does not need worldly leaders. The church’s greatest need is for authentic
Biblical leaders! She does not need more charismatic “men of the flesh.”
The body of Christ needs leaders who are truly “men of the Spirit.”
The church of Jesus Christ needs leaders who are more concerned with
building a spiritual organism than a worldly organization. That means that
she needs righteous leaders rather than religious leaders – ones who are more
interested in inner character than outward conduct. The church needs godly
leaders who are more concerned with integrity than intellectualism...who
seek higher degrees of the Spirit rather than more degrees from schools...
who desire anointing more than academics...purity rather than power...
faith rather than fame...posterity rather than prosperity...favor with God
rather than favor with man!
Both the world and the church are suffering for a lack of the “right stuff ”
at the top – or the right kind of leadership!
If it is indeed true that both the world and church are facing a leadership
crisis, we must ask some crucial questions to crystallize our thinking:
- What is a leader?
- Where do leaders come from?
- What are some of the marks of a true leader?
- What is the difference between a worldly leader and a worthy
leader?
DEFINING LEADERSHIPThere are many good books in both the secular and spiritual realm that deal
with the subject of leadership (See Bibliography and Suggested Reading
List). There are many different definitions of leadership to choose from. I
am obviously more interested in the subject of leadership from a spiritual
and Biblical perspective. Even though I have learned a lot about leadership
from reading prominent secular authors, all authentic leadership originates
from God – whether or not the leader acknowledges it. All truth is God’s
truth. All valid leadership principles come from the Hand of a gracious
God – Who is the ultimate Sovereign Leader of the entire universe! Obviously,
there is only one true source of the gift of leadership in our world – and
that is God. As Shakespeare rightly said: “Gold is still gold, whether it is in
a fool’s or a wise man’s pocket!” When it comes to leadership, we can have
either “wise leaders” or “foolish leaders.” There is a unified and bloody
witness throughout secular history, Biblical history and contemporary