In an age and culture of institutional complacency, errors, pride, ego, and spiritual decline, the transfiguration of Jesus offers a mission-shifting, renewing focus from worldly methods to divine, Christ-centred ones. Identifying and addressing church leadership errors and dysfunctions is very important for any denomination that wants to experience renewing, healthy growth and mission in spiritual vitality and numerical growth.

The story of Jesus’ transfiguration reminds and awakens us to what kind of leaders or church we should be at a time the world is pulling us in so many directions (Matt 17:1-9, Mk 9:2-10, Lk 9:28-36). The Transfiguration accounts provide a missional springboard to overcome church leadership error and dysfunction by moving from self-serving, a desire for permanent, comfortable “monuments” to a life of listening and following Jesus into the valley of service, trusting in his authority alone.

Beloved, the voice you obey and listen to shapes your vision, your virtues, and your victory. Transfiguration prioritises discerning Jesus’ voice over contemporary contending and contrasting voices. Transfiguration summons us to embrace the ‘scandal of the Cross,’ by correcting the errors of avoiding the discomfort of the Cross, but renewing leadership and the church in humility and the reality of the Gospel. Church leadership errors that result in dysfunction and division not only hold back its growth but also accelerate its irrelevance and decline. Beyond the external factors like changing demographics or post-pandemic shifts, the story of Jesus’s transfiguration reminds us that internal church leadership problems often create silent barriers and blind spots that prevent churches from thriving. Church leadership errors beyond bad decisions create mission and spiritual barriers to living out the Great Commission or to nurturing newcomers’ retention and overall ministry effectiveness.

In Matthew chapter 16, Jesus chastised Peter for not setting his mind on “divine things” (vv. 21-24). At the Transfiguration, Peter’s mind is set on divine things, but he still does not understand; hence, many are perishing for lack of spiritual understanding. Peter wants to create three tabernacles – erroneously trying to control and house the holy, an error of majoring in minor and promoting ungodly practices and doctrines. What was good for Peter was an error for Jesus (Matt 17:4).

Peter’s errors resonate with the church leadership today, called to go and rescue the perishing, but enjoy and glory in staying on the mountain top of maintenance ministry, spending time and money on frivolities and side attractions.  Peter was in error about ‘the identity of Jesus, His relationship with His disciples, what they will face when they come down off the mountain, and what all of this means for us at the church today.’ A leader or a church that is in error about the identity of Jesus and His Great Commission has lost the reasons and the power for its existence. Transfiguration is about following and listening to Jesus rather than building monuments.

Transfiguration as a spiritual formative experience qualifies us to observe and participate in Jesus’ ministry, teaching, His arrest, trial, crucifixion and resurrection. The church leadership error is in the misalignment between what Jesus wants from us and for us and what we want from Him – power, control, tabernacles, against mission in rescuing the perishing as Jesus sent us (Matt 28:19; 16: 24-27).

The Good News is that the Transfiguration unfolds through the Old Testament as we prepare for the Second Coming of Jesus. Jesus still calls and reveals Himself to His followers like Peter, James, John, and today (you and me), leading us to a high mountain. Learning from the missional and leadership errors of Peter, which resonates with the church and leadership today, we are called to hear the invitation to “Behold!” as we see Jesus and His world anew (Matt 17:2, 5a, 5b). Matthew invites us to recall the eschatological prophets like Moses and Elijah, who show forth the light of resurrection and Parousia (Matt 17:3; Exod. 24 and 34). Those who are dead, like Moses and Elijah or lived at different times, are not excluded in the light of resurrection. As we “behold” Jesus, our errors will fade away, and Jesus will remain our centre focus, voice, and admiration (Matt 17:5a). As we “behold” Jesus, a voice from the cloud will direct us up to a high mountain to see Jesus as the beloved Son of the Father, and to listen to Him (Matt 17:5b). After beholding experience, Jesus takes control, touches us and speaks to us, awakening us to the mystery of His presence, thereby rise to follow Him unafraid.

Transfiguration unfolds as a solution to the common leadership and church errors of misinterpreting and misexpressing the purpose of ‘Mountaintop’ experiences. Rather than debating and conferencing to build structures, staying in the moment, maintaining control, comfortable, status-quo leadership, we become a movement, going forward in making disciples of all the nations (Matt 28:19-20).

Transfiguration unfolds as a solution to the church leadership error of equating human tradition with Divine authority. One of the major errors today is treating the Law (Moses) and the Prophets (Elijah) as equal in authority with Jesus. Transfiguration, as a solution to church leadership errors, invites us to surrender and to listen to Jesus above all else. The Transfiguration voice commands us to “Listen to Him,” that is, Jesus, and this corrects human pride that prioritises human strategies over Jesus’ commands and teachings.

Transfiguration as a solution to church leadership error and dysfunction calls us to return and focus solely on Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour, thereby accepting transformation over comfort. Transfiguration as a solution is first a personal experience of being changed, transfigured, for a spirit-filled, obedient, and Christ-centred mission and service. Transfiguration as a solution to church leadership errors counters maintaining or controlling the moment of glory and instead calls for listening to Jesus and following Him into the “dark valleys” of service, mission, suffering, and the cross. Transfiguration offers grace in failure, discipline in disobedience, power in penury and poverty, and salvation in sin. Transfiguration calls us to “get up” from our sin, backsliding, disobedience, and pride, and to receive forgiveness, comfort, and strength from Jesus Christ for the Great Commission and for preparation for His Second Coming.

Happy Transfiguring Lent.