Today, in our world, the most important subject hardly discussed among believers is the reign and the governing rule of Christians with Christ in the present dispensation and the future to come. In fact, a good number of believers shy away, not wanting the hot seat of talking about the role of leadership of the Church in the world, and the kingdom of God.
Different denominations have different ideas on what stewardship and invariably leadership means in today's dispensation of the gospel. Hence, this is an area of our spiritual growth great misunderstood among believers because of the poor teachings offered by many denominations in place of the truth.
And the effect was seen in the vacuum created in the Church differing in offering leadership at the height of the coronavirus pandemic. In addition, the church did not play a clear leadership role in forcing a decisive response to calm the fear of the people worldwide. Until this moment, lots of believers still believe that leadership is a role best suited for those with a strong personality in the community of believers. Instead of believing the new dispensation of grace introduced solid enablement of the Holy Spirit coupled with meekness, humility, and dedication are the first element desired in any Christian services.
At the same time, some still hold on to the belief that leadership, belongs in the world and not in the Church structure. This kind of unscriptural belief has caused the fellowship to suffer much in the hands of abusive leaders. Also stemming from fear, timidity, many strange and false beliefs have caused many to back out of the truth of their calling to lead in the Church. It is strange how believers in this century still believe that holding and playing a leadership role in the faith is un-Christianly.
Thus, believers with such thought limit leadership to the secular world and the places where citizens socialize, political establishments, corporate business, sporting activities, and professional gatherings in society. The price of having such an idea is evidenced in the low and unworkable leadership structure in the body of Christ. These are the belief that has robbed the Church of having the true spirit-filled leaders needed in moving the gathering of believers to a new level of spirituality.
For that reason, many have not believed the good news of their call to lead and serve as well. Nevertheless, to you. Do you know that every believer is a leader and a steward serving the Lord? However very few would believe they are leaders in Christ Jesus. As well as those, having a false sense of humility, believing it is presumptuous to think as a leader does in exercising our Christian obligations.
In the few years of my fellowship and ministry of reconciliation to the lost and the faith community, I have put the same question to young believers new in the faith, to find out if they understand the basics of the Christian faith. To my surprise, most have responded nine times out of ten negatively to my question.
Just a few have given back the right answer; most have got it all wrong and failed the test. Some have even gone off tangent offering the wrong answer for a good reason. All leading me to conclude that most believers are yet ungrounded in rudiment of the faith.
However, things are not supposed to be that way in the Church and in the service of Christ. If having leadership skills and services is all wrong, then why did our Lord, focused on this aspect in His teaching? This truth is self-evident in the teachings of our Lord on leadership. In the teaching of the Lord, we discover that a LEADER IS CALLED TO SERVE, BOTH THE LORD, AND THOSE HE LEADS. What a contrast and a strange way to define leadership. Perhaps that is the reason many do not want to lead in the Church.
And it pleases our Lord God in His sovereignty to assign believers as leaders in their calling. All believers have been lightened by Christ to walk and lead in the light that lights the world. Where a leader changes the atmosphere by introducing a vision where there is darkness, a direction where there is doubt, and life where there is hopelessness.
Moreover, every believer is an ambassador of Christ called to represent the kingdom of heaven on earth. The job of an ambassador is more than representing his home country; it also includes leading others in understanding the standard principles of his home government. Therefore, a Christian leader must show a high level of moral and spiritual uniqueness unparalleled in the secular world.
In addition, the difference between leadership in our community and the secular world is the element of the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit of God that connects believers with the God of heaven and earth. There is some similarity between leadership in the secular world and church which tends to merge but differs in many aspects.
Besides, the secular leaders of this world are not directly, but indirectly under the control of the Holy Spirit in making and executing decisions except the living God intervenes or overrides. Therefore, calling an individual a Christian leader is a high calling deserving the full respect of all. Not only because of the origin of the appointment but the power of the divine Leader, our Lord Jesus who is overall.
Christ is the Head and holds the preeminence in the Church and every area of the leader's life. (Colossians chapter 1: verse 18). Therefore, to every believer, Christ Jesus is the Head, the Bishop, and the Prime-Leader of the Church. He is also the Head of our external business, including the home of the faithful. Hence, in our churches, leadership is essentially discovered and derived from the Lord.
In addition, the knowledge base of our Christian leadership is the qualitative light of the special revelation of God, the Holy Bible. The Bible also discloses the limits and profiles of what a leader is like. The Bible clearly reveals the details, position, and the distinguishing marks of a true leader as a servant, as opposed to the viewpoint of the world.
Moreover, in line with that, the substance of Christian leadership hangs on the sacred principles in the New Testament teachings of our Lord. He had given the most sublime lessons on leadership in the gospel to the apostles where He had revealed that leadership is servanthood. (Luke chapter 22: verses 24-27).
Hence, the believer must possess certain qualities of a Christ-like character to be a true leader. For example, submission, as Christ obeyed, is key for the believer assuming any leadership position in the Church. It is voluntary with total submission to the Lordship of Christ Jesus. That is the key reason a true leader in the Church fully submits to the authority and leadership of Christ Jesus as the Head. While completely trusting in the word of the scripture as his constitution and code of practice.
The essence of the true Christian leadership evolves out of an abiding personal relationship with our Lord. Hence, a godly leader has fashioned in the mold of the Sustainer our Lord Jesus as distinct from the secular leaders. And the sure providence of God is involved in creating in believers a real heart of a steward serving selflessly.
In the administration of leadership, the moral character of a Christian leader is often judged above board in comparison with the secular world. Because the grid of Christian integrity ties leadership and services to humankind. So Christian leaders often challenge the existing world order and the standard by exceeding the requirements held by the secular world in every aspect of life.
The most important aspect of heavenly leadership is the fact that it originates from heaven. In our community, leadership is the work of the Holy Spirit. Also, leadership is a discoverable gift bestowed by the Holy Spirit. Hence, leadership is a spiritual gift received at the point of salvation when a person puts his trust in the finished works of the Lord Jesus Christ. If it is a gift, then no one can boast and exalt himself.
In our Christian community, a leader is a person called, gifted by the Spirit, chosen, anointed, and working through the Holy Spirit to advance the kingdom of Christ on earth. Often such individuals are recognized and acknowledged as true Christian leaders not by the strength of personality but by grace. The character of a true Christian leader revolves around the transforming power of the new nature in Christ, and conformity to the image of Christ
The Holy Spirit gives the believer the ability, capacity, and the spiritual gift of leadership. He is the one that calls those He wants to the office of leaders. Therefore, leadership is the effect of the gift of the Spirit. According to the scripture, believers have different gifts according to the grace given to us. Hence, a leader leads according to the proportion to his faith, with sincerity; with diligence; and with cheerfulness.
And the leader in the church reflects a Christian character founded on spiritual integrity. This is a Christ exchanged life derived from the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, a true leader must be persons, both filled and controlled by the Spirit and word of God.
True leaders show a high level of understanding, wisdom, strength, and endurance supplied by the presence and provision of the Spirit of God. This a process accomplished by joining the believer to the body of Christ through the work of the Holy Spirit. Believers operating in the realm of leadership are always equipped with the necessary gifts by the Holy Spirit for service in the body. The gift of leadership is under the prerogative of the Holy Spirit. He divides spiritual gifts among believers. He does not give all the same gifts including the gift of leadership. But the gift of leadership can be sought after by faith.
At the same time, leadership is of the divine sovereignty and purpose of God. When the Lord gives an individual the gift of leadership, it is not only for the Church community, but also in other places such as business, politics, education, and other life activities. Leadership transcends location, time, and culture without the limitation of the Church.
Hence the sphere of leadership includes our responsibility to lead as parents, teachers, and as officers in government and businesses. It is not the prerogative of few but all can partake in any leadership role whenever the need calls for it.
In addition, the believer's gift of leadership develops in stages of maturity through the grace of God, faith, teachings, growing in stature, and life experience. The characteristics support accountability, honesty, diligence, faithfulness, commitment, selflessness, and the love of God.
Therefore:
· Leaders depends more on the authority of the Holy Spirit and the Lord Jesus Christ in all decision-making and activities.
· Leaders must have the trust of the believers.
· Leaders show a high level of commitment.
· Leaders are visionaries able to communicate with foresight.
· Leaders use their gift in moving the body of Christ to a new level of spirituality
· They are purposeful and work for the advancement of God's kingdom.
· Effective leaders work to bring changes in the spiritual realm of believers.
