Leadership and the Bible

The Bible is not a leadership textbook. Its overarching message and its primary purpose is to communicate to fallen humanity the unfolding redemptive love of a Creator who would willingly address the sin of rebellious creatures to restore eternal fellowship. This is not to say that we do not see leaders or learn deep leadership principles within the pages of the Bible. It is only to point out that these insights and lessons about leadership are side benefits, if you will, to the primary story of the grand redemption rescue that God is executing. But leaders do have their role in that story too.

One of the first things that should be noticed when you encounter the key figures in the Biblical narrative is how unvarnished and real they are. From the first human family through to the history of the New Testament church, the main characters are presented not as some air-brushed versions of 'larger than life' heroes. People that God uses meaningfully in the Bible -- whether they be kings, prophets, or disciples of Jesus -- are not show as cleaned up examples of humanity without faults or sins. The leaders that we meet in the Bible have in turn resisted God's call, lied, been disloyal, betrayed friends, cheated family members, committed adultery, and murdered others. They never come across as some kind of separate class of people (like the heroes in other ancient narratives often do) . They are just like us.

There is a second aspect of leadership in the pages of the Bible that soon becomes obvious. God does not measure leaders the way human society does. Writing near the end of the Bible, Peter expresses this difference in his counsel to church leaders when he says, "Do not be like {an authoritarian} ruler over people you are responsible for, but be good examples to them." [1 Pet 5:3 NCV] He was probably recalling Jesus words when he said [in Lk 22:25] "The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who have authority over them are called ‘Benefactors.’ But it is not this way with you..." Peter then goes on to quote Proverbs 3:34 and point out that God's 'mechanism for leadership' is built on humility and not pride.

It is interesting to note that some of these very Biblical truths are becoming more recognized today. Jim Collins, is one of the business world's most respected authors and speakers and his influential book Good To Great identifies humility as a primary quality in the very best leaders ("a Level 5 leader - an individual who blends extreme personal humility with intense professional will").

So while the Bible may not have been designed as a manual to educate leaders, it is nevertheless a rich source of relevant leadership principles. The MCC leadership development program will turn time and time again to these truths and the examples of leaders in the Bible for shaping our thinking and growing in our capacity to lead as God would have us to lead.

Lee Beachy is a long time member of Manchester Christian Church and has served in a variety of leadership roles including treasurer, elder and part time staff member. He is currently a member of the Strategic Leadership Team and the Leadership Development Team.