Called to be a Follower?

I’ve been meaning to start a blog for quite some time, because it seems that I always have so much on my mind.  But, I guess I just haven’t had the motivation, since I have to write for all of my classes.  Well, it’s time to stop being lazy and write. I hope that someone out there in the World Wide Web will find meaning and usefulness from this.

I had an interesting conversation with my friend today.  We were talking about leadership and calling.  Can people be called to follow, or is everyone called to be a leader.  First we should define what a leader is.  According to Merriam Webster Dictionary, to lead is:

·         to guide in direction, course, action, opinion, etc.

·         to influence or induce; cause

·         to conduct by holding and guiding

·         to go before or with to show the way; conduct or escort

·         to act as a guide; show the way

·         to go first; be in advance

Many think a leader is someone who holds a position of authority and tells people what to do.  I don’t think this is true. I think that someone can be a leader without giving marching orders.  Someone at the “bottom” can lead.  According to the above definition, leading is not commanding, but influencing, guiding, and showing the way – which can be done by anyone. 

As a Christian, I am called to follow Christ.  But, I am also called to lead by example, and ‘show the way’ to truth in Christ.  I believe that if someone is constantly following (people), they are not standing up for their beliefs.  Because there is no way they are going to agree with everything other so called “leaders” say.  I think that standing up for truth is a form of leadership.  Leadership can and should be done through serving.  You don’t have to be a CEO at a major corporation, or the President of the United States to lead.  You can work at a minimum wage fast food job and still be a leader, through servant leadership.  Leadership is about living with integrity, and setting a positive example for those around you. 

What to do you think, can people be called to just follow?