Victory through Vulnerability

We love a perfectly executed moment in music, but whether or not we love the musician depends on their vulnerability, not their ability.

This is true for preachers, too. We want them to show us truths we’ve not yet seen, or inspire us to do what we know already. The better they do it, well, the better. We like great preachers, but we love great pastors. The difference is often found in vulnerability.

When I lead from a position of strength and authority, I might feel important, but a negative--perhaps unintentional consequence is that sometimes I make others feel less important.

Vulnerability does the opposite. It makes me feel less important and others feel highly trusted—more important.

In worship leadership there are several ways to do this. Probably way more than these few I’ve learned:

• Tell appropriate stories where God is the hero and I am the one being rescued. (Not where I am the rescuer!)
• Sing songs that affect me emotionally and show the emotion.
• Own up to mistakes and failures. Everyone knows when I blow it. To hide it is to be prideful. To acknowledge it is to be vulnerable.Here’s the surprise. When I “let my hair down,” I lead better. But when I hide my flaws, I fail even more.

This platform behavior has to be consistent with daily living. I say things to my team all the time like:

• “I’m terrible at details. Help me. Ask me questions. When you ask about a detail, you make all of us better.”
• “I am a terrible solo leader. Without a team around me, I would be useless.” 
• “I can’t do much of anything but sing and tell others what to do. I don’t play guitar or piano or…” 

This maximizes my weaknesses and maximizes the contribution of others.

Of course the apostle Paul was right, “I am glad to boast about my weakness, so that the power of Christ can work through me.” (2 Corinthians 12:9)

And C.S. Lewis captured it beautifully: “To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything, and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly be broken… Wrap [your heart] carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements; lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness.”

How about you? How do you experience vulnerability when being led? How do you do it in healthy ways when leading?