Christian Leadership

Serving Others for the Fame of God

The word leadership means different things to different people. But for those of us called to minister to God's people in any form (which I think every Christian is in this category), we are not to view leadership from the world's perspective but, rather, to view leadership from God's perspective―from the Bible's philosophy of what it means to lead.

A lot of Christian leaders have believed one of the filthiest lies Satan whispers in the ears of our comfortable and entitled generation. From before we can even remember, we have been instructed, at nearly every turn, with the idea that being "a leader" means being a superstar. Leadership is a form of recognition, a kind of accomplishment, the path to privilege―the privilege of being served. Being declared a leader is like winning an award or being identified among the gifted and the elite.

Leadership is a form of success. And since you can do whatever you dream, achieve whatever you set your mind to, and become whatever you think, you too can be a leader—at home, at work, in the community, in politics, in the church. Why would you settle for anything less? Leadership means privilege, and no generation has considered itself more entitled to privilege than ours.

The Lie We Have Believed

The lie about leadership is in the air of our society, felt in the politics in our schools, and reinforced in our public elections. We are swimming in it everywhere we turn. Why follow when you can lead or when you can cut corners with your influence? Why display the glory of another when you can be the chief beneficiary instead?

As inspiring as it may seem, as our society and churches and homes teach us, it's a very old deception we have believed and accepted as normal. From the garden, to the history of Israel, to the Middle Ages, to our innate notions about leadership today, the natural, human, sinful way to think about leadership is to be king of the hill―the captain of the ship, the boss of the company. We view leadership as the ascent to honor and privilege, rather than the descent to attend to the needs of others. One of the distinct marks of Satan's evil sway and influence in society—evidence that the god of this world is blinding unbelievers altogether—is that leaders lord their leadership over those for whom they are supposed to care. The lie may be as prominent (and embraced) today as it's ever been, but by no means is it new.

True Christian leadership cannot bring glory to God and good to man as it ought if it terminates on self.

Jesus on Leadership

If we must listen to anybody on what true leadership is, it's Jesus Christ. He warned us sharply against both the pagan and religious leaders of His day who sought to use their people for their benefit, rather than serve them.

Jesus said in Matthew 20:25-28, "You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many."

Jesus commands us to have a distinctly Christian perspective on leadership. And if these words from Jesus on the nature of true leadership weren't enough, He made it unforgettable, on the night before His death, by going on His knees with a washbowl and towel in His hand. "And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you" (John 13:14-15).

Leadership for the Fame of God: Sacrificing for the Joy of Others

Peter, who led the apostles as first among equals, holds the same chord Jesus held for a distinct vision in the church. According to him, Christian leaders are to serve "willingly, not grudgingly—not for what you will get out of it, but because you are eager to serve God. Don't lord it over the people assigned to your care, but lead them by your good example" (1 Peter 5:2–3). While the world says you lead by being served by others, Christian leadership says you lead by serving others.

For a follower of Christ, greatness in leadership is not defined by how many people are under your rule and authority, but how consistently and significantly you make personal sacrifices to serve the true needs of others. Jesus could make God's glory shine so brightly because His leadership was so Godcentered that He could humble Himself to serve those whom He leads. And this He has called us to imitate. Christian leadership is the God-given ability to know where God wants people to be and taking the initiative to use God's means to get them there in reliance on God's power for God's glory. And to take such initiative is typically serve sacrificially. The initiative is personally costly.

To lead for the fame of God, to the glory of God, is to serve others for their ultimate happiness in God. For what specifically is the good for which faithful leaders will take initiative and make sacrifices? Here's Paul's answer: "But that does not mean we want to dominate you by telling you how to put your faith into practice. We want to work together with you so you will be full of joy, for it is by your faith that you stand firm" (2 Corinthians 1:24).

Sacrifice, not Privilege

Christian leadership, then, is fundamentally about giving, not taking, serving others, not being served by others. Christian leaders are not empty, immature Christian men and women looking to decorate themselves with self-imposed privileges. Rather, they are Christian men and women who are secure enough, mature enough, and Godcentered enough to empty themselves for the good of others.

Jesus tells all of us (especially if you are a leader of a people), the very essence and heart of leadership is taking initiative we otherwise wouldn't take and making sacrifices we otherwise wouldn't make, to guide our people somewhere good they otherwise would not have gone. Indeed we embrace short-term personal difficulties for long-term corporate gains. We are among those who are learning that life's greatest joys come not in private comfort and ease, but in choosing what is uncomfortable and hard for the sake of other people's happiness.

We are learning to find our joy not in the ease of attending to ourselves, but in the toughness of attending to others. Christian leadership—in the home, the church, at schools, in politics, in society, in the workplace, and elsewhere—is not for those craving for honor and recognition, but for those most ready to fall to their knees and be inconvenienced by the needs of others. They are those who, in a sense, have their house sufficiently to be able to turn their attention to serving others. Instead of pursuing their immediate benefit, they are willing to sacrifice for other people's benefit. Like the Son of Man, who came not to be served but to serve by giving His life as a ransom for many, we lead not to be served, but to serve (Mark 10:45).

We die to self so that others might live. When we find our supreme happiness in God, pouring ourselves in service to others as a means of leadership becomes the overflow of our happiness in God to them. People are happy. God is glorified. And you? You become fulfilled as a leader.

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O. O. Living (@oo_living) answered the call to follow Jesus Christ at the age of fourteen after hearing the teachings of a Christian lady. He is founder and teacher of Godcentered Christianity. Living is author of 5 books including God’s Passion for His Glory and most recently, Joy to the World.