POSTSCRIPT
In closing this study on leadership, I want to point out several things that
I hope will help keep this study in balance.
- First, as I stated at the beginning, no single leader has ALL of
these characteristics – any more than any Christian has ALL of the
gifts of the Holy Spirit. If any of us had all of these spiritual
and natural attributes, we would not need anyone! We would
be complete and sufficient in ourselves. But only Jesus Christ is
history’s one Perfect Man. He alone was perfect and complete in
Himself. However, He chose to incorporate people just like you
and me into His Holy calling of building His Kingdom. In fact,
it was for that purpose alone that He came. If Jesus Christ, as
the world’s only perfect leader, called others into fellowship and
partnership with Himself – how can we not do the same? - Second, all of these characteristics of leadership that I have
discussed in this chapter can be either good or bad. Each one is
a double-edged sword. All of these characteristics can be used in the
flesh or in the Spirit. These characteristics represent both a leader’s
potential strength - and possible weakness! - Third, almost all of these qualities of leadership are the same
characteristics of both secular and spiritual leaders. Non-Christian
leaders can exemplify many of these characteristics by virtue of
their natural endowment. Many people are leaders by nurture
more than by nature. As we saw at the beginning of this study,
these people are built leaders more than they are born leaders. They
have studied and learned many of the principles and “techniques
of leadership” from the mentoring of other leaders. We should
not be surprised to see many very capable leaders in the secular
world. But we should be surprised and concerned when we do not
see more excellent leaders in the church! Jesus Christ ordained that