The Christian Leadership Dilemma

How to Move Ahead with Grace and Keep the Faith

F.D. Magnelli

• Publisher: Morgan James Faith
• Year: 2022
• ISBN:
  9781631957048
• Topic: Teologia e religione
• Subtopic: Ministro del culto cristiano

The Christian Leadership Dilemma addresses how Christians can live in newness of life above victimization, judgment, and confusion in a world that seems to be barreling forward on a collision course with the very truth, indeed, the only truth that will make people truly free.

Both freedom and bondage are in the heart, and both are below the surface of the noise of life. The Christian Leadership Dilemma addresses the systemic root causes of this dilemma that stems from Christian leaders who are diverted from their heavenly calling through grace and instead adopt a worldly approach to Christianity. It notes quality leaders are not to lord over or dominate followers by leveraging power to control them but rather to serve, be helpers of their joy, and be good examples. It also addresses how to settle any issues in the Christian community and how to respond to conflict from within or without the community.

With this foundation, The Christian Leadership Dilemma clarifies what true "ministry" is and the necessity of obeying God rather than men when it comes to standing upon the Christian's God-given justification through the faith of Jesus Christ. At times, those who have endeavored over the centuries to bring clarity and reform to the Christian community have been accused and maligned because they disturbed the status quo. The Christian Leadership Dilemma is intended to echo those voices of reform resounding as the single voice of a choir calling to who truly desire to know how to navigate the Christian experience successfully, particularly in times of leadership crises.

Chapter 1

LEADERS ARE SERVANTS, HELPERS OF THE BELIEVERS’ JOY, AND EXAMPLES

It is vital to the life of a Christian community to have quality leaders. When these leaders work together with God, their efforts are prosperous, and the fruit of their labor is good. Good leaders are those, with or without titles, who take the initiative to move with God and retain a Christ-centered moral compass. In doing so, they are catalysts that set the spiritual pace and right moral example for others to follow.

God expects His people to work in unity with Him and not stray into their own pursuits outside of direction and inspiration from Him. God knows how to work with people and not overstep His boundaries. He does not control people or force their decisions. God always allows people to exercise freedom of will. The job of a godly leader is to treat people with respect and allow them the same freedom, but this is not always what happens within Christian groups today. When leaders overstep the freedom God affords all men, this is when leaders fail. Overtly or covertly manipulating the freedom of others is ethically wrong.

To unveil the correct lifestyle of a Christian leader, let’s begin by looking at three biblical examples: Jesus Christ, the Apostle Paul, and the Apostle Peter. Each one, as shown in the Bible, denounced the practice of leaders lording over God’s people. This practice is commonly known in secular circles as “top-down leadership.”

Top-down leadership occurs in the absence of true service when someone imposes their will upon another through a position of leverage. This behavior oversteps a Christian leader’s God-given role. It sets up a respect-of-persons hierarchy that undermines the Christian community. This does not mean leaders cannot have strong opinions or preferences, provided they are based on godly values. These viewpoints are to be voiced with mutual respect and consideration for the opinions and preferences of others who, likewise, hold the truth in high esteem.

Sometimes leaders cross this line and infringe on the free will of others by imposing their will on them. Compliance can momentarily pass as a success. But have they really succeeded to initiate a positive change for others that will last? Probably not.

Any parent knows this is possible when raising children. My wife helped me see this when our son was very young. She said, “You can force him to do something now because you are bigger than him but what happens when he is older? That approach will not work.” This stopped me in my tracks and caused me to change. She encouraged me to positively guide him, which would produce better results as he grew into a man. She was right. Parenting and leadership involve very similar principles. Yet some might think working with adults is different. It isn’t.

Let me say we all are fallible at times and may not always put forth our best efforts when we are tired or overcome amid challenges. However, for Christian leaders, this must not become habitual. We need to get help if we have fallen into this pattern. If left unchecked, this overstep can fuel the temptation to lord over God’s people.

Three Examples: Leaders of Leaders

As we will see, our three biblical examples, including the greatest leader of all time, speak volumes against this practice to all who have “eyes to see, and ears to hear.”

First, Jesus Christ contrasted the practice of lording over people with the converse practice of humbly serving people. Service is the remedy to the ills of lording over people. Since the time Jesus declared his public ministry in his hometown of Nazareth, through washing the feet of his disciples on the night he was betrayed and eventually giving his life at Calvary right up to this very day, it is the right thing to do. Next, the Apostle Paul contrasted lording over God’s people with being a helper of the believers’ joy. Finally, the Apostle Peter contrasted being lords over God’s people with being an example of willingly teaching and guiding others. In every one of these categories, it is incumbent for us to measure the quality of leaders by reading the fruit they produce and whether it lines up with the Word of God and godly values.

Each of these three examples builds one upon another and is mutually inclusive. In other words, the comprehensive picture of leadership includes all three essential elements blended together harmoniously.

Lording over people is a common occurrence by worldly standards. Either an explicit or implied hierarchy, or “pecking order,” often guides leadership activity in organizations. There is a place for decisive and more focused leadership, especially during a crisis. Yet true leadership is not about a top-down, or corporate-ladder, mentality.

Most people who have worked in such settings understand how knowledge and position are used to leverage advantage over others. This leadership approach culminates in elevating the one who leverages to their advantage more skillfully. As a result, people are used as stepping-stones, rungs on the ladder of personal success, rather than collective success. Personal success at the expense of collective success is not the approach to leadership taught and endorsed by Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ: The Perfect Servant

On the night of his last supper before being taken by the religious authorities, when he taught his disciples that bread and wine would be a remembrance of his broken body and shed blood, Jesus Christ confronted the wrong approach to leading. Then he gave them the right perspective—service.

Luke 22:24–25:

And there was also a strife among them [the leaders present], which of them should be accounted the greatest.

And he [Jesus] said unto them, The kings [leaders] of the Gentiles [not Israel] exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors.

The apostles argued among themselves, saying, “Who is the greatest?” If left unchecked, this attitude would set up a hierarchy or pyramid in which one person is logically above another. This approach was not what Jesus endeavored to teach them about true leadership. So, he addressed this worldly attitude by providing the key ingredient of true leadership—a heart of service.

Luke 22:26–27:

But ye shall not be so [it couldn’t be any clearer]: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve.

For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth.

Jesus Christ made a clear and unmistakable assessment of leadership. Worldly leaders want to be served more than to serve others. This dispute among the apostles on “who would be the greatest” is the world’s definition of leadership—not God’s.

We see examples of rankings and hierarchies in many competitions. Who is the greatest Olympian? What is the greatest team that ever won the World Series or the Super Bowl? Who is the greatest player of all time? What is the best movie of the year at the Oscars? Or the best actor or the best screenplay? It’s all about the best, the best, the best! I may enjoy these competitions for entertainment, but they do not set the right example of Christian leadership. What a wake-up call! This is the way of the world. And when this happens among Christian leaders, problems follow.

Healthy competition and striving for excellence are noble pursuits if they also help to shape good character. Competition without comparison is achievable within a team atmosphere. Comparison defeats the idea of a team. On a real team, each member truly desires to bring out the best in one another. The idea of equal in importance but not equal in function is at the core of a team. The type of comparison that breeds strife can be an unquenchable fire that consumes the best of intentions. The spiritual leader is not in competition with other leaders because this is not wise.

II Corinthians 10:12:

For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.

In Luke 22:25, the words “exercise lordship over” are the one Greek word kurieuō. It means “to be lord over any person or anything, to have dominion over.” Things are to be used but people are to be loved, and we should never mix up the two. When we do, we have removed ourselves from God’s heart of love and are not walking according to His Word. God is love and always loves, so no wonder people are so precious to Him. We use material things, and if they break, we decide whether to throw them away. But we do not “throw away” people.

However, there are times when we may believe that people’s bad behavior warrants the need to excuse ourselves from their company. This is a personal decision to limit our relationship with them because we mutually disagree on biblical behavior. In these cases, bringing this to their attention and redefining the parameters of the relationship may be in order to keep the peace.

II Thessalonians 3:14–16:

And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed.¹

Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish [warn, in ESV] him as a brother.

Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means. The Lord be with you all.

Christian Ministries Today

In our modern culture, Christian ministries can be large organizations that require structure in order to distribute responsibilities and organize activities. These structures should be made with good stewardship and the best utilization of resources in mind. There may be two sides to this—a corporate or business side and a biblical side. How can the two be compatible yet not competitive or combative? The biblical side of the organization must focus on teaching and ministering the Word of God.

The corporate or business side is designed to steward physical resources (e.g., employee salaries, buildings, books, and travel). The business side must always be subordinate to the biblical side of the ministry. The teaching and advancement of the Word of God must always come first.

It is important to help people understand the importance of keeping priorities clear in running any Christian activity or organization. Elevating and maintaining God’s Word first above the business side of a ministry is a great key to keep God involved in the work. (Matthew 6:33: But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.) When the Word is not first, God is not first, which inherently leads to idolatry in some form. This pattern results in people being treated poorly, causing hurt and confusion.

When people are treated as if they are physical things that can be manipulated, used, and discarded, that is a result of worldly influence. When an imbalance exists with a top-down leadership approach, rather than a balanced biblical approach among leaders, there is a problem. Consequently, there is a disconnect between the leadership and people who genuinely desire to serve on behalf of Christ. Mutual belief in God and spiritual unity get interrupted. That is exactly what Jesus Christ warned his leaders against.

A Christian ministry that uses a pyramid leadership design that can leverage advantage—the base being the believers and the pinnacle being the concentration of authority at the top—does not work well. Incorporating more of the Body-of-Christ approach or team approach yields the best results. The latter environment is where spiritual strengths function and there is healthy two-way communication. Everyone is responsible for their own life decisions. Ephesians Chapter 4 presents a biblical approach in which a Christian ministry maintains an environment where all believers contribute and benefit from service in Christ. This environment is the aim of organizing on behalf of Christ.

Ephesians 4:11–16:

And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers [gifts of service given to the church].

For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

Till we all come in the unity of the [household of] faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

That we henceforth be no more children [in spiritual understanding, not in age], tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

The Body-of-Christ model shows how to successfully build a team of Christian believers that actively makes ...