CHRISTIAN LEADERS ARE SHEEP FIRST

'Have you been called to shepherd the lambs of God in some fashion? You may shepherd as a pastor, a teacher, a counselor, or a parent. Do not forget that long before God called you to shepherd, he called you first and foremost to be his lamb - a silly, stupid lamb who does stupid things, follows others into ravines, and allows themselves to get devoured. You are a lamb who must stay very close to the Great Shepherd. That is the best and wisest way to lead other lambs. They will follow you there. Your value as a shepherd depends on your life as a lamb, a weak, foolish lamb utterly dependent on the Shepherd. How will you know anything about shepherding if you do not stay close to the Good Shepherd?'

Diane Langberg, Redeeming Power, p.150.

INTEGRITY

'...our words spoken, no matter how true, are not real unless they are incarnated.'
Diane Langberg, Redeeming Power, p.57.

CHRISTIAN ETHICS 1.1

'There is no human being you will ever meet, no matter however wounded, disordered, or evil, no matter their theology, style of worship, or ways of thinking who was not created by the God we love. Any culture - nation, denomination, city, church, or family - that leads us to treat someone otherwise is seducing us to behave in ways that break the heart of God.'

Diane Langberg, Redeeming Power, p.56.

OUR DECEITFUL WORDS

'People use words to construct promised realities that attach to longings such as freedom, order, protection, work, or love. No abuser says, "Come with me so I can rape you." No-one says, "Marry me so I can batter you." No-one says, "Elect me so I can defraud you." No pastor or counselor says, "Let me counsel you so I can have sex with you." Instead, we say, "I love you." "I will protect you." "I will help you." "I will bring dignity to you." In Christendom, we can use spiritual language to cloak selfish ambition, hide abuses of many kinds and do incalculable damage in the name of God.'

Diane Langberg, Redeeming Power, p.53.

JESUS WORDS AND ACTIONS DEFINE TRUTH

'...anything that does not look like God incarnate is not truth...'
Diane Langberg, Redeeming Power, p.41.

A CHRISTIAN APPROACH TO POWER

'Are you verbally powerful? The Word gave you that power. Are you physically powerful? The mighty God, who breaks down strongholds and sustains the universe, gave you that power? Do you have a a powerful position? It is from the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Do you have power of knowledge or skill? The Creator God, whose ways are beyond finding out, gave that power to you. Do you hold emotional power with others? That power came from the Comforter, the Wonderful Counsellor. Do you hold great financial power? If so, it is merely a small portion from the One who holds all riches. Any power that you and I hold is God's and has been given to us by him for the sole purpose of glorifying him and blessing others. It all power is derivative, then Christians should hold it with great humility. We are creatures, no more and no less,. We follow the one who became flesh.. Jesus models for us the humility of power.'

Diane Langberg, Redeeming Power: Understanding Authority and Abuse in the Church, p.11.