Tag Archives: servanthood

Jesus Was Given All Authority: So . . .

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The king sat down to his royal feast with some of his closest advisers. His power was felt by all who sat with him. Yet, the king knew that he was going to be betrayed by one of those advisers. His security service had uncovered the plot. He knew an overthrow of his kingdom was at hand.

So, what was he to do?

We know what we would do. We know what a “worldly” leader would do.

We would do everything possible to strengthen our claim to the throne. We would put down the rebellion before it had any chance to gain a foothold, knowing the traitor and his intent.

But Jesus . . .

But Jesus teaches leadership in a very different way by actions that are crazy by worldly standards. He took action and did the unthinkable.

This is what is said of Jesus on the last night he spent with his followers:

Go to Book Release: Toxic Leadership

Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. 2 During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him, 3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, 4 rose from supper.
John 13:1-4a

At this point are you thinking, “Jesus summoned his followers to overwhelm Judas to stop his betrayal?” Put down the rebellion Jesus. Don’t allow this traitor to interfer with the good work you are doing.

But rather,

But rather, He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. 5 Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
John 13:4b-5

Washing the feet of his disciples was the pinnacle of serving them in that culture. Washing feet loses its importance in our culture where we wear socks and shoes everywhere and everything is paved or concrete. But in that culture, it was a continual task to keep feet clean where there weren’t shoes, but rather sandals, and there was dirt everywhere.

And feet cleaning was a messy task that was relegated to the lowest servants in the home (or palace).

What about you?

What does this say to you as a leader? Can you just sit with that story for a little bit and let it sink in.

Jesus is showing them that his way is the path of humble service not privileged greatness.

How can you serve your followers . . . rather than exercise authority over them like the world?
[Lection 365—August 4, 2026]

Verse 1 says, “He loved them to the end.” This was love. And Jesus loved until he was betrayed. Until they arrested Him. Until they found Him guilty of nothing. Until they beat Him.

Until He was hung on a cross—the most excrutiating punishment in the ancient world.

Because that was His goal and intent. His Kingdom was built through love and service and dying to self. Not through power and control. God’s absolute power and control has a purpose and that is in service to His Kingdom—His world. For His glory.

Leadership Wisdom and Humility: God Chose What is Foolish in the World to Shame the Wise

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1st Corinthians 1 says so many things to leaders as well as subordinates in Christian organizations.

It speaks of calling and of wisdom and of foolishness and of power and of weakness and of arrogance—all of it which are related to leadership and those who follow.

First, 1:26 says that we are all “called” to be something different than what our world around us says we are. And that something is in a place of humility—

For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth.

Wisdom to the world around is about power and self-satisfaction. But our calling from the God Who rules over the universe is one of humility. Our wisdom is not found in our worldly birth such as place of importance in an important family or corporation or any other worldly place of power.

Rather we are called to wisdom found in recognizing our humble place before God and man.

The Apostle Paul goes on to say that God does not call us because of those worldly standards of importance—strength, position of power, standing in our community. In fact, He shames those who think they are wise by the world’s standards through His “foolish” actions according to those same world’s standards.

But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong.

This is exemplified in particular through Jesus Christ who, despite being the One true Ruler, was willing to place Himself in those “powerful rulers” to be murdered. How foolhardy is that?

But because God has all the wisdom knew what that meant for His creation—a renewal so far reaching we cannot fathom it. He used what was seemingly foolish to bring about the greatest project of wisdom ever: the saving of His people and of His creation.

All of this getting up in the face of an arrogant world is intended to show that no human being might boast in the presence of God.

Leadership?

What does that have to say to your leadership?

Wisdom to lead well must be found in God’s principles. This is why I write this blog. I want to continually challenge all who think leadership is a matter of power and worldly wisdom.

The true wisdom that is found in psychology, business management, or any leadership training text is wisdom that is fundamentally exemplified in the LORD. And there are many, many principles that are indeed found in those areas of study that have their place in Scriptural leadership. In fact, those principles are sometimes more clearly deliniated in those halls of academia than in some churches.

Because, sometimes the church falls hook, line, and sinker for worldly wisdom that has no power.

1 Corinthians 1:26-31 (ESV) For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 29 so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. 30 And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, 31 so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

As a Brother: Respecting Subordinates

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Often the focus of Bible teaching—when it comes to leadership and followership—is on the follower.

In particular, the focus is on being submissive more often than not.

I understand that. There are several Scripture passages that call on subordinates in various contexts to submit to the authority under which God has place us (Romans 13; 1 Peter 2:13f).

However, Scripture also speaks to those in authority. In fact, because of the power differential, I would suggest the greater responsibility is on the authority to use that authority in a God-glorifying and respectful way. The frequency with which the Lord speaks to those who oppress—actions that crush those who have less power—is striking (Exodus 3:9; Isaiah 58:6).

Job of an Older Man

The Apostle Paul makes an interesting statement that has some bearing on this in his letter to Timothy.

Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father, younger men as brothers, 2 older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, in all purity.

1 Timothy 5:1-2 (ESV)

Timothy was a young man by all accounts and given the job of an older man. He was leading a new church in a time when elders—those who are older in age—were expected to be leaders, particularly wise religious leaders.

Paul found it necessary to instruct Timothy in how to handle his position as a spiritual leader to those who were younger and of older age. It is in his instruction to Timothy in what his attitude should be towards younger folks in his congregation that I am most interested in.

It is in this instruction to younger people that Paul uses, what I would consider, a unique and surprising terminology. He says, don’t rebuke them, but rather treat them as “brothers” and “sisters.”

Timothy is older (even though young). Timothy is probably more knowledgeable. He was “appointed” by an apostle for his position. He was a “big man.”

Yet, Paul says treat those younger like equals. That is what a brother or sister is. He/she is of equal stature. And this is the attitude Timothy needs to have.

We would not expect that.

And many leaders in the church wouldn’t expect that and probably would be put out by Paul’s instruction if they took the time to consider the words Paul is using. Rather, we see often those who lead in the church treat others as if they are children. I have heard that over and over from those with toxic leaders.

It is how I was treated by a mission leader; not as a colleague, but as a child.

Encourage or Rebuke?

Notice also that Timothy is called to take a clearly softer stance with those he leads and instructs. Paul says, “encourage” them rather than “rebuke” them.

To “rebuke” is defined as “to chastise with words, to chide, upbraid.”1 On the other hand, “encourage” means in Greek “to address, speak to, (call to, call upon), which may be done in the way of exhortation, entreaty, comfort, instruction, etc.”2

Timothy had the authority of an elder in the church, yet he should not use that authority to “lord it over” those under that authority, but rather “encourage” them in their walk with Christ.

One interviewee of mine in the northeast was treated as if she was of lesser intelligence by her pastor, though she had been an integral part of the church ministry for years. A friend of mine had developed an exceptional ministry to women who were in abusive marriages and she had a doctorate in theology and yet was simply ignored. Another interviewee developed much the same kind of ministry in the southwest and was ignored, treated with disrespect, and finally run out of the church.

These are not the attitudes and actions of the kind of pastor Paul was calling Timothy to be.

Despite the difference in age, in a culture that held to the authority of others older than oneself, Paul was counter-culture in suggesting Timothy treat the younger as equals—those who had less authority than himself.

Calling all leaders: This takes humility, patience, and a self-awareness. We have to dig deep into our hidden motives and attitudes and seek the Holy Spirit’s help in transforming likely arrogant and defensive and domineering attitudes.

Treat your subordinates as brothers and sisters, not as children.

Notes:

  1. Strong, James (2010), The New Strong’s Expanded Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (Expanded edition, n.p.).
    ↩︎
  2. Strong, James (2010), The New Strong’s Expanded Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (Expanded edition, n.p.). ↩︎

The Hope of New Creation for Leadership

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It is rare that I speak of good leaders.

That is because I am passionate about helping those under bad (toxic) leadership. Though a portion of my seminary training was looking at good leadership in the church, it was my own experience of bad leadership that formed my work for these past 13 years.

Today, however I am looking forward to Easter—which comes tomorrow. I have rarely written about this particular calendar day for the church.

But this year is different. I have been in a study of the New Heavens and New Earth of late and, though I have focused on this theological concept before, it has been a wonderful reminder of our place in this world.

And it has great implications for leadership.

I am neck deep in four writing projects that have developed especially over the past year and a half. Some of these have been focusing on the hopelessness of truly toxic leadership. These are leaders that absolutely will not respond to any kind of normal remedies: education, confrontation, counseling, etc.

What do we do with them?

Easter.

New Creation

Because Easter means New Creation.

And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.”

Revelation 21:5 (ESV)

This is found almost at the very end of Scriptures as Jesus encourages the church through the Apostle John that there is something so great, marvelous, and extraordinary on the horizon that no amount of man’s rage against the machine can alter it.

When Jesus comes again, there will be justice, righteousness, and mercy. The words prior to verse five give us a beautiful picture:

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

Revelation 21:1-4 (ESV)

What beauty. It brings peace and joy to my soul.

But, lest we become so enthralled by this future event described for us, we need to realize that when Jesus came and walked this earth the first time 2000 years ago, He ushered in this new creation in the form of His Kingdom for now.

In Matthew 6:10 Jesus tells his disciples to pray for God’s Kingdom to come to earth just as it is in heaven now! Jesus said the Kingdom of God was at hand. It is here and now as Jesus walked about as its King. As Jesus roamed about, healing the sick, raising the dead, and proclaiming Good News to the captives, the Kingdom was and is here.

This is extraordinary news. It gives meaning to everything we do so that the Apostle may say, “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31).

All Things New

In essence what Scripture says is that all things are new. Because Jesus came and was raised from the dead, all things are new.

The implications for leadership is that it is new. All that was taught by Jesus and his Apostles to His disciples 2000 years ago about leadership—about not lording it over, treating subordinates harshly, or welcoming even a slave back as if he is no longer owned—is a picture of this newness.

We aren’t born with this newness, I am afraid. It comes from a radical alteration of our very being as Jesus explains to Nicodemus—You must be born again!

So too, a toxic leader can become new. Despite the seeming hopelessness, a deeply damaged leader can become a new leader—just as Jesus’ body was altered dramatically through resurrection, so too leaders may be transformed through resurrection.

Those of us who have suffered under these leaders need to pray for this alteration in these leaders. We need to ask that the Lord will transform them radically—for that is the only way it will happen. And though I have heard of few instances, I have heard of those who came to the foot of the cross and were changed in the blinding of Jesus’ light.

If you are a toxic leader, use this time of commemoration to bow at the foot of the cross, receiving the new creation, and turning from your destruction.

The Effective Leader: Temperance, Empathy, and Humility

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A friend of mine says, “Leadership is easy when things are easy. But real leadership happens when things are difficult.”1

It is in those challenging times that the real heart of the leader becomes evident. All sorts of airs can be put on when everyone is getting along, the production is going strong, relationships are amicable.

However, when the leadership is challenged or anxiety in the organization is high—then leadership becomes. . . leadership.

Seven Sentences

Paul, in his letter to the Roman church, provides in seven (English) sentences a beautiful summation of how all people are to engage others—and how leaders should understand their own approach to leadership.

Paul says,

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. 17 Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.

Romans 12:14-18 (ESV)

There are three character traits invaluable to the leader’s ministry to others:

  • Temperance.
  • Empathy.
  • Humility.

Temperance

The first thing Paul says, and similarly two other times, is to be peaceful.

This goes against so much of what is touted of leadership. Leaders are often expected to be brash, bold, uncompromising, and aggressive. Our political leaders have raised the rhetoric of leadership to new heights of anger, arrogance, and falsehood. Many tout such behavior as “leadership”.

It gets attention and many leaders now think this is appropriate, and even good.

However, Paul says in four different ways that we are not to fight back against those who criticize, live in harmony, and be at peace.

There are times when criticism comes that needs an answer. Scripture is also concerned with truth-telling and accuracy of information (not bearing false witness). And this is why we can say that Christians are not to be doormats—seeking peace does not always mean giving in.

But the leader needs to carefully weigh the wisdom in responding to attacks from subordinates or their stakeholders. And particularly, he/she needs to weigh his/her words carefully to be sure they are full of grace. Often what is taken as persecution is really just well-aimed criticism that is hard to take.

Leaders must always remember that those attacking—or simply exhorting—are bearers of the image of God. As such, they should be treated with care, respect, and honor.

The biblical expectation of the leader is to be “sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable . . . not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome” (1 Timothy 3:2-3) as Paul explains to Timothy regarding Elders in the church. These are all words that describe a temperate person—one who is not easily riled.

I remember hearing of a 19th Century preacher who when it was suggested he stand up against the unmerited attacks of others—which he didn’t—said, “If they really knew how bad I am it would be even worse.”

Here was a temperate leader.

Empathy

Empathy has been attacked by Christian and non-Christian alike as an inadequate way to engage others while they are suffering. Being empathic may squelch saying what might need to be said.

However, Christians cannot jump on that bandwagon. Though there are cautions, Scripture is replete with examples of empathic engagement (see 2 Corinthians 1:3-7 especially). Paul says here, “Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.”

The point of that little statement is to encourage feeling what the other is feeling. “Rejoice” is an heart attitude. It is an emotion. Weeping comes from the heart as well. These are both emotions based on the emotions of the person with whom we are engaging.

The leader—and all of us—are called to empathize with those under our oversight. If we do this we will refrain from trying to “control” the person in unhelpful ways. It will help the leader consider carefully his responses, policies, and care for his subordinates.

Humility

In the middle of verse 16, Paul takes a shot at arrogance. He says,

“Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight.”

Remember when in elementary school someone who associated with poor and unpopular kids would be derided? The disdain heaped upon the poor kid would be directed at those who would give aid or comfort?

The Christian leader is called to take special care of those who are on the bottom rungs of their social ladder. It takes additional effort for those in high positions to do this.

And it takes a humble view of self.

All a leader needs to do is recognize his equal place before God among all, what he may consider, the riff-raff of life (Galatians 3:28) . In God’s reality, the leader is of no greater importance than the lowest paid, least esteemed subordinate in his organization.

Just a look at one’s heart should help humble the leader. He may outwardly gain all sorts of notoriety, but when considering his own failures—that no one sees—he should be able to humbly engage those down the ladder.

Learn from the World?

Leaders tend to learn from the world. The world might teach arrogance, control, and manipulation. But the Christian leader has a higher calling.

God calls you to temperance, empathy, and humility.

NOTES

  1. Dr. Anders Örtenblad, Professor of Working Life Science, University of Agder, Norway.  ↩︎

Followership: Obedience to Toxic Leadership

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Scripture is full of twists and turns that help us navigate the complexities of our world.

Some would call them inconsistencies. Or in need of complicated justifications. However, I would call it God’s wisdom in speaking to our ever complex circumstances.

One such twist is how Scripture handles “turning the other cheek” (Matthew 5:39). It is not uncommon to hear sermons and Bible studies based on the idea that as Christians we should be doormats. It is part of teaching on submission in the Bible.

Twists and Turns

However, there are also turns in Scripture that throw us off guard. This is because Scripture was written not to give us a specific law for every eventuality in which we find ourselves. As the author of the “Divorce and Domestic Abuse” section in the DASA Report, Shane Waldron, notes,

[I]f we interpret Scripture through the lens of modern law, we will most likely arrive at a very different answer than if we read it as law from the Ancient Near East.

Ad Interim Study Committee on Domestic Abuse and Sexual Assault for the Presbyterian Church in America, Attachment 11

Our American viewpoint on law is just not the same as Scripture’s. They understood laws in a “principled” way. The big picture is given in the Bible in the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20) and then given hands and feet in principles through case laws that are found throughout. These “case laws” help us understand the complexities of our situations.

For example, the Ten Commandments tell us we cannot murder. But, murder must be defined more carefully. So, the case law notes that killing someone in self-defense is not punishable as murder (Exodus 22:2). There are other defining characteristics as to what “murder” should be considered.

Turning the Other Cheek

So, too we need to be careful in what we expect of people when it comes to submission to evil. What I mean by that is how we determine when we should turn the other cheek to those who do harm.

A curious defining moment for those under toxic leadership comes in Paul’s second letter to the Corinthian church. He says,

Since many boast according to the flesh, I too will boast. 19 For you gladly bear with fools, being wise yourselves! 20 For you bear it if someone makes slaves of you, or devours you, or takes advantage of you, or puts on airs, or strikes you in the face. 21 To my shame, I must say, we were too weak for that!

2 Corinthians 11:18-21 (ESV)

Paul’s writing reeks of sarcasm here as it does in other places. The Corinthian church had gone far astray since Paul brought the Gospel to Corinth around 50 AD. He wrote the words above around 4-6 years later. There were some pretty serious problems that had popped up in that time.

There were those who were abusing their authority in the church, teaching contrary to Paul’s apostolic authority. In this passage, Paul’s sarcasm is directed at the followers. He is calling them to action.

Submission That is Not God’s Desire

When it comes to those who are abusing their authority, Paul would suggest that submission is not the desire of God. Here submission is to God who overrules wicked authority.

Paul describes it as bearing “with fools, being wise yourselves!” Putting up with wicked authority is no godly. When doing so, followers are allowing the leader(s) to “make slaves of you, or [devour] you, or [take] advantage of you.”

Paul, in his writing, can be harsh. But that harshness is intended to relieve those oppressed by that which God despises. God despises leaders who take advantage and oppress their subjects (Ezekiel 34). Paul, though sarcastic towards these followers in Corinth, is particularly looking out for the flock there.

This is not a call to be overly critical of leaders in Christian organizations.

Scripture still makes it evident that the default position of those under various authorities to recognize and submit to those authorities as God-given.

However, this perspective must also be balanced with Scripture’s continual call to leaders to lead under the direction of their LORD and for followers to hold leaders accountable to that same standard.

Jealousy and Leadership: A Toxic Mix

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Narcissism is found on a continuum. That means that there are those with extensive narcissism and those with little self-interest. Everyone else is found between those extremes. Most of us live in that neighborhood . . . not classified as narcissistic but having a self-interest that is rotten and hurtful.

That self-interest provides many opportunities, maybe even daily, to covet the skills and gifting others have. For the leader who considers his authority questioned whenever another human being in his orbit receives accolades for his or her skills, the temptation to not only covet but attempt control over that gifted one is a problem.

In the Bible book of Numbers there is a story that is a good example of leadership and a bad one as well.

Israel has broken free from Egypt where they were enslaved. Moses, whom God chose to lead the nation out of Egypt, is challenged to squash the gifts of others.

So Moses went out and told the people what the LORD had said. He brought together seventy of their elders and had them stand around the tent. 25 Then the LORD came down in the cloud and spoke with him, and he took some of the power of the Spirit that was on him and put it on the seventy elders. When the Spirit rested on them, they prophesied —but did not do so again.

Numbers 11:24-30 (NIV)

This in itself could have been a temptation for Moses. Seeing the LORD bless others with gifting, in essence giving them attention like Moses had received as a leader.

In my world of constant leadership failures, my first thought is I can’t believe Moses would actually shared “the power of the Spirit that was on him” with these other men. That is shocking enough, but the passage goes on:

However, two men, whose names were Eldad and Medad, had remained in the camp. They were listed among the elders, but did not go out to the tent. Yet the Spirit also rested on them, and they prophesied in the camp. 27 A young man ran and told Moses, “Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp.” 28 Joshua son of Nun, who had been Moses’ aide since youth, spoke up and said, “Moses, my lord, stop them!”

So, what would you do in this situation?

Joshua, whose name you may recognize, showed support and dedication to his leader, Moses. Joshua would go on to lead Israel in the future conquest of the promised land. He was a great leader of Israel.

However, at this point in his discipleship as a leader, he is a toxic follower. And Moses knows it. Joshua, rather than encouraging godly leadership that refuses to bend its knee to the gods of pride and entitlement, seeks to show Moses how devoted he is to Moses as the “big man.”

Moses refuses to follow the temptation of the big man.


But Moses replied, “Are you jealous for my sake? I wish that all the LORD’s people were prophets and that the LORD would put his Spirit on them!” 30 Then Moses and the elders of Israel returned to the camp.

He recognizes that His LORD is the true giver. And when He gives to his people, we should rejoice in the gifts He gives. Even if it means we are not seen as such a big man anymore.

It is a hard lesson for leaders . . . and every person who seeks to follow Christ in their leadership. It takes heart change. Jealousy of God’s blessing on others is much more common in our hearts than we want to admit—I certainly don’t want to, but it is there.

But that is a deep dive each of us needs to take if we are to be the leaders—and even just people—God wants us to be.

We will continue to fall, but our sanctification is a calling we are given. And leaders owe it to their subordinates.

Leadership: Seeking the Glory of Another

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I have seen multiple cases where a church leader has been toxic in certain areas of his shepherding and has plagerized his teaching.

There seems to be a certain sinful desire in man to gain the glory. Rather than give credit where it is due, they use impressive information or ideas from the thoughts of others and present it as their own.

There are certainly mistakes made. It is not that uncommon to have read or heard something in days—or years—past that pop into mind while studying Scripture that seems like it did just that: pop into your mind. Recently, I have used a particular phrase multiple times that someone reading it asked if it came from someone else’s book. It hit me that indeed it was and it is unique enough that I need to be referencing the author’s work.

Seeking Glory for Others

Leaders of Christian organizations, churches, and businesses need to take a principle from this idea: The Lord desires us to humbly seek the glory of others.

Jesus helps us understand how important it is to do this in John 7. There the Apostle John explains:

About the middle of the feast Jesus went up into the temple and began teaching. 15 The Jews therefore marveled, saying, “How is it that this man has learning, when he has never studied?” 16 So Jesus answered them, “My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me. 17 If anyone’s will is to do God’s will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority. 18 The one who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory; but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and in him there is no falsehood.

John 7:14-18 (ESV)

There is a principal here that challenges our puffed-up selves. We want glory. We desire glory.

To be the first to have thought of an idea or developed a program or reached many people. It is insidious. It is like black tendrils reaching into our hearts and turning it ganegrene.

There is an incredible story of man’s arrogance and the judgment that God brought in response. King Herod, who ruled when Jesus was crucified, was speaking before the people and this is what happened:

And the people were shouting, “The voice of a god, and not of a man!” 23 Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him down, because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and breathed his last.

Acts 12:22-23 (ESV)

Jesus shows us a better way. Despite being God, he humbled himself and gave credit to his Father—certainly one of the many incomprehensible aspects of Trinitarian theology. It gives us a perfect example of what leaders should be doing every day. A Christian leader’s responsibility is to first give God the glory and secondly to give his team the glory.

Teaming

I have written often about “teams” in the organizational and church setting using the research of others with much greater knowledge than me. Amy Edmondson, in her book called Teaming: How Organizations Learn, Innovate, and Compete in the Knowledge Economy provides wonderful analysis and application of this idea.1

Edmondson notes that organizations (businesses) need to learn in order to develop and grow. They must respond to the ever-changing environments in which we live and work. Unfortunately, she writes, “Many organizations still rely on the top-down, command-and-control approaches that fueled growth and profitability in the industrial era.” (loc. 267-268)

Many churches and Christian organizations have a high regard for submission to and the rule of those in positions of authority. We give respect to elders and bosses and those older than us. This is all well and good, but I want in this writing to challenge those who live in those positions of power and authority whether primarily relational or formal.

If these leaders want to minister to their flocks whether in a business, church, or non-profit organization, they will need to take on the words of Jesus and learn from those who have studied this extensively like Edmondson.

In defining the helpfulness of teams, Edmondson explains,

Teaming blends relating to people, listening to other points of view, coordinating actions, and making shared decisions.

loc. 278-279

These are the first steps.

How many leaders do you know truly listen to other points of view . . . and receive them graciously without criticism but truly open-mindedness? Without defensiveness of their own ideas? Do you?

And then, make “shared decisions?”

We are getting closer to Jesus’ words, “The one who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory; but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true.”

There needs to be an intentionality in leadership to build these teams where glory is given to others not self. Edmondson points out,

Teaming, it seems, requires a new type of leadership that supports speaking up, asking questions, and sharing ideas. In short, teaming requires a leadership mindset that cultivates an environment conducive to learning. I use the term “organizing to learn” to describe this leadership mindset and its accompanying practices.

loc. 622-624

Just think: Jesus was the perfect leader. He never made a bad decision. He was omniscient—he had all knowledge.

And yet, you continually see him working with others to help them come to decisions and work things through. He does not crush them with his own ideas—though he could very easily, because his ideas are always right—much like he handles his disciples when he sends them out to learn by experience in Luke 10. He gave them the basic ground rules of engagement and then received them back with encouragement for all they learned and saw.

You can hear their excitement in becoming an integral part of Jesus’ work. He allowed them to experience glory as they went about teaching and healing.

Tapping the Gifts of Subordinates

Edmondson speaks of image-bearing in subordinates without necessarily understanding how God created his people in his image:

The difference starts with a basic mindset about human beings. Whereas industrialization essentially infantilized workers, the knowledge-based economy only works well when it restores workers on all levels to self-respecting, self-determining adulthood.

loc. 845-847

Giving glory to another means you respect their views and wish their abilities to be tapped and encouraged. But this isn’t just using them. Get what you can out of them and discard them.

That is the makings of the toxic leader.

A leader must truly respect and desire to build up the talents in his subordinates. This can open the way for those under authority to truly use their gifts. But that isn’t natural in the hierarchy of the church, organization, or business as Edmondson notes:

Research shows that hierarchy, by its very nature, dramatically reduces speaking up by those lower in the pecking order. . . As a result, in most organizations, even if leaders at the top of the hierarchy say they welcome employee feedback, and even if people have the knowledge and training to say something of importance , they still may remain silent out of fear of negative consequences.

loc. 1226-1227, 1229-1231

It takes real work and care to develop the voices of those under your leadership. Much of that care comes in how the leader responds to ideas of subordinates. Does the pastor take ideas and use them even when they conflict with his own?

Does the manager run with a subordinate’s idea though he knows it may fail . . . and then give encouragement and help in responding to the problems created by the failure? Rather than scolding and anger?

Give Away the Glory

Toxic leadership most often involves the failure to fulfill the biblical example that Paul teaches in Ephesians when he says church leaders need “to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ.”

So too, organizational and business leaders are called to do everything possible to build up the ministry—and glory—of their subordinates.

  1. Teaming: How Organizations Learn, Innovate, and Compete in the Knowledge Economy. Edmondson, Amy C. , 1 edition. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 2012. ↩︎

Laying Down Your Life as a Leader: A Lesson from the Good Shepherd

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Within Christian circles there is much talk of “laying down your life” for others. We talk about it in the contexts of marriage and leadership in particular.

Though most people likely have some idea from where the idea comes—the Bible—they may not know specifically the passage.

In John 10, Jesus is speaking to the crowds. He has just healed a man that was blind since he was born (John 9). It is an extraordinary event (read more about it here). Jesus goes on to teach following this event and creates a “division” among the Jews. And though the Jewish leaders suggest Jesus’ words in John 10 about the “good shepherd” are coming from a demon-possessed man, the people respond, “These are not the words of one who is oppressed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind (Jn 10:21)?”

The words Jesus gives to the crowds are hard words, but particularly hard for leaders in their cultural context. Whereas leaders in that time “lorded it over” their subordinates—as Jesus says in Matthew 20:25—he was calling leaders (and others) to be willing to die in the care of subordinates. This is not too far off as a description of leadership even today.

Studies continually show that a large percentage of employees struggle with a toxic boss or manager.

Kusy, Mitchell, and Holloway, Elizabeth, Toxic Workplace!: Managing Toxic Personalities and Their Systems of Power, 1st Edition (2009)

In John 10:7 Jesus begins to speak figuratively of a shepherd who cares for his sheep. He draws a distinction between a hired hand and the sheep-owning shepherd. This shepherd is not just a paid employee of the owner, but the owner of the sheep himself. The sheep understand this shepherd— “They hear his voice” —and they follow him. They trust him. They know he wants their good.

No Running Away

The good shepherd doesn’t run off when things get tough. He doesn’t leave his sheep unprotected, even when there is danger afoot.

He also draws a distinction between a “thief” who comes to “steal and destroy” and the good shepherd who gives life to the sheep. He provides good pasture and protection from the wolves and the sheep’s own stupidity. While sheep are always “looking for ways to die,” as one sheep rancher told some visitors, the good shepherd looks out for them.

This analogy points to Jesus Christ, who is the only really Good Shepherd. We can’t forget that.

If we lead others . . .

But it also challenges those who lead to be like Jesus. We are being continually conformed to the image of Jesus and this is a part of that. If we lead others, we need to—

  • Know our sheep that they might know us.
  • Be trustworthy that they may trust us.
  • Be respectful that they may respect us.
  • Look out for their good, though we may be put in very uncomfortable positions.
  • For example, standing up for them that, when we do, others look upon us with disfavor because we are associating with and supporting those people.
  • As Paul challenged the Philippian church, “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.” Philippians 2:3-7

Is this the kind of leader you are?

What would Jesus do?

“The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. . . No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord.”

Lay down your life.

The Slide into Toxic Leadership 2: Amaziah, King of Judah

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Amaziah seemed attentive to the LORD as he began his reign as king of Judah 2800 years ago.

When preparing to go to war, he put together an impressive force of power. He hired mercenaries from the northern kingdom, Israel—100,000 of them.

However, a “man of God” came to him and discouraged him from using the mercenaries in the battle. He rather encouraged Amaziah to rely upon the LORD instead of seeking the help of his Israelite mercenaries.

Of course, Amaziah feared losing the money he had promised to the mercenaries. But he was encouraged by the man of God that the LORD would provide for him. Amaziah believed him, paid the cash he promised the mercenaries, and as a result was victorious in battle because he relied on the LORD.

King Amaziah reigned in Judah for 29 years, beating the 20 years that the average king ruled in the southern kingdom.

Scipture tells us “he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, yet not with a whole heart.”

2 Chronicles 25:2

The Slide

That sensitive heart that was willing to hear criticism, even criticism that would affect his wallet, disappeared however.

Once he had won the battle, Amaziah “brought the gods of the men of Seir and set them up as his gods and worshiped them, making offerings to them.”

Therefore the LORD was angry with Amaziah and sent to him a prophet, who said to him, “Why have you sought the gods of a people who did not deliver their own people from your hand?”

2 Chronicles 25:15

Instead of displaying a heart of love for the LORD, the sensitivity he had when he began his reign, Amaziah interupts a prophet sent by the LORD to challenge him, saying, “Have we made you a royal counselor? Stop! Why should you be struck down?”

So the prophet stopped, but said, “I know that God has determined to destroy you, because you have done this and have not listened to my counsel.”

2 Chronicles 25:16

Beginning Well

Unfortunately, this is so often the heart of man.

Leaders begin well. The LORD has given them vision for the organization they have been tasked with leading. Their motives, though always mixed—for we are never without sin—are that God be glorified in the church, business, or organization and that they serve people. Diane Langberg says,

Many times someone starts out believing they are called by God and instilled with a God-given vision. Somewhere down the road, when the vision has grown, the demands are great, and the pressure is on, the servant becomes obedient to the work and its demands rather than to Christ.

Langberg, Diane. Redeeming Power (p. 149). Baker Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

They begin a mission work in Africa that desires to help people use their gifts to create beauty, good crops, healthy societies, biblical churches, or other fulfillments of the “dominion mandate.” I worked for one of these visionary missionaries.

Or they plant a church that seeks to be engaged with the surrounding culture, giving light and a witness to Christ. They serve their neighborhoods and their churches expand exponentially.

Or they start a ministry helping people build their own home, giving witness to the love of Jesus. The ministry soon covers the globe.

Drinking the Koolaid

But, in time they begin to drink the koolaid of power and self-sufficiency.

Amaziah, after seeing the LORD’s destruction of his enemies in Seir, turned his eye upon his brothers in the north—Israel. He challenged King Joash and the king rebuffed him. Scripture says that the LORD was bringing about the downfall of Amaziah because he had turned from God to himself.

So, Amaziah, in his arrogance goes up against Israel. 2nd Chronicles says,

And Joash king of Israel captured Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Joash, son of Ahaziah, at Beth-shemesh, and brought him to Jerusalem and broke down the wall of Jerusalem for 400 cubits, from the Ephraim Gate to the Corner Gate.

The Israelite king stole all the gold and silver from the Temple and Amaziah’s palace in Jerusalem in addition to taking hostages back to Samaria with him.

Though Amaziah lived another 15 years in Jerusalem, Scripture is silent regarding those years. Those years of his reign are clearly of no consequence.

Amaziah’s slide into toxic leadership left him broken and in the end men within his own government made a conspiracy against him and he ran for the hills. However, they caught up with him and murdered him.

The Failure of Toxic Leadership

This is the way of toxic leadership. When man begins to rely upon himself—maybe on marketing, image control, power, and authority—he begins the slide into a leadership that no one wants. There will be rebellion, financial failure, and possibly a legacy of hatred rather than the glory the leader so desparately desires.

Toxic leadership almost never ends well.

But it is never too late to turn in repentance; to admit to failure. Turn from self to the LORD. Turn to the only One who can be relied upon to run your church, business, or organization.

Your legacy of self-importance is not nearly as important as His glory.