Well, we have done some good thinking here. I read in a book that there are more than 350 different published definitions of the word leadership out there. Yet, somehow we all have a good idea of what a leader is, we can usually spot them, but when it comes to defining the word, we come up with a variety of definitions.
From your responses, I think we all agree that a leader needs followers to actually be a leader. It is someone who people follow in some way or another. It may be personally (meaning that this person influences your life) or corporately (meaning they influence a variety of people in a similar way). Several of you rightly noted that it is a gift or trait, something not everyone has. Imagine walking into a room at school where a club you belong to meets and everyone sits in a chair, the adult sponsor of the club then tells you all to look under your seat. One person has a gold star stuck to the underside of the seat and that person will be the club’s next president. Most of you recognize that sort of situation might not work out well because not everyone is a leader and leadership is not a job or position. What if the person did not have the respect of others? What if they could not make any decisions?
I also noticed that some of you were defining a ‘good leader’ or a specifically Christian leader, which is helpful but I want to draw your attention to the broadest way to look at this first. Adolf Hitler was a very effective leader. He had a clear vision and achieved much. He mobilized people with his vision and took over most of Europe. Bin Laden is also a leader with a specific purpose – to destroy America. That tells me that leadership is about vision, influence, purpose, etc and does not require the same moral standards that we have.
Now a good Christian leader is something else. George Barna, in his research and writing, has named three ingredients needed for spiritual leadership. He identifies Calling, Character, and Competencies as what makes a leader. The calling is what identifies the gift of leadership. Calling is both an internal and external thing. What I mean by that is that if I think I am a leader and others tell me that they see leadership traits in me, the calling is confirmed both internally and externally. If others do not see it within us, we probably are not leaders. Keep in mind that God gives us gifts when he needs us to have them. Some folks don’t rise to leadership early in life, others do. Character is what many of you identified in terms of being worth following, leading in the right direction, having the respect of others, etc. Competencies are the skills needed to lead others. Several of you identified that leaders need to be listeners. Not because they have to find out where people want to go in order to lead them there, but in order to know where people are at in order to lead them to a better place. Competency also includes skills in decision making, discerning, teaching or communicating vision, etc.
Now, the assignment. Give me a passage in scripture that defines or describes leadership. I am looking for specific verses rather than a book or character. For example, Nehemiah was a great leader but there is not instruction there on how to lead or what leaders need. So that is not what I am looking for. Your best bet is to start by looking in the epistles. When we have a bunch, we will look more closely at a few to see what they teach us.
15 comments:
2 Timothy 2:1-2 talks about being strong in grace...it also describes leading by building a relationship...you can't just help a person become a Christian, you have to make sure they grow in their knowledge of God to the point where they, too, can become a teacher...
"You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others"
before i give this verse, a preface: whether you believe men should be the head of the household or not is not the point of me putting this in here. in pauls letter, he is describing men as the leaders, whether they should be now or now is not the point in this context.
the point is, it is describing a leader...
Ephesians 5:25
Husbands, love your wives as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.
Paul is saying that the leader, the head of an institution should be willing to sacrifice himself for the good of the rest. this applies in a life or death situation, but also in that a leader should help even when it is not what he wants to do.
-drew
Titus 1:7-9 is a letter to Titus, who was a young leader that was sent to Crete. it talks about the way a leader, or overseer, should act, and how he/she shouldn't act:
"Since an overseer is entrusted with God's work, he must be blameless, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain. Rather he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it."
"One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision. 'Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.' So Paul stayed for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God" Acts 18:9-11
I guess you have to read the first part of the chapter to understand it, but the Lord is telling Paul straight up, just keep on keeping on, don't give up, and don't be afraid, because I'M going to work through you. You're not the one doing the tough stuff here. Let me do it and I'll keep you safe. So yeah.. that's what I got out of it. If we're not afraid and just let him, the Lord will lead through us.
Jesus shows us the importance of leading by serving others many times throughout scripture. Jesus had arrived in Bethany 6 days before the Passover feast, and lots of things were and had happened: the Triumphal Entry, Jesus predicts his death, the Jews still don't believe, and at the Passover Feast, Jesus knows one of his beloved disciples has betrayed him, and is about to tell the other disciples. And what does he do? Wash someone's feet..
"Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, so he got up from the meal, took of his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist." Peter objects to Jesus' actions, but finally allows Jesus to wash his feet. Jesus washes everyone's feet and returns to his place. Imagine how powerful of a moment this must have been.
"Do you understand what I have done for you?' he asked them. 'You have called me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them." John 13:3-4, 12-17
This event reminds us that we must be willing to humble ourselves as we lead others to Christ, to be willing to lower ourselves to the position of a servant, and do as Christ does.
wow, i just found out about this... !!
victoria.
so, i did the assignment: 1 Cor. 9:19-23 talks about how we have to ...Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible... To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.
so basically, to become an effective spiritual leader, we have to serve those we are leading-- become like them (as jesus did) so that we can serve them to the fullest.
---victoria.
1 Timothy 3:2-7 lists a lot of characteristics that a leader should demonstrate. Some of it doesn't apply to us because we're not married but it has a lot of good points.
"Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect. (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God's church?) He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil's trap."
Hebrews 13:17 - "Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you."
I reckon that one's pretty self-explanitory, but it's talking about how you should obey your leaders in a way that makes it as good of an experience for them to lead you as it is for you to follow them.
Matthew 20:25-28
Jesus called them together and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."
Here is a trustworthy saying: If any one sets his heart on being an overseer, he desires a noble task. Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must mange his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect. (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God's church?) 1 Timothy 3:1-5
Here is a trustworthy saying: If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer, he desires a noble task. Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect. (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God's church?!)
Sorry it's taken so long!!!... anyway... The verses I found are in 1 Timothy 4:11-16, where Apostle Paul tells Timothy to not be discouraged of his youthful age, but rather to live by example and preach God's word with all his being and using all his gifts to the fullest.
I have been looking and this seems, so far, to be the best one I can find.
Exodus 18:19-23 states a leader needs to be God fearing and capable. it also says to delegate tasks to other capable men.
"You should continue to be the people's representative before God, bringing him their questions to be decided. You should tell them how to conduct their lives. But find some capable, honest men who fear God and hate bribes. Appoint them as judges over groups of one thousand, one hundred, fifty, and ten. These men can serve the people, resolving all the ordinary cases. Anything that is too important or too complicated can be brought to you . but they can take care of smaller matters themselves. They will help you carry the load, making the task easier for you. If you follow this advice, and if God directs you to do so, then you will be able to endure the pressures, and all these people will go home in peace."
SORRY IT TOOK SO LONG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I also am sorry for not doing this sooner. anyway, a leader must have a strong stance and a firm faith. they need all the qualties everyones listed. it also is good to have been a follower for a time so we know how to lead. we are all followers of God and he enables us to lead others.
Post a Comment