What is Christian leadership?

And this is the Lord's own preventative against exaltation in any church office: if it be not used in service, the person loses his reward. "We preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake." It is this which distinguishes authority exercised in the church from that which is exercised in the world. "Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them, but it shall not be so among you; but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your servant, even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give His life a ransom for many." The world's officer has all the insignia of present power about him, and demands to be acknowledged, and is to be acknowledged, as having power — the source of his authority is visible, and the exercise of it manifest to the eye. On the other hand the source of authority in the church is invisible; it is from above, from the ascended Jesus, and its exercise is in real spiritual control and guidance; and the great object is that the person who is the channel by which it is exercised, should so lose his prominence, that Jesus and not the man himself should be exalted. And thus it is exercised in service to Him.

How easy it was, and is, for the disciples of Jesus to accept and adopt the standards and customs of the world that surrounds them, to take for granted that, because everybody seems to be doing it, it is the right thing to do. Again and again our Lord would say to us, "But so shall it not be among you." The nations have their great men, who exercise their authority in a lordly way. Amongst disciples of the Lord greatness is manifested in an entirely different way. There true greatness is displayed in taking the lowly place of service to others — serving the Lord in serving them.

The Son of Man Himself is the shining example of service of this kind. Who so great as He in His original estate? Then "thousand thousands ministered to Him" (Dan. 7:10). Who took so lowly a place, ministering to others? Who carried service to such a length as "to give His life a ransom for many"? For this reason alone, apart from other considerations, the place of pre-eminence must be His. They, who follow Him most closely in lowly service in this day, will be chiefest in that day.

He who seeks to be great, and to take the lead among Christians, has entirely falsified the Christian character. He will be the last of all; and the true way of having the highest place is to serve, considering oneself the slave of the wants of other disciples.

I find that in these times the principle of these passages renders them of great price, because it is a question of a kind of authority that no condition of the church can weaken. All other authority might be lost, this will but shine the more. It is exercised by the direct action of the Spirit of God in service. Besides, he who seeks this authority will not have it, while he who, in heart and by the love of Christ acting in him, makes himself servant of all, as Christ has done, will obtain it. To be servant of all is what Christ is essentially in grace - it is what love is at all times.

(6) Leading. It is not a little striking that leading is placed among the services that have been given to the saints. The leader is not necessarily gifted to teach or preach, nor, on the other hand, is the teacher and preacher necessarily a leader. The leader is one who, by his wisdom and experience, is fitted to guide the people of God. He is to exercise his gift with the diligence that uses thought and care in his guidance.

The misconception which has grown out of these scriptures springs from an error in translation. It is not those "that have the rule over you," for this would imply the office of elders, but it is rather "your leaders," or those "who have the lead among you." There is a great difference between these two things: in the former case it would be an ecclesiastical office, before the ruin and confusion had set in, as, for example, like that indicated in Paul's direction to Titus, "Appoint elders in every city"; in the latter it describes such as those who, through spiritual power and divine gift in the ministry of the word, are qualified for the guidance and help of the saints; those who, through their devoted service and ministry, are marked out by the Lord and acknowledged by the saints as leaders. There is no such thing in Scripture as any taking the place of lead, or regarding themselves as leaders because they superintend, or care for, the business of the assembly. The characteristics of the leaders here given support the above conclusions. Remember, says the apostle, those who have the rule over you (your leaders), who have spoken unto you the word of God, whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation, or, more accurately, "considering the issue of their conversation, imitate their faith." These things, then, distinguished their leaders; they had ministered the word of God, they had lived such devoted lives, believing upon Him who is the same yesterday, today, and for ever, that, now they had passed away, the apostle could call upon the saints to treasure up their memory, and to imitate their faith. These were their past leaders, who had kept the faith until death; in verse 17 they are the living leaders. Another feature of leadership, enhancing its solemn character, is here given: "They watch for your souls as they that must give account," etc. They were thus devoted to the Lord in caring for the spiritual welfare of the saints, and were to remember at the same time that in this service they were responsible to the Lord alone, and that to Him they would have to render account (not for the souls of the saints, but for their ministry) before His judgment-seat. How solemn a thing it is, then, to be in the place of a leader! And in this connection it may be recalled that in the seven churches the angels of the churches (and these include all who lead and all who teach) are held responsible for the state of the churches. There is one thing more: the saints are to obey those who are true leaders, and to submit themselves. Is it asked if this is carried out in practice? In some cases undoubtedly so, and where scriptural leaders are found, and where ready obedience and submission to them is rendered, there order and blessing will be seen; but where man and man's will, independency, prevail, there envying and strife will be produced, with their bitter fruits of confusion and every evil work.

But are not we all affected with these two evils? I have pointed out that the Word says, “The whole was leavened.” The evil shows itself in various ways. Where there may be no outward appearance of a clerical system, an ordained, human appointed, and recognized priesthood, has it not often been seen that a few clever, headstrong leaders sometimes arrogate to themselves a position and an authority in divine things which outshine the Roman Bishop himself? They may be designated “the spiritual” or “leading men”; the term spiritual is preferred by themselves, but their object is to bring the people of God into complete subjection to their system. I suppose this is what is referred to in Revelation 2 as Nicolaitanism. It is said the word means “Conquerors of the people.” The saints of God are by them brought into subjection. Those who prefer to serve God apart from their dictation are placed under a ban, and spoken of as lawless, and all in every place are warned against having anything to do with them. They take the place of “Lords over God’s heritage” (1 Peter 5:3). Inspected closely they are always found to be men of neither spirituality nor of moral calibre, such as would fit them for a prominent place among the people of God; but are simply men of determination who will have a place of pre-eminence no matter by what means it is to be attained. “Servant of all” (Mark 9:35) is not a place which is coveted by them, and yet this is just the divine way of reaching the top of the ladder.

It is most important that the "elder" should exert his spiritual authority in the right way and spirit, hence the three things stipulated in verses 2 and 3. He is to take up his service willingly, readily, and as himself a model to the flock. The Holy Ghost who inspired these words foresaw what a tendency there would be to take up such work, either from compulsion, or for love of gain, or for desire for power and influence. How much these words were needed is borne witness to by church history, which tells us how the simple "elders" or "bishops" of apostolic days were gradually magnified into "princes of the church," who lorded it over God's people as though they were their own possessions. It is, indeed, remarkable with verse 3 before us, that anyone professing to be a Christian "bishop" should call himself, or suffer himself to be called, "lord."

Then comes a second exhortation as to their guides, or leading men among the brethren. (Compare Acts 15:22.) Obey your leaders, and submit yourselves; for they watch for your souls, as those that shall give account." There is no sanction here, of course, of the vulgar and outrageous error that pastors give an account of the souls of their flock. It is an idea that superstition hatched, for the purpose of spuriously exalting a clerical order. The meaning is, that spiritual guides shall give an account of their own behaviour in watching over other souls; for it is a work that calls for much jealousy over self, patience with others, painstaking labour, lowliness of mind, and that hearty love which can bear all, endure all, believe all. There is then the solemn admonition of the account they are to render by-and-by. They watch as those that shall give an account. Now is the time for self-denying labour, and endurance in grace; by-and-by the account must be given to the Lord that appointed them. And the apostle would that their work of watching might be done with joy, and not groaning for this would be unprofitable for the saints.

Then we are exhorted, "Remember your leaders … imitate their faith." Do not imitate their methods, but do imitate their faith. What made them useful in their service; what constituted them leaders worth following, was their faith in God and their unreserved obedience to the Word of God. Consider the issue of their manner of life, they ever pointed to Christ. Their lives were coloured by their communion with Him. Whoever noticed them turned to Christ, just as did those two disciples who heard John Baptist speak, "they followed Jesus."

To those who lead; speak the Word of God and with all your speaking live it. Yours is a privileged position but a solemnly responsible one too. To "rule" is to lead in the way that is right. In this you follow your Lord for He leads in the way of righteousness (see Psalm 23 and Proverbs 8). To lead in the way is to exemplify in your practical life those things which you enjoin upon your brethren. How sad if, stumbled by your example, they despise your precept. Rather give them cause to value your doctrine through the appreciation your practical obedience engenders.