Qualities of a Good Christian Leader
By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.
John 13:35
Secure Christian leaders know who they are in Christ. Insecure leaders try to establish their identity and sense of worth in titles, degrees and positions of authority and power. Insecure parents promote their children to such attainments. Such was the case when the mother of Zebedee’s sons (James and John) approached Jesus. She wanted her children to sit on the right and left side of Christ (see Matthew 20:20-21). The Lord said it was not His to offer, and then He asked if they were prepared to drink from the cup He was about to drink (see verses 22-23). When the other 10 disciples heard about this, they became indignant (see verse 24).
When people clamor for power and position, it creates interpersonal problems in organizations. What are the others supposed to do when someone climbs over their backs to get ahead? They neither want those kind of people over them, nor do they want to succumb to the same self-serving tactics. Jesus exhorted His disciples not to be like the Gentiles who exercised their authority and lorded it over others. Instead, they were to be like servants and slaves if they wanted to be great (see Matthew 20:25-26).
There is no position lower than that of a servant or a slave. Christian leaders are not supposed to rely on their position as the basis for their leadership. Christian leadership is not position based; it is character based. Those who aspire to the position of an overseer must show by their character that they are qualified (see 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1). A person’s ability to lead may be somewhat dependent on his or her gifts, talents, intelligence or personality, but that is not what qualifies that individual to be a Christian leader. Even though some believers may be gifted, talented, intelligent and personable, they should be immediately disqualified if their character is deficient. Christian leaders should be an example to those under their authority and not lord it over them (see 1 Peter 5:1-4).
Leaders are subject to the needs of those who are under their authority, which is why they should lead them to Christ, who will meet all their needs. When problems arise in a company, church or home, the mantle falls on the one who is ultimately responsible. Nobody calls the maintenance worker, the custodian or the child during a crisis. All great leaders should sense the burden of being responsible for those who follow them. Jesus certainly did. He served us by giving His life to meet our greatest need. Jesus had no human position of authority in the religious establishment or the state, and yet “the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law” (Matthew 7:28-29). The people recognized His authority because of the quality and conduct of His life.
While Christian leaders are not to appeal to their position or demand loyalty to themselves, those who are under their authority are required to respect their position. “Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you” (Hebrews 13:17).
Questions to Consider:
How do you think James and John felt about their mother at the time? How do you think the other disciples felt about James and John at the time?
How can you tell whether a leader is secure or not?
What does it mean to be a “servant leader”?
What kind of a leader would you like to be?
Even if you have no position of leadership, you are still setting an example for someone. What would you like other people to say about you?
Neil T. Anderson is the founder of Freedom in Christ Ministries. He began the ministry in 1989 and continues to spread the message of freedom to this day.