I apologize that new blog posts are few and far between coming from my keyboard of late. And I am sorry this blog does not have a podcast yet. I have been immersed in a writing project for the past six months. No sooner had my new book been sent to a variety of editors that this new project came along. It has been extremely time-consuming and very satisfying. I have been writing a chapter in a textbook on “bad leadership” along with an international cast of researchers. It has been difficult because the editor is quite particular. But, that has been very, very good for me as a writer—I am very happy with the results—and he has become a friend (very far away in Norway). It is scheduled for release in about a year. Keep your eyes open.
In business and social science research there is a term used for Numbers 16:1-35; Toxic Followership.
Whereas a leader is good and just and effective, the follower is abusive.
I can’t say that I have written on this before. After all, my blog is said to be all about toxic leadership, not bad followers. But, this is important too.
Several years ago I read a book written by a pastor about this very topic (“The Wounded Minister”1). I wasn’t that interested—but it was a good book. My own experience was with toxic leadership.
The Sons of Korah
After the nation of Israel had departed from Egypt (the great Exodus) Moses was leading them through the wilderness. 250 of the chiefs rose up to oppose Moses and Aaron’s leadership of Israel. They said to Moses,
“You have gone too far! For all in the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them. Why then do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the LORD?”
Numbers 16:3 (ESV)
This is a very interesting statement. The Bible does not pull punches when it comes to leaders (and followers) in its pages. We do not see hero worship (other than to God Himself) there. We consistently see honest histories of a people who are broken by sin. It is not selective history in that way.
The Priesthood of All Believers
Moses was not a perfect leader: We know Moses had failings and sin. We know he murdered an Egyptian and ran away to be free from the consequences (Exodus 2:11-15). The Lord even kept him from the fruit of the forty years of leading His people through the wilderness, not allowing him to enter the Promised Land with the people because of his sin (Deuteronomy 32:48-52).
We believe in the Priesthood of all believers: These chiefs stated this biblical truth. They noted that God’s people are holy—set apart for God’s purposes—just as any leader is. Peter says:
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
1 Peter 2:9 (ESV)
However, these followers—sons of Korah—did not also consider the full teaching of Scripture; followers are to respect their leaders if those leaders do not disqualify themselves from positions of authority (1 Timothy 5:19).
There have been numerous cases where leaders in the church—though not perfect in character or in leadership skill—have been rejected by followers who instead wish to be the leader. The motive behind the rebellion is not that the leader is disqualified from leadership but rather the follower arrogantly assumes he or she can do it better.
Moses’ Response
As Paul notes in his epistle to the young pastor, Timothy, desiring to lead is noble. However, when it is based on arrogance and self-service, it is not so much.
Moses responded to the rebellion of the sons of Korah:
- He went to the Lord in his anger.
- We do not know the tone of his voice when he spoke to them, but he relied on the Lord to judge between him and those who were rebelling against him.
- And he reasoned with them reminding them that they had been chosen for very important tasks as servants in the tabernacle.
God’s Response
But then an interesting thing happened. When they had all been gathered together for the Lord to judge, Moses is surprised by the judgment that God makes:
The LORD said to Moses and Aaron, 21 “Separate yourselves from this assembly so I can put an end to them at once.”
Numbers 16:20
Moses, as a servant was not in favor of God destroying the lot of them.
But Moses and Aaron fell facedown and cried out, “O God, the God who gives breath to all living things, will you be angry with the entire assembly when only one man sins?”
Numbers 16:21
The Lord judged these men and declared that their rebellion against Moses was rebellion against the Lord.
Not Get Out of Jail Free Card, But . . .
This is an important passage and must be considered in regards to followership very carefully. Many leaders use such passages as get out of jail free cards when followers reject their toxic leadership. They consider their leadership absolute where Scripture does not allow such a view.
However, if followers reject the authority of someone who leads them it must be because of truly disqualifying acts by the leader. Certainly, it is appropriate to leave behind a leader with whom you disagree but how we handle those disagreements and leaving needs to be in care.
It must be apparent in my pages and pages of writing that I believe toxic leadership needs to be stopped and part of that process is the rejection of it by followers. However, it needs to be said that toxic followership is also destructive and God calls it out.
Notes
- Greenfield, Guy, and Faulkner, Brooks, The Wounded Minister: Healing from and Preventing Personal Attacks (2001)
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