Whether it be in church, or business, or politics, we hear a cry from people everywhere for true leaders to step up, and well, lead. Across the landscape of our culture their is no shortage of books, seminars, and classes all claiming to instruct one to be a leader. While I've found many of these things useful in identifying certain leadership principles and characteristics that leaders will have, we as Christians must look at things through the lens of scripture. And their is an inherent difference between leading in business and politics or another secular venue, and leading in the body of Christ. The bible teaches us that leadership is a spiritual gift, and many of the leaders God has gifted and raised up are far different than those in the world.
One of the biggest differences between secular leadership and spiritual leadership I believe is that in the world, leaders always have many followers. Even evil men like Genghis Khan, Stalin and Hitler had many followers. In spiritual leadership many if not most of God's men who were called out as leaders often stood alone or in sparse company. The Old Testament prophets are a great example of this. For the most part God raised up these leaders to try to correct Israel's sinful behavior, but hardly anyone ever listened or followed them. Jeremiah preached for 45 years yet their is no record of a single convert. Does this mean he was not a leader? In the world's eyes, probably, but not in God's. So what are some characteristics we see in a leader for God?
The life of Jesus, as usual, is the best teacher for us on leadership. How did Jesus lead?
1) He led by example. Jesus never asked anyone to do something He Himself was not willing to do. A true leader for God must be willing to humble himself to do even the most menial task before he can lead others in doing so.
2) Jesus Himself was willing to be led. For Jesus, it was about the "Father's will," not His will. A leader for God must first be willing to submit to God. Without a surrender of our will to God's, we cannot lead on behalf of God. A prideful leader is not a Godly leader.
3) Jesus did not compromise on absolute truths established by God. He stood for God in the face of persecution, ridicule and even death. A true leader of God will not back down on biblical issues no matter how strong and determined the opposition. Their are simply some things we cannot give on, and the truth of the bible defines those things.
4) Jesus spoke the truth in love, but He always spoke the truth. We cannot be a leader for God and shy away from communicating difficult truths.
5) Jesus did not concern Himself with what the world thought of Him or His teaching. He was not concerned with pleasing men, but only with pleasing God, and as a result many were not drawn to Him but rather driven away. He realized the things of God are offensive to a lost world and did not fret when the world hated and rejected Him.
Their are many other characteristics that define Jesus's leadership "style." The one thing I believe we must acknowledge about being a leader for God is that if we truly lead as Jesus did, some will follow, but many more will walk away from the teaching and demands of a holy God. Their is no doubt that Jesus Christ was the greatest leader to ever walk this earth, but even He, at the end of His ministry, had a mere 120 people who were praying in an upper room after His ascension.
So if we believe ourselves to be a leader for God, let us ask ourselves these questions: Is the example I'm setting Godly? Is my ministry about God, or me? Am I willing to take the bullets that will come with standing for God and not compromise truth? Am I willing to communicate those truths even though many will reject them? If we are, we are on the right track. It's when pleasing and gaining the approval of men instead of seeking to please God takes precedent in our lives that we cease to be a Godly leader. Oh Lord, raise up Godly leaders in our midst!
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