Pastoral leadership: seeing reality, helping others do the same...

In Norse mythology, the great Odin travelled the world disguised as a wandering pilgrim (Tolkein's Gandalf was inspired by the Odin myth) in an attempt to see the world as it was, asking questions of the people and learning what they might be willing to give up in order to gain something of significant value.  In fact, he sacrificed his eye to drink from the Well of Wisdom,"symbolizing his willingness to gain the knowledge of the past, present and future. As he drank, he saw all the sorrows and troubles that would fall upon men and the gods. He also saw why the sorrow and troubles had to come to men" (Odin: Wikipedia article). 
"One of the things that Odin soon discovered (which was one of Sigmund Freud's most important insights) was that humans will go to great lengths to avoid their real problems.  As individuals and in groups, people tend to shy away from addressing tough, complex, painful problems that are caused, perpetuated, or protected by their own values, habits and priorities.  Rather than look at the reality of the predicament they are in, they often distort what they see, put the problem outside of themselves, scapegoat others, and create distractions - all as a way of distancing themselves from the responsibility for the real issue.
"Given this natural human predilection, a prime duty of real leadership is to help people face the reality of their problematic condition, no matter now painful and disturbing, and to do the requisite problem-solving work of bringing resolution to their unresolved concerns and take advantage of the unique opportunities before them so that progress can unfold. Fundamentally, real leadership is about being responsible for one's world and helping others be responsible.
"The word responsible means 'being the cause, agent, or source of something.' ...The word Odin, according to mythologist Jacob Grimm, in ancient times literally meant the 'source of movement'.  Thus, Odin became the creator god, the source of all movement in the world.  I assert that our institutions, communities [read churches]... can only improve to the degree that someone takes responsibility for being a source of movement to help people face the reality of their predicament and deal sensibly with their problems and challenges ..."

Dean Williams, Real Leadership (San Francisco: Berrett-Koehler, 2005), p.10-11 (emphasis mine).

Application: trusted authors, such as Richard Lovelace, C. Jack Miller, Bryan Chapell, Jerry Bridges, Ray Ortlund, Jim Belcher, etc, highlight that Biblical renewal and revitalisation is facilitated through in-depth Gospel presentation and understanding.  This means facing up to and exploring more fully the reality "that we are more sinful and estranged from God than we imagined, but through faith in the atoning and subtstitutionary death of Christ, more loved and accepted by God than we would ever dare to hope."  Acceptance of, and dependence upon an otherwise superficial, false and inadequate (that is, an unreal) Gospel, inevitably leads to spiritual insecurities, a minimising of our sinful condition, and falling back onto a legalistic or performance-driven righteousness in a (hopeless) attempt to cultivate and maintain favour with God.  Only a fuller grasp of the wonders of the realities of our salvation (election, justification, adoption, etc.) as an expression of the glory of God's grace will bring real joy and peace into our lives. 
As a 'pastoral-leader', the Pastor-Teacher has the responsibility to lovingly (and humbly) help the church face the reality of life and the consequent need and granting of God's sufficient and sustaining grace - both as individuals and collectively as a living fellowship - from a Gospel worldview perspective.