Be a Frog Kisser!

I think I will continue some thoughts on leadership today using the New Testament. There are many excellent examples of New Testament leaders - Jesus being the only perfect one among them. I could have chosen Paul or even Peter. But instead I want us to think about Baranabas. I think he is an often overlooked indidvidual when we look for highly successful leadership models from the Scriptures.

Harvey S. Firestone said it this way about leadership: "The growth and development of people is the highest calling of leadership." Ralph Nader said, "The function of leadership is to produce more leaders, not more followers." Barnabas did both. He developed other people and produced more leaders. We first meet him in Acts 4:36. His real name was Joseph. However, the apostles chose to call him Barnabas. which means "son of encouragement." His name reveals or hints as to his conduct, behavior, and leadership style. He earned the title by giving generously of his time, talent, and resources in order for others to fulfill their destiny. Barnabas is one of my role models. He was clearly a man of integrity and reputation: the Twelve at Jerusalem trusted him.

Christian leaders reproduce themselves. Barnabas taught Paul everything Barnabas knew. Everyone needs a Barnabas, a more mature Christian to teach us all they know. Then in turn Paul took Silas, Timothy, Priscilla and Aquila, and others under his wing and in turn taught them all he knew. We need to gather our Timothy's so that we can teach them what we have learned and in turn they teach others. The highest calling of a leader is to develop other leaders that can out produce his mentor. As a leader, Barnabas was focused on people. You might call him a “frog kisser.” God used Barnabas to touch people whom we might have called “losers” and turn them into princes.

In Acts 11, Barnabas is the one who sought out Paul of Tarsus, brought him to Antioch, and included him in his ministry. Because of Paul’s previous reputation, no one wanted to have anything to do with him. But that did not stop Barnabas from seeing Paul's potential.

In Acts 15, Paul and Barnabas had a heated argument over another loser, John Mark. Barnabas wanted to take Mark along on their missionary journey. Paul had other ideas. Mark had already failed to finish a previous missionary journey. Paul ended up taking Silas. Barnabas took Mark. In later years, Paul wrote Timothy, saying, “Get Mark and bring him with you because he is helpful to me in my ministry.” (2 Tim. 4:11)

Barnabas is an example of a reproducing servant-leader. His life and testimony, describes at least five biblical leadership characteristics that are highly relevant to today: (1) generosity, (2) a relational risk taker (not afraid of developing deep relationships), (3) discerning eye to see potential leadership giftings, (4) Humble (not afraid of becoming overshadowed by his student), and (5) patient with the failures of others who he is helping.

Barnabas was a baton passer. Earl Creps has a great chapter on passing the baton in his book, Off-Road Disciplines. He wrote, "Fretting over the merits of those who receive the baton distracts us from asking if our lives offer anything worth passing on."

Now to settle back and enjoy my coffee at my favorite coffee shop, Maine Bean, and think more about what I have to offer to others.