Leadership? Servanthood? Both?

In the church today, one cannot help hearing the word ‘leadership’ over and over again. Yes, I do not doubt the need for capable people to lead the people. But there is an unhealthy obsession for developing leaders. There are camps or seminars touching on “Leadership the Christian way” or “Servant-Leaders”. In all these, there is always focus on a lot of how-to’s of leadership such as how to relate with others, how to manage those in your group, what makes an effective leader and the like. Again, these are not bad; it’s the unhealthy obsession of them that makes it bad. In the Bible, there is little mention of leadership but A LOT of emphasis on SERVANTHOOD!!!

Throughout the Bible, we can see the kind of people God chooses to be leaders of his people. They became leaders not because they attended leadership seminars or leadership camps but because of their humility and obedience to the Lord Almighty. They did not manipulate people in order to get their positions but God himself arranged things so that they became leaders.

Lets take the classic example of King David son of Jesse. Who was he before he was king? A shepherd! As one looks at the Scriptures carefully, one will notice that his own father did not consider him king material. The father ‘conveniently’ forgot about David when Samuel came to anoint one of Jesse’s son’s as king. The other sons would have made great leaders in the church today; they were strong, handsome and intelligent. David was only a ruddy shepherd. Did God make a mistake in choosing David as King? We can read from Scriptures that it wasn’t a mistake. David had humility and was faithful in doing the small things that others would not do (how come he was the only one tending sheep?). Because he was faithful and obedient to God, God Himself orchestrated events to make David king. God used Samuel as His agent. Even God Himself said to Samuel, “I do not look at a man’s appearance but his heart” (1 Samuel 16:7).

By the standards of today, who would make David king? He doesn’t have a doctorate or accomplishments. What does humility and obedience got to do with leadership? Are not talents, gifts and charisma more important then those outdated values?

You might think, ‘That was in the Old Testament’. Ok then. Here is an example from the New Testament. Consider the first Council of Jerusalem in the book of Acts. Tradition says that James the brother of Jesus was the first President and Peter was the first Bishop. Who was Peter? A fisherman! Who was James? I can safely say that he was a carpenter, taking after Joseph’s profession. Were they qualified academically? When Peter and John stood before the Sanhedrin, the Sanhedrin admitted that they were unschooled men! (Acts 4:13) Furthermore, if you observe carefully, most of the apostles were not very educated. The most educated would be Paul; he got the equivalent of a doctorate from a prestigious university. Were they brave to be leaders? They were hiding in the upper room in fear of the authorities after Jesus ascended. Peter denied knowing Jesus three times to save his own skin.

How did these men become leaders? They started as servants. Initially, all were arguing who would be the greatest among them (Luke 22:24). They all had pride in them that screamed, “I deserve to have the highest position”. Jesus taught them they had to be a servant to be the greatest (Luke 22:24-27). The apostles had pride that had to be dealt with before they were fit to do anything. Peter’s lesson in humility must probably be one of the toughest. Peter took pride in his so called unwavering faith. Jesus had to deal with this or Peter would take pride in his faith and probably lord over others. Peter fell hard and flat indeed but he learned his lesson. Now Peter was ready to be a shepherd of the church of Christ.

The best example of servanthood being more important than leadership would be Jesus Himself. Some may be asking, ‘Wasn’t he a leader?’ Yes, he was but only in the literal sense of the word. People did follow Him and he so called led them to the correct way. But if one would read the Scriptures carefully, Jesus was a servant. The Scriptures below speak for themselves; I do not need to elaborate in length about them.

Philippians 2:5-6

5Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
6Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
7but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.

John 13:12-14

12When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. "Do you understand what I have done for you?" he asked them.

13"You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and rightly so, for that is what I am.

14Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet.

Has the church compromised and took on a secular worldview where leadership is concerned? Do we pay unhealthy attention to a person’s talents rather than his attitude as a servant? Indeed, the world looks at credentials and accomplishments but aren’t we called not to conform to the pattern of this world? Think about it.

Verse Quoted

1 Samuel 16:7

But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."

Acts 4:13

When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.

Luke 22:22-27

Also a dispute arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest. Jesus said to them, "The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves. For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.

Soli Deo Gloria!!