JESUS' DOCTRINE OF LEADERSHIP

Church Orientation & Recruitment of Elders

MAT 20:20-28 Christian vs. Pagan! How Pagan can we become in the area of Leadership? How Christian?

Jesus opposes the "Pagan Style" of leadership

    a. Gentile leaders have "King complex", Bow-the-Knee philosophy, holding authority to win an upper hand, lording it over the people, harsh, hostile, arrogant, dictatorial, domineering, self-serving, position grabbing, competing for Number One!
    b. Gentile leaders vie for "Big Names", thinking that holding a big position makes you become big, that exalted titles exalt the man! Focus on fancy titles, elevated positions.
    c. Gentile Leaders play politics. Disciples: asking to be promoted to the level of sovereign authority, to be great in authority and position thru manipulation. Palakasan! No mention of responsibilities! "You don't know what you are asking!"
    d. Gentile leaders seek power and glory! Desire the glory to carry the crown, but not the grace to carry the cross!  Motivated by advantages and profits for themselves: Sordid gain! Live as enemies of the cross of Christ, whose god is their belly, whose glory is in their shame! Craving to be served rather than to serve! PHI 3:18-19.

Ministers of the Lord, using management style of Gentiles? Since none of this Pagan style of power and honor is intended for the Church, it's nonsense to strive for it!

QUOTATIONS: The Republic Plato "People instinctively seek for a leader. This leader will arise to serve the people. In time he discovers the honor and power of the position, and the feel of having authority over others. So he begins to rule people so that they will serve him and his interests!"
Reader's Digest:"If you see a man reaching for authority, watch him, he will hurt you. If you see a man reaching for responsibility, promote him, he will bless you!"

2. Jesus proposes the "Servant Style" of leadership

While disciples were thinking of elevated position in the coming Kingdom: while competing to secure the best place! "The one who serves as servant among you is your Chief! If you want to be great, be the servant of all! Aim to serve and not to be served!"
    a. True leadership is underneath, holding up - not above, ruling down! WE FAIL TO LEAD IF WE FAIL TO SERVE! Does not require an Official Position to be functional! (Turmoil: politics in religious bodies; natural cause of friction; elected post is thought to give one the right to dominate others; positions are filled up but the work is not done!) A servant-leader seeks to be lowly, serviceable, useful, helpful and faithful!
    b. True Leadership gives life for others! God's Secret: in accomplishing His mighty redemption work: He had a Son who did not cling to the prestige of position of deity, but became a man.. a servant... obedient unto death. O that God might also accomplish His will through us, servant-leaders!

3. JESUS' MODEL OF LEADERSHIP

Footwashing leadership: has several characteristics:

    1. It comes from love truly seeking to be demonstrated (v.1) Having loved His own...He now showed them the full extent of His love! To the last and highest degree (15:13 love that lays down life for friends! Despises shame.) Love compels, bows down in service! This leader can serve a Peter or a Judas!
    We cannot manufacture servant leadership.  Salary cannot, promotion cannot, structure cannot! Hirelings are leaders too: no love for Flock!
    2. It uses authority and power for the highest good of the rank and file. Vv 2-5 Why all things were put under His power? What's the power for? JESUS KNEW: that all power was placed into His hands; that He is from God and Going back to God; that He is Master, Teacher, Sender. Rightly He can claim as Lord of all (to be served), did not have to serve!
          All resources, abilities, power and position are employed for the benefit of the constituents. Condescending power is transformed into service.
         Not thinking of the Big Me, but the More Important You! Power was not meant to dominate, terrorize, or enslave others. Misused power corrupts! Destroys others!
    3. It insists on humble service that strengthens bond with people (v.6-8) The servant-leader shares common life with people, so he obligates himself in caring for them! Not detached but expressing union with them through service! "Unless I wash you, you have no part with me!" No cleansing, no identification!
          Serves people not the office. When we serve sacrificially by investing time, patience, love, effort etc. the people become more valuable! Humble service increases their value to us!
    4. It works for the protection and preservation of the constituency (v.9-11). Leader aims to present a radiant Church to God, blameless, without spot or wrinkle. He leads and ministers to that end! Leadership aims to preserve them that are clean from dirt and corruption of evil! GAL 4:19 In travail until Christ is formed in others! Redemptive in dealing with those who fell. Leadership that cleanses, covers a multitude of sins, corrects, exhorts, instructs!
          Unlike Pagans: Exposing dirts, exaggerating it, mudslinging, fault-finding, gossips, false accusations, slander, destroying the good influence of others in the body they consider a threat to their own rule! Destroys others in order to be great!
    5. It promotes mutual caring among constituents by deliberate example (v.12-16). Should do as I have done! No Servant is greater than his Master! Machiavellian: to divide and rule? Pitting one against the other, sacrifice them for personal promotion? Promoting an environment of disunity! Absalom (2SA 15:1-6) used innocent sounding evil report to steal the hearts of people and lead them in revolt against his own father. He emphasized his "concern" for suffering people, his "deep desire" that justice be done, and his "ability" to be a better administrator than his father.
          Leader must bring about unity and cohesiveness in the body, minimizing the problem of leading. Difficult to pastor scattered sheep: they must stay close to each other for easy maneuvering in the field! I am my brother's keeper! Spirit of Cain? 1JO 3:12.