I Am a Follower

From kindergarten games to corporate seminars, the emphasis is often on leadership. Who would want to follow when one could lead? This attitude has even infiltrated the church in America. I am a Follower by Leonard Sweet attempts to turn this obsession on its head. After all, Jesus called his disciples to "Come, follow me," not "Come, lead with me." This call to following does not diminish a believer’s responsibility to others, but shifts it: we are not leaders calling others to imitate, but followers inviting others to join us on our adventure.
Beyond the shift in vocabulary, I find something immensely freeing in the concept. I don’t like to lead—I much prefer working out the tasks someone else has laid out for me. As followers, we are imitating the pattern of Christ, not leaders establishing our own agenda. This discussion is strongly interwoven in the role of strengths and weaknesses in our lives. The emphasis on leadership is tied to an emphasis on strengths, forgetting that “His power is made perfect in weakness.”
I would recommend this book not only for leaders in the church, but also for those who shy away from positions because they don’t feel qualified. The perspective is well worth discussing.
3.5 stars.
I received a free copy of this book from Thomas Nelson’s Booksneeze program but was not required to write a positive review.