Christ and Leadership in the Gospels by Timothy J. Beals
By editor on Feb 1, 2008 in Bookshelf Picks, SHARE COLUMNS
Excerpt taken from The Essential Engstrom, edited by Timothy J. Beals
©2007, Authentic Publishing
Any study of Christian leadership is incomplete unless the life of Christ is studied. It is essential to recognize at the outset that He epitomized the concept of leadership by His own statement: “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve; “I am among you as one who serves” (Mark 10:45; Luke 22:27).
If Christ spent so much time with his disciples, it is certain that He wished to impress them with the example of His life. He came to serve, and so should they. This was His method of leadership. He unselfishly gave of His life, which would be a “suffering servant.” His service did not degenerate into servility; He was humble, but retained dignity.
His kind of service set an example. He was willing to wash His disciples’ feet. His perfect, sinless, human life ended in self-sacrifice at Calvary. Thus He showed His followers how to serve, and He demanded no less of those who would carry on His work on earth. Jesus teaches all leaders for all time that greatness is not found in rank or position but in service. He makes it clear that true leadership is grounded in love, which must issue in service.
When we take a closer work at His earthly service, we discover that His ministry was mainly teaching. He spoke with authority. At times, the greatest learned men of the synagogue were startled by His teaching. He knew that the only way to perpetuate the truth was to pass it on, so He set out to train His disciples.
Furthermore His leadership demanded that others be obedient. He did not want His disciples to use their position for selfish purposes. So His leadership was largely carried out through teaching and training as well as through keen interest in individuals and their problems.
Another major consideration is that Christ’s service was redemptive. He came to provide freedom for mankind: “The truth will set you free” (John 8:32). This idea must dominate the relationship between any true leader and the group. There must be a dynamic, living relationship—that is what is meant by redemptive. Men who had faith in Christ not only found eternal life, but were changed in the here and now. The Christian leader, following the pattern of Christ, will not use the group to achieve his own ends without regard for people who constitute the group. He will want to allow people to be themselves and thus be liberated. It is not a slavish conformity to the group that he seeks, but to help people serve a cause with joy, commitment, and a motivation that is prompted by Christ Himself.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ted W. Engstrom left an enduring legacy of leadership from his positions as president, CEO and board member of many of the most influential for-profit and not-for-profit companies in North America. Now the best of his writings on the business of leadership is available in one accessible anthology. The Essential Engstrom is a complication of lessons and stories that he penned throughout his years as a leader.
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