Leaders! Who Needs 'em?!

“Leadership” is one of those subjects everyone either loves or hates or loves to hate. We know we need leaders but we tend to do whatever we can to make their work ineffective by resisting their leadership. The bigger issue behind leadership is “authority.” The questions are: What is authority? Where does authority come from? How should authority operate? What is the purpose of authority and what are the desired results?

“Authority” simply involves specific authorization to function as a leader in a specific situation. In the Gospels the crowds noticed that Jesus taught “as one who had authority” (Matthew 7:29). He healed sickness as a demonstration of his “authority on earth to forgive sins” (Matthew 9:6). Jesus then gave authority to his twelve disciples “to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness” (Matthew 10:1). Jesus also instructed his disciples to exercise authority as servants, not as lords. “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant” (Matthew 20:25-26). Before returning to the Father Jesus declared, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me” (Matthew 28:18). He then authorized his followers to represent him on earth.

The apostle Paul taught the believers to understand and respect authority – no matter who has been authorized, they had received their authority from God. “The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against God” (Romans 13:1-2). That included his own authority: “This is why I write these things when I am absent, that when I come I may not have to be harsh in my use of authority—the authority the Lord gave me for building you up, not for tearing you down” (2 Corinthians 13:10). The writer to the Hebrews added this word of advice: “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). The apostle Peter instructed believers to “Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority” (1 Peter 2:13), and he warned about “those who follow the corrupt desire of the flesh and despise authority” (2 Peter 2:10).

So that raises the issue about leadership, what some would call “the Leadership Principle.” We know that all authority originates in God and that all human authority is delegated by God. But does God actually delegate specific leadership authority to specific individuals? Does the Body of Christ need leaders, or has leadership been replaced by the community at large? Did the church in the book of Acts recognize leadership and leaders after the Day of Pentecost?

The Council at Jerusalem recognized those “who were leaders among the believers” (Acts 15:22). Paul reported about his meeting “with those esteemed as leaders” in the church (Galatians 2:2). In fact, the Bible commands us to “Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith” (Hebrews 13:7). Specifically, “Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up” (Ephesians 4:11-12). Not only do we acknowledge our need to honor those God has appointed to be leaders, we also understand the need to multiply leaders from generation to generation. “And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others” (2 Timothy 2:2). The things we have learned about God and the Kingdom of God are to be passed on to others. But not only that, we are to equip those who will be “qualified to teach others.” In other words, we are train and release leaders who will in turn train and release leaders, etc., etc. An ongoing, dynamic leadership development and multiplication process is an essential element of a Book of Acts Church.

A healthy local church will have a clear understanding of and appreciation for godly, spiritual, servant leadership. That in turn will produce a culture of leadership development. If the leaders are the skeletal structure of the local church, the church’s strength and effectiveness will depend on this developmental process. However, as we seek to establish a culture of leadership development, let us never forget the real and present dangers involved with it. Because we are still human with a tendency to be self-centered (aka “sinful”), we can never stop being on guard against: (1) the desire to gain authority in order to exercise control rather than serve, and (2) the compulsion to resist the exercise of authority in someone else (these are really two sides of the same coin). Submitting to the authority of Jesus and learning to imitate his servant style will empower his delegated leaders to lead and feed and guard his precious people. “Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood” (Acts 20:28).