Christian Leadership

By Aaron Finley

Generally we think of a leader as people who can carry the respect and loyalty of others through strength and intelligence. Someone who can come up with plans and are capable of getting others to carry out those plans. But Christian leadership is quite different from what the world classifies as leadership.

Christian leadership requires us to be good servants first. Peter gives us a definition of a good leader in 1Peter 5:1-4.

And now, a word to you who are elders in the churches. I, too, am an elder and a witness to the sufferings of Christ. And I, too, will share in his glory when he is revealed to the whole world. As a fellow elder, I appeal to you: Care for the flock that God has entrusted to you. Watch over it 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 own good example. And when the Great Shepherd appears, you will receive a crown of never-ending glory and honor.
(1Peter 5:1-4)

Peter tells us, that we lead not because of the respect or loyalty of the people following, but because God trusts us to serve the ones who follow. And we should do it because we want to, not because we have to. People may respect leaders because of there position, but Peter tells us that we need to respect the people who we lead and lead them by example. Jesus gives us a great example in John13:12-17.

When 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. "You call 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. (John13:12-17)

Jesus set the example and we should all follow. He shows how we should not deny the position in life that God has given us, but also humble ourselves and serve the people we lead. He also tells us that ultimately God is the one who we are following and we are just carrying out His work. We should not act like we are greater that the one who sent us.