive problems of egotism and selfism that surround communicating to the public.[7]<\/a><\/sup>\u00a0 I had an inner vulnerability that at that moment turned to Christ\u2019s humility. I experienced God\u2019s Power.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Institution: Where Else Have We Read Where Leaders Seek to Accomplish for Love instead of God\u2019s Love?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

In\u00a0Rare Leadership<\/span><\/em>,[8]<\/a><\/sup>\u00a0I am reminded that the fruit of four uncommon habits related to emotional intelligence dramatically increases trust, joy and engagement: Remaining relational, Acting like Yourself, Return to Joy and Endure Hardship well. \u00a0Many times throughout Woodward\u2019s chapters, I could hear authors like Wilder and Marcus, Simon Walker,[9]<\/a><\/sup>\u00a0Tom Camacho,[10]<\/a><\/sup>\u00a0and Eve Poole[11]<\/a><\/sup> (her first book we read), challenging leaders to stay relational by continuing to act like themselves\u2013like the person God made them to be\u2013especially during suffering. Woodward repeats the theme of paying attention to invisible vulnerability<\/em> this way:<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBecome aware of your desires because the Powers seek to distort them\u2013by fully imitating Christ through embodied practices, our desires can be reshaped toward God, His Kingdom, His Righteousness.\u201d[12]<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

\n

Ideology: Why is there no Escaping the Influence of Powers?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

By the end of Woodward\u2019s book, I concluded that there is no escaping the influence of the Powers as they are at work through all ideologies that unconsciously hold people captive. \u00a0It seems from our readings, our dialogues in class, and the trainings I engage in for work that our world depends upon ideologies to frame where we see wicked problems. \u00a0Perhaps the work of the Church is to help rescue people from any Domineering system. \u00a0Allegiance that does not center on God is idolatry which leads to the opposite of the Flourishing Life. \u00a0Every so often when I am praying the prayer of Examen, I take the time to ask God what blocks me from living by the faith he measured out to me. \u00a0Without fail, God speaks plainly in a way that my simple mind can understand. Most recently it was from his passage:<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBut I am the Lord your God from the land of Egypt. You know no God but Me and besides Me there is no Savior.\u201d[13]<\/a><\/sup>\u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Like you, I want the good life and the Good Power that Annie Dillard writes about in the quote above. I fully imagine it starts with our invisible vulnerability. \u00a0<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\n
\n

[1]<\/a>\u00a0Annie Dillard<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

[2]<\/a>\u00a0Woodward, J. R., David Fitch, and Amos Yong.\u00a0<\/span>The Scandal of Leadership: Unmasking the Powers of Domination in the Church<\/span>. 100 Movements Publishing, 2023.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n<\/div>\n

\n

[3]<\/a>\u00a0Willard, Dallas.\u00a0<\/span>The Divine Conspiracy: Rediscovering Our Hidden Life In God<\/span>. 1st edition. San Francisco: Harper, 1998.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n<\/div>\n

\n

[4]<\/a>\u00a0CCCU Conference Orlando, Florida 2004. \u00a0Dallas Willard.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

[5]<\/a>\u00a0Liu, Wenxing, Jianghua Mao, and Xiao Chen. \u201cLeader Humility and Team Innovation: Investigating the Substituting Role of Task Interdependence and the Mediating Role of Team Voice Climate.\u201d\u00a0<\/span>Frontiers in Psychology<\/span>\u00a08 (June 30, 2017): 1115.<\/span>\u00a0<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

\n<\/div>\n

\n

[6]<\/a>\u00a0Woodward, J. R., David Fitch, and Amos Yong.\u00a0<\/span>The Scandal of Leadership: Unmasking the Powers of Domination in the Church<\/span>. 100 Movements Publishing, 2023. P. 46.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n<\/div>\n

\n

[7]<\/a>\u00a0I want to note that a few years later when I felt God lead me again to pursue publishing, a literary agent who was responsible for the marketing plan of The Jabez Prayer, asked me if I was prepared to sell my soul for the business of selling books. \u00a0I am so grateful for the Christian models of leaders like Dallas Willard and Eugene Peterson who never sought to build a kingdom. \u00a0Christ has often led me to say no and I have found a deeper walk with HIm and others. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\n<\/div>\n

\n

[8]<\/a>\u00a0Warner, Marcus, and Jim Wilder.\u00a0<\/span>Rare Leadership in the Workplace: Four Uncommon Habits That Improve Focus, Engagement, and Productivity<\/span>. Chicago: Northfield Publishing, 2021.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n<\/div>\n

\n

[9]<\/a>\u00a0Walker, Simon P.\u00a0<\/span>Leading Out of Who You Are: Discovering the Secret of Undefended Leadership<\/span>. Piquant Editions, 2007.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n<\/div>\n

\n

[10]<\/a>\u00a0Camacho, Tom.\u00a0<\/span>Mining for Gold: Developing Kingdom Leaders through Coaching<\/span>. Nottingham: IVP UK, 2019.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n<\/div>\n

\n

[11]<\/a>\u00a0Poole, Eve.\u00a0<\/span>Leadersmithing: Revealing the Trade Secrets of Leadership<\/span>. London\u202f; New York, NY: Bloomsbury Business, 2017.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n<\/div>\n

\n

[12]<\/a>\u00a0Woodward, Fitch, and Yong,\u00a0<\/span>The Scandal of Leadership<\/span>. P. 51.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

[13]<\/a>\u00a0Hosea 13:4, NIV.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u201cIt is madness to wear ladies\u2019 straw hats and velvet hats to church: we should all be wearing crash helmets. Ushers should issue life preservers and signal flares: they should lash us to our pews. For the sleeping god may wake someday and take offense, or the waking god may draw us out to where […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":180,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[3173,3175,3176,3174,3177,3071,95,1521],"class_list":["post-37312","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-anniedillard","tag-dallaswillard","tag-evepoole","tag-jrwoodward","tag-tomcomacho","tag-warner-wilder-rare-ledership-dlgp02","tag-power","tag-vulnerability","cohort-dlgp02"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37312","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/180"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=37312"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37312\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":37313,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37312\/revisions\/37313"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=37312"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=37312"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=37312"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}