Leadership is a concept that can be difficult to define. When a Southerner is asked for a recipe, he may respond, “Well, this is more of a showin’ than a tellin’.” Leadership falls into a similar category. This is not to say that pontification about leadership is unnecessary or unhelpful; but, that leadership is something best learned in the crucible than the microscope. Nonetheless, the microscope is still useful. Dissecting and analyzing the concept should lead to living it properly and biblically.  

Leadership is more than just an action, personality trait, gene, or experience. Leadership is a relational and heart1 endeavor to align self and others behind God-honoring visions and empower them to accomplish it. Leadership cannot be practiced in a vacuum. It must relate to followers. At the same time, leadership must emerge from an internally integrated leader who himself believes in and wants what he is trying to accomplish. A vision for a Christian must be God-honoring, but that does not mean that it necessarily has to accomplish the Great Commission (Matt. 28:18-20). The creation mandate forms the foundation for government and industry which facilitates alternate God-honoring visions palatable outside the Church. So even while a Christian leaders seeks to honor God in all he does (1 Cor. 10:13), he can align and empower even nonbelievers (via common grace) behind visions that honor God by simply seeking the welfare of the place they dwell (Jer. 29:7). This framework of leadership will be explored in biblical principles, personal experience, personal goals, and personal reflection. 

Biblical Principles Relating to Leadership 

One concept of leadership that was mentioned in the lectures was quoted from J. Robert Clinton from his book The Making of a Leader was, “God primarily wants to work in you before he works through you.”2 This principle is reflected in the Bible especially through the life of Jacob and Moses.  

Jacob comes out of the womb grasping his brother’s heel. This is a reference to the fact that Jacob would do whatever it takes to get the advantage over other people. This fact is carried on in the next story when Jacob leverages Esau’s hunger to take the birthright. Esau seems to have no concern for his responsibilities or traditions of his family until he wants his father’s blessing. But Jacob takes that from him by tricking his brother. However, Jacob is also rather self-dependent and seems to treat God in the same way that he treated Esau. This is reflected by his vow that he promises to make Yahweh his God only if he provides for him. After Yahweh gloriously reveals himself to Jacob, it seems that Jacob seems more interested at “grasping at the heel.” So Jacob’s life is marked by self-dependence and taking advantage of others.  

God works in Jacob in order to make him the leader he wants him to be. In providence, Jacob is also tricked and works for years for an unjust uncle. He eventually leaves and has to face the music in regard to his brother’s death threats. The evening before he meets his brother and does everything he can not to die, a man wrestles with Jacob all evening. Jacob recognizes him as God. No longer does Jacob give God his list of demands to satisfy before he will be his God. In this incident, Jacob will not let him go until God blesses him. Jacob is transformed from self-dependent to God-dependent which is crucial for leading his family.  

Moses is entrusted to lead God’s people out of slavery in Egypt and into the Promised Land. One of the first stories concerning Moses as an adult involves him murdering an Egyptian. Right away, this indicates that Moses’ method of conflict resolution is confronting (to say the least). Moses is a hothead, quick to anger. This very incident disqualifies him as a leader to the very person he rescues who asked, “Who made you a prince and judge over us? Do you mean to kill me as you killed the Egyptian?” (Exodus 2:14).  

God trains Moses throughout his experience leading the people of Israel. At one point, when Moses goes to receive the tabled of the law, the people rebel and create a golden calf. God reacts towards this experience in the same hotheaded way that Moses way Moses reacted toward the Egyptian in order to produce mercy. God says, “Now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may burn hot against them and I may consume them, in order that I may make a great nation of you” (Exodus 32:10). Theologically speaking, God does not need to discuss his decretive, or as some theologians call it, secret will with anyone. God also does not change his mind. So, why is God discussing a possible plan with Moses given the fact that in his omniscience he knows it will never become actual? It implies that God is accomplishing something by the very conversation with Moses. Moses’s response to this wrath burning hot is intercession. Instead of seeking to intensify the anger with brash action, Moses shows mercy. Truly, God works in his leaders in order to work through his leaders.   

Another concept of leadership that is found in the Bible is servanthood. Jesus takes the great man theory of leadership and turns it upside down. The great man leadership theory essentially stated that ultimately leaders are born that way. It looked at traits that made a leader great. Jesus does not think that incompetence and inadequacy are qualifiers for leadership; rather, he redefines what makes a great man “great.” Greatness in Jesus’s day could be marked by heritage, affluence, or authoritarianism. His own disciples squabble over who will be the greatest in Christ’s kingdom, assuming what it means to be great is whomever has the most authority and prestige. In Matthew’s gospel, this is brought on by the mother of the Sons of Thunder asking if her sons could be placed on his right and left in his kingdom—positions of prestige and authority. This sparks the debate among the disciples.  

Jesus redefines greatness when he says, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant” (Matt. 20:25-26). Of all the traits that Jesus could have pointed out to indicate greatness, he chooses servanthood. The irony continues as Jesus announces that the one who is first is a slave. The true leader does not just give orders, but gives himself as Jesus did. So, not only is it servanthood, it’s sacrificial servanthood. Does the leader have such conviction in the vision and in his followers, that he is willing to sacrifice his rights and prerogatives in order to serve his followers and further the mission? 

 There are several principles conducive to a good leader: decision making, extroversion, confidence, competence, vision casting, etc. The highest qualified leader with all the attributes, but who is unwilling to serve and sacrifice will deflate his followers who will always second guess his motives. The leader who is willing to serve and sacrifice for his followers empowers them to fulfill the vision. 

Development of Other Leaders 

Developing leaders is essential for the church especially in an age of increased hostility. Without leadership there is no direction, and the ship will sink. With mere managers, efficiency can be up, programs can function like a well-oiled machine, but could end up moving in the wrong direction. In 1 Corinthians 11:1 Paul urges his hearers to, “follow me as I follow Christ.” The implication of following Christ means leading other people to him. One cannot follow Christ without becoming a leader in some capacity himself. 

So the question is, what kind of leader is he? Is he self-aware that he is leading? The first step in developing leaders is to help them understand that they are leading in their sphere of influence, even perhaps if it is in a small way. After he understands he is a leader, the instruction can begin on how to lead well. The process of leader development is primarily twofold: becoming the leader and relating to followers.  

Becoming the leader requires knowing where one is going and knowing how to get there. Furthermore, assessing whether the destination is indeed worth it. For the Christian, glorying God is the chief end and it is certainly a destination worthwhile. The means of getting there are numerous, which the leader can apply his own skill sets and background to assess which way he wants to take to glorify God. Becoming the leader not only demands the big picture externally, but also internally. What sort of character does the leader have? Is he himself fully committed to the vision? Does he serve others or only serve himself? 

This is in line with relating to others. In the same way that no man is an island, no leader is an island. This requires interpersonal skills such as emotional intelligence and conflict resolution. All of this lays the foundation to empower the followers to accomplish the vision, part of which should be for them to become leaders (or rather understand they are leaders) in some capacity themselves.