What is good biblical leadership?

What is good biblical leadership? This is a question I've been asking myself lately. Oftentimes, I see Christian leaders referencing books that spiritualise worldly business structures, systems or strategy techniques or books about changing behaviours by forming better habits. Occasionally, I'll see books that focus on inward motivations or deeper character concerns, but these seem to be less emphasized. My conclusion is that people are more interested in how they can act like an leader, rather than actually becoming a leader which on the surface may look very similar (at times) but in reality are quite far apart from each other. I am saddened by Christian leaders who only focus on outward actions, behaviours and appearances but lack true inward Christlikeness. 

A question I've been asking myself lately is this: "If Jesus were in my position or in my circumstance or speaking with the person I am talking with at any given moment, what would He be feeling in His heart and how would this influence Him in both His words and actions?"

Too often, what I see lacking in Christian leadership is the failure to reflect the heart of God or reflecting a distorted understanding of God's heart. What I have witnessed in churches and what seemed to be emphasized more is being an effective skilled leader, rather than a compassionate good shepherd. This means driving and mobilizing people, supersedes caring for their heart and inner life. Most Christian leaders would rather motivate people into doing things for God, rather than inspiring them towards intimacy with God. Now hear me on this, I am not against people serving God, but my concern is for people serving with distorted motivations or out a religious spirit where they are trying to earn favor from God, rather than out of love and devotion towards God with the understanding that they already have everything from God. No need to earn.

If you sit under a leader long enough, you will begin to see their inner motivations. This is a given. No leader can hide their true intentions from those following them for very long and a good biblical leader will embody humility and an openness and transparency about their life. In my journey of what I've learned and reflected on in my life so far in sitting under various leaders has been: "If a Christian leader is not driven by love for God and love for people, the only thing left is their ambition." Here is a good sermon on this by J.R. Vassar. I love this video because it goes right to the heart of the matter. 

I hope you take to heart the main points from the video that, 1) Jesus is primarily concerned about our love for Him, and not our usefulness to Him and 2) Jesus is concerned about our love for His people, and not their usefulness to us. All that we do needs to be rooted in love and we need to be actively checking our hearts and asking the Holy Spirit to be continually checking our hearts for any and all loveless (selfish and sinful) motivations. And when we find or are confronted with these, repenting and crying out for more of God's love to fill us (Romans 5:5) and fuel us (1 John 4:19).  

Here are a list of books that have helped me (and hopefully will help you) to focus more on leading from a place of love, humility and dependency upon Jesus with the understanding that we can't do anything of any eternal value in His Kingdom without Him going with, even before us. These books don't try to cover up our weaknesses and limitations, but rather show the better way of inviting Jesus into these and allowing Him to transform and empower us from the inside out as we learn to continually abide in Him. These books will inspire and challenge you to become the lovingly humble and compassionate good shepherd leader that Jesus was and is.

• "The Selfless Way of Christ: Downward Mobility and the Spirit Life" by Henri Nouwen
• "The Wounded Healer: Ministry in Contemporary Society" by Henri Nouwen
• "The Emotionally Healthy Leader: How Transforming Your Inner Life will Deepen Your Church, Team and the World" by Peter Scazzero 
• "Under the Unpredictable Plant: An Exploration in Vocational Holiness" by Eugene Peterson
• "Leading with a Limp: Turning Your Struggles into Strengths" by Dan Allender 

Something Greater

We are currently on the brink of war. The Middle East is churning with all sorts of turmoil. But, this shouldn't be a surprise. ISIS has been recruiting members for years. In this past year I have been reading more and more stories of young men and women joining ISIS (the Islamic extremist group). In one article a young man states, "We need the engineers, we need doctors, we need professionals. Every person can contribute something to the Islamic State" (emphasis mine). In another article, another young Australian man told a Mosque worker, "he wanted to make something of his life." This is just a snapshot of two individuals, but collectively the general consensus is the same, people are searching for purpose and meaning. 

I believe what the world is desperately hungry to see is real genuine faith in action. People like these two men are looking for something greater than themselves to believe in and to give themselves to wholeheartedly. As Christians, we hold something greater. When is the last time you reflecting on this truth? I mean think about it, Christian have the Holy Spirit living within them. Wow! This is an almost too good to be true truth. But, it's true! Not only this, but Jesus has inviting us to join Him on the ultimate mission of loving and serving all peoples of the world by sharing the greatest news ever! The Good News of salvation. How awesome is that?

But the sad reality is that most Christians haven't either fully embraced these amazing truths or don't actually see them as amazing truths. Rarely are they actively engaging in relationship with the Holy Spirit and so many do not see the mission Jesus sets before us as truly fantastic and marvelous. Rather, the Holy Spirit has become this impersonal force not to be engaged and the mission of Jesus has become optional. 

This is my prayer: that the Almighty God of the universe and of love would grip your heart with the amazing truth that HE has something greater for you. 

Waking Up (Amanda Cook and Hunter Thompson)

This song reminds me of the great need for Jesus to wake us up from the dullness of our hearts and minds, from the deep deathlike slumber we are all in, oblivious to the reality that we were created for so much more than this world has to offer. Everyday we are bombarded by gigabit after gigabit of media that instead of actually energizing us, all it does is overload us to the point of pacificity. 

God's Word gives us great hope and calls out to us and says "Awake, O sleeper, rise up from the dead and Christ will give you light" (Ephesians 5:14 NLT). This is why I love this song because it reminds me that in the Person of Jesus we find both resurrection power (Ephesians 2:6) and a vast almost incomprehensible perfect love (Ephesians 3:17-19). 

John Paul Jackson: Taking Pride in Humility

First off, I know the quality is poor, but the message is amazing. John Paul Jackson has gone to be with the Lord this year, but thankfully because of technology we can still glean from his incredible wisdom. There are so many good points here. Enjoy!