Leadership or Servanthood
As I mentioned earlier, Jesus’ concept of leadership seems very different from what we consider leadership. In fact, it appears that Jesus’ leadership model is actually Servanthood.
Consider with me Matthew 20:24-28. He was approached by the mother of the apostles John and James (brothers). Her request was that her sons would sit on each side of Jesus when He comes into His Kingdom! (vv20-23). The other apostles get an attitude when they learned of this and Jesus addresses them all, beginning in verse 24.
Gentile rulers (v.25) represents the world’s method of leadership and oversight. Concerning the world’s method of leadership, Jesus’ response is an emphatic, “Not so with you.” (v.26) His followers will not provide leadership as the world has learned to do.
Rather, Jesus lays out an opposing method to that of the world’s. I paraphrase, the great must be the servant (grk.: diakonos); the first must be the slave (grk.: doulos). I like saying it this way: in Jesus’ kingdom, the way up, is down. There’s no ladder to climb, just serving to do.
For years I was challenged with what was called, “Servant Leadership”. Using ‘Servant’ as an adjective for Leadership, just did not fit well with my understanding of Jesus’ intentions for us. I was clear on what was suppose to be conveyed by that but it seemed rather to take away from servanthood. The teachings of Christ never seemed to join the two concepts. Rather, he seemed to prefer one over the other. Being everyone’s servant.
For this reason, I was so blessed to find the writings of Professor, Pastor Siang-Yang Tan. His book, “Full Service: Moving from Self-Serve Christianity to Total Servanthood”, confirmed for me, I was hearing my Savior correctly.
And his book lead me to others with the belief that our call from God is not to leadership but to servanthood. This is not to say the church is without leaders. Many great and devoted men and women have provided marvelous leadership for the church but even in those roles, God is calling us all, to be servants. First and foremost.
Indeed I have more to say, but Thank you for reading and commenting.
Blessings, Presbuteros
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