How is Christian leadership different from secular leadership? The difference lies in a relationship. When leaders submit to God, he uses the crucible of life experiences (home life, failures, crises, personal struggles and success through hardships) to shape them. Through the Holy Spirit, he equips leaders to accomplish his purposes (Rom. 12:8; Zech. 4:6). Moses epitomizes God’s use of life experiences (Exod. 3-4; Acts 7:22-5). If the spiritual leader is to move people on to God’s agenda, then the task will involve prioritizing the maturation of those in his care to achieve the mission of God. “It is taking people from where they are to where God wants them to be.”[2] It is not the achievement of misguided goals that indicate success (church size, buildings, larger budget). Rather, the goal is spiritual formation. This big picture is achieved as leaders develop people. They delegate, make allowance for learning from mistakes and failures, celebrate achievements and intentionally support others’ efforts. Secular organizations employ illegitimate sources of influence such as position, power, and personality. In God’s economy, he is the only legitimate source of influence.
References:
[1] Henry Blackaby & Richard Blackaby, Spiritual Leadership, (B&H Publishing Group, 2011),37.
[2] Ibid., 87.
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Written by Dr. Andrew Hall
