To be a leader in the church—and really, to be a Christian in leadership in any organization—is not to be an independent agent, but rather, to be a leader under God. Unfortunately, too often, we don’t realize that. As human beings, we tend to look at leadership positions as a chance for people to make sure things are done their way, to realize their own vision and make their priorities everyone else’s priorities. That’s certainly how we see things done time after time in our politics—frequently with disastrous results, especially for politicians who are unwilling to listen to those who disagree with them and take their concerns seriously. That’s the kind of thing that happens when you see leadership as a form of self-expression and self-actualization.
In God’s view, being a good leader is first and foremost about being a good follower—specifically, a follower of God. Godly leadership isn’t about imposing our will on our circumstances, but about seeking and following God’s will in our circumstances, and doing so in a way that makes the way clear to others so that they can follow us in turn. It’s the sort of thing Paul’s talking about in 1 Corinthians 11:1 when he says, “Be imitators of me as I am of Christ.” That’s it in a nutshell.
In the Christian view, leadership is mimetic—which is to say, it’s all about imitation. We learn to follow Christ by imitating others who have learned to follow him more closely than we do, who in turn are following others who are yet further along in their Christian walk, who in turn are following others who went before them; and each of us, as we learn to follow Christ more nearly, lead others in turn to do the same. That’s leadership; that’s also discipleship. For the Christian, the two are inseparable.
(Excerpted from “Fitness”)
Well said, Rob. This is nowhere so true as in a Christian household, don't you think? Servant leadership begins at home.
True–this is, I think, a central reality of raising children.