Dear Friend,
Leadership is not an easily acquired attribute and for many folks it is something they will never achieve. For others, there are some leadership elements that almost seem as if they are natural for the individual. Probably the most difficult leadership characteristics to master are those dealing with a person's Character. A thief may have excellent leadership skill, for a gang of thieves, but that is of little benefit to society. Good character is what makes a good leader a great leader. Good character is an absolutely essential for a Christian leader.
May God Bless,
Birth of a Leader:
We are rapidly approaching that time of the year when Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus. Historically we have put so much attention on the nativity and incarnate birth that we miss the reason for wise men coming to worship Jesus. Yes, a baby was born; our Savior was born! But more than this: the Son of God, the Messiah, the King of Kings, the greatest leader the world would ever know was born. That is why the wise men came to see Jesus: they came to pay respect at the birth of a great leader.
In time, it was proven that Jesus was so great a leader that He transformed the world and as many as would follow after Him. Jesus demonstrated that a good leader must live up to certain human standards; and then, a Christian leader must also live up to God’s standards. Wanting to be a Christian leader is not sufficient for one to become a good leader! For a Christian to meet the exacting standards of leadership takes being called by God and it takes the presence of the Holy Spirit as your guide and source of strength.
There are extremely stringent qualifications a Christian must meet if they are to be a leader. The apostle Paul wrote to Timothy (1 Timothy 3:2-7) and said that a leader must be: above reproach; the husband of one wife; temperate; prudent; respectable; hospitable; able to teach; a good manager of his own family; respected in the community; and not a new convert. In his letter to Titus, Paul adds to this list: not self-willed; not pugnacious; and not fond of sordid gain. Now, this is not the character of your average secular leader … most of societies leaders do not even come close to possessing such attributes. This is also not the character of your average Christian; and it is not expected to be … but it is the standard for a Christian leader! Christian leadership demands personal characteristics and moral standards that are way above the worlds and reside at the top of Christian expectations of character.
Notice that Paul says nothing about a leader's ability to prophesy, heal the sick, see visions, talk to angels, raise funds, play music, sing, shout or entertain audiences. Paul also does not list a need for academic credentials, social activism or political backing. This is not to say that standard attributes of leadership are not advantages, but the character of the individual is far more important that their secular skills. In fact, the only areas Paul significantly concentrates on are those associated with Christian character. God expects a Christian leader’s character to be such that they “Give no offense in any thing so that the ministry can not be blamed.”
This level of character would be a wonderful attribute for a secular leader; this level of character is not an option for a Christian leader. Christian leaders must manifest a character of the highest standing in both the church and in society. Remember, there is little in a Christian leaders life that is private. This is what makes it so essential for God to have called a man to serve Him as a leader. Jesus Himself made it clear that He could not endure the hardships, and still succeed in His ministry, without first being obedient to His Father’s will. A Christian leader must constantly labor to live a life above both Church and societies expectations. Paul went so far as to say that He avoided doing things he new were not a sin just because others thought they were a sin. A Christian leader must sacrifice their personal freedoms in order to be a good shepherd and to nurture less mature Christians.
Yes, a baby was born in Bethlehem; but of greater importance a leader was born. Jesus was the leader who set the standard for all Christian leaders that follow after Him. To be a Christian leader is a high calling, a calling of personal sacrifice, and one that must be taken seriously if the will of God is to exist in a body of believers.