Leadership has been one of my favorite topics of discussion and I really love to observe the various leadership styles used by both leaders in the corporate world and also in the Christian circle. There are a lot of good things that we can learn simply by observing and then apply it on our own leadership style......not forgetting stuffs/pitfalls that we need to avoid. In my course of work and Christian life, I had the opportunity to come across various personnel with a variety of leadership styles.
I believe HUMILITY is one of the core principles of Christian Leadership. It is reflected on the servant leadership style of Jesus Christ and energized to action by the Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ, God's Son, was the ultimate example of a leader with humility who took on the form of a servant and humbled himself even to death on the cross in order to fulfill His Father's redemptive plan for humanity. We need to apply Philippians 2:5 to our lives: "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.
Christian Leadership in its core is humility and service and is empowered by the Holy Spirit. Philippians 2:13 states, "...it is God which work in you both to will and do of His good pleasure." God is the only One who can enable truly successful Christian leadership and He is the only One Who can make it possible for us to deny ourselves in order to appropriate the leader's quality of humility. Unfortunately, today's fast-paced, self-oriented world does not value the timeless quality of humility and can misinterpret it for weakness.
In Christian Leadership, we either come into leadership position by virtue of being a full time pastor, laymen (i.e. ministry head in the church that is appointed by the pastor/leaders) or being elected into a position (deacon and elders appointed through election process or others). In whatever capacity of leadership, humility need to be exercised in the use of authority and power entrusted to us. I have seen people who walk "high and mighty" once they are in a prominent leadership position. Sadly, they fail to realize that Christian Leadership is all about having a heart of a servant.
Sometimes they bring in their secular leadership style into the Christian ministry. Secular leaders often seek to develop their status, power and influence. Position, and the power and status that goes with it is vital - the chairman's large car, privileged parking space, top-floor office with expensive furniture and so on. Such position, power and status is the very opposite of the humility that Jesus modeled. Christian leaders are not immune from such temptation. We need to be able to identify the initial signs of power and status causing improper feelings and actions. This is particularly important in a culture where the pastor, minister leaders may act high and mighty in their course of serving our one only Master, Jesus Christ.
Recently, I spend couple of days with one Christian leader whom I admire a lot. Being someone who once had high profile job and giving it all up for the Lord and serve the Lord, he imparted some good principles and values in me. Ps. Steven Teo has been good role model and ever ready to share his life with others. One thing I have learned from Ps. Steven is humility. That is Christian Leadership in Action!!!
Be Blessed.
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