Three Aspects of Biblical Leadership
(Key to Future Success)
by Thurlow J. Switzer
Leadership is the ability to assert vision, values and vitality in such a way as to attract and propel followership and mutual partnership in an enterprise or a task leading to a worthwhile set of goals. Leadership development is critical to the vision and mission of any local church or ministry. The leaders of Living Grace are committed to the training and development of leadership in the context of the congregation and for the worldwide apostolic harvest. Philosophically, biblical leadership is rooted in at least three things: biblical worldview, biblical authority and biblical action.
A. Biblical Leadership is Rooted in a Biblical Worldview
How does a potential ministry leader become rooted in a Biblical worldview? Rootedness occurs by being exposed to a thoughtful and systematic path for developing potential ministry leaders in a Biblical worldview. Biblical leadership must have a world vision-- a vision that will change people's private worldview and motivate them to embrace God's worldview. As a starting point, consider that a biblical worldview would include a solid comprehension of three things.
First, the Jewish roots nature of biblical theology as revealed in the theology of the "first covenant" torah and prophets.
Secondly, a realistic understanding of the Apostolic Christian New Covenant foundations. The apostles fully proclaimed the centrality of the life and work of Christ, the importance of the "new covenant" community of faith, and the authority of the Great Commission as revealed in the New Testament. All combined together have been traditionally called the “Judeo-Christian World Viewpoint.”
Thirdly, there must be a bold and fresh appreciation for the activity of the Holy Spirit so the student is trained in discovering contemporary reality and meaningfulness in Christian faith and ministry. The Holy Spirit was commissioned by Christ to lead us into all truth.
A biblical worldview has many threads, all of which start with God. I suggest the reader study the seven aspects as reflected below. I call these the seven points of covenant.
A worldview is comprised of a person’s principles of belief and the matters that have priority in his or her commitments. What we believe and how it directly affects our behavior and that to which we choose to belong.
Our worldview affects how we prioritize our commitments and actions. It guides what we communicate to the next generation by word and model, and, in the process, display whether our life is directed by God, or by gods, idolatrous false forces or other controlling beliefs.
Ronald Nash, a prominent philosopher-theologian of our day, and my personal pastor in my boyhood days, points out the significance of educating the next generation. He says: “Education forms the great link in the chain of civilization it cannot hold.” He states, “Teachers are both the conservators and the transmitters of culture. It is through the transmission of ideas that future generations come to appreciate the highest ideals of our country and civilization." (The Closing of the American Heart, Probe Books, p. 189). Ideas influence the future.
B. Biblical Leadership is Rooted in Biblical Authority
A solid Bible training is designed to integrate biblical learning that should lead to embracing two vitally important dimensions: Biblical authority and servant authority. How is authority attained? Jesus taught: “Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit? A student is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher” (Lk 6:40).
Jesus believed in discipleship and the training of leaders. He trained his leaders in biblical revelation and in servanthood. True education must not be isolated from the local church environment, where there is potential for true servanthood and ministry as the student is being trained.
True authority comes first by revelation (biblical worldview), and secondly, by servanthood (biblical Kingdom mission).
Servanthood is achieved three ways:
All three of the above goals can be readily obtained in the context of congregational life. The congregation’s leadership must effectively integrate all educational and training efforts with the life and ministry of the congregation. A congregation worships God, serves as God’s prophetic voice to society, and is the base for grass roots ministry and deaconing.
Tocqueville, a French observer of the American experiment 150 years ago saw, "the spirit of religion and the spirit of freedom” was marching in the same direction. He saw people filled with fervor to fulfill the "duties of religion." Furthermore, Tocqueville also recorded that "the church cannot share the temporal power of the state without being the object of a portion of that animosity which the latter excites." In forming an alliance with a political power, and particularly partisan powers, "religion augments its authority over a few and forfeits the hope of reigning over all.”
(Democracy in America, Vol. 1, NY, Vintage Books, 1945, pgs 319-21).
What gives a church moral and spiritual leadership? The church has moral and spiritual leadership when it preserves its integrity and speaks the Word and Will of God with authority to a nation's people, capturing the faith and conscience of the people one-by-one.
C. Biblical Leadership is Rooted in Biblical Action
God is a God of actions, but on His terms and in His time. When all is said and done, what we do speaks louder than what we say. "Faith without works is dead" (James). True leadership results in a teamwork that follows through. Action is the essence of leadership. Action is the essence of followership. Action is the essence of servanthood. Obedience is the essence of the Great Commission.
How shall we avoid the problem of learning without practicality on one hand, and on the other hand, avoid the problem of superficiality without substantial biblical knowledge? Combine knowledge with practical experience.
God has given a mission and passion to most pastors: to affect and prepare God’s people as the disciples and followers of Christ today and as leaders for tomorrow. Results count more than mere theory. The local congregational life is the most authentic place for true biblical action and grass roots ministry. Perspective leaders in training are able to experience immediate and realistic conditions for action, ministry and the practice of covenant. All this is within the context of local church life.
A. Biblical Leadership is Rooted in a Biblical Worldview
How does a potential ministry leader become rooted in a Biblical worldview? Rootedness occurs by being exposed to a thoughtful and systematic path for developing potential ministry leaders in a Biblical worldview. Biblical leadership must have a world vision-- a vision that will change people's private worldview and motivate them to embrace God's worldview. As a starting point, consider that a biblical worldview would include a solid comprehension of three things.
First, the Jewish roots nature of biblical theology as revealed in the theology of the "first covenant" torah and prophets.
Secondly, a realistic understanding of the Apostolic Christian New Covenant foundations. The apostles fully proclaimed the centrality of the life and work of Christ, the importance of the "new covenant" community of faith, and the authority of the Great Commission as revealed in the New Testament. All combined together have been traditionally called the “Judeo-Christian World Viewpoint.”
Thirdly, there must be a bold and fresh appreciation for the activity of the Holy Spirit so the student is trained in discovering contemporary reality and meaningfulness in Christian faith and ministry. The Holy Spirit was commissioned by Christ to lead us into all truth.
A biblical worldview has many threads, all of which start with God. I suggest the reader study the seven aspects as reflected below. I call these the seven points of covenant.
A worldview is comprised of a person’s principles of belief and the matters that have priority in his or her commitments. What we believe and how it directly affects our behavior and that to which we choose to belong.
Our worldview affects how we prioritize our commitments and actions. It guides what we communicate to the next generation by word and model, and, in the process, display whether our life is directed by God, or by gods, idolatrous false forces or other controlling beliefs.
Ronald Nash, a prominent philosopher-theologian of our day, and my personal pastor in my boyhood days, points out the significance of educating the next generation. He says: “Education forms the great link in the chain of civilization it cannot hold.” He states, “Teachers are both the conservators and the transmitters of culture. It is through the transmission of ideas that future generations come to appreciate the highest ideals of our country and civilization." (The Closing of the American Heart, Probe Books, p. 189). Ideas influence the future.
B. Biblical Leadership is Rooted in Biblical Authority
A solid Bible training is designed to integrate biblical learning that should lead to embracing two vitally important dimensions: Biblical authority and servant authority. How is authority attained? Jesus taught: “Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit? A student is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher” (Lk 6:40).
Jesus believed in discipleship and the training of leaders. He trained his leaders in biblical revelation and in servanthood. True education must not be isolated from the local church environment, where there is potential for true servanthood and ministry as the student is being trained.
True authority comes first by revelation (biblical worldview), and secondly, by servanthood (biblical Kingdom mission).
Servanthood is achieved three ways:
- by serving the person of God, worshipping Him as Lord God Almighty;
- by serving the purposes of God, the essence of prophetic proclamation; and
- by serving the people of God, the essential trademark of the deaconing ministry.
All three of the above goals can be readily obtained in the context of congregational life. The congregation’s leadership must effectively integrate all educational and training efforts with the life and ministry of the congregation. A congregation worships God, serves as God’s prophetic voice to society, and is the base for grass roots ministry and deaconing.
Tocqueville, a French observer of the American experiment 150 years ago saw, "the spirit of religion and the spirit of freedom” was marching in the same direction. He saw people filled with fervor to fulfill the "duties of religion." Furthermore, Tocqueville also recorded that "the church cannot share the temporal power of the state without being the object of a portion of that animosity which the latter excites." In forming an alliance with a political power, and particularly partisan powers, "religion augments its authority over a few and forfeits the hope of reigning over all.”
(Democracy in America, Vol. 1, NY, Vintage Books, 1945, pgs 319-21).
What gives a church moral and spiritual leadership? The church has moral and spiritual leadership when it preserves its integrity and speaks the Word and Will of God with authority to a nation's people, capturing the faith and conscience of the people one-by-one.
C. Biblical Leadership is Rooted in Biblical Action
God is a God of actions, but on His terms and in His time. When all is said and done, what we do speaks louder than what we say. "Faith without works is dead" (James). True leadership results in a teamwork that follows through. Action is the essence of leadership. Action is the essence of followership. Action is the essence of servanthood. Obedience is the essence of the Great Commission.
How shall we avoid the problem of learning without practicality on one hand, and on the other hand, avoid the problem of superficiality without substantial biblical knowledge? Combine knowledge with practical experience.
God has given a mission and passion to most pastors: to affect and prepare God’s people as the disciples and followers of Christ today and as leaders for tomorrow. Results count more than mere theory. The local congregational life is the most authentic place for true biblical action and grass roots ministry. Perspective leaders in training are able to experience immediate and realistic conditions for action, ministry and the practice of covenant. All this is within the context of local church life.