What Does "Biblical Leadership" Really Mean?

Robert L. VanAntwerp Jr. Major General, USA President, Officers' Christian Fellowship and Bruce L. Fister Lieutenant General, USAF, Retired Executive Director, Officers' Christian Fellowship

Last month in COMMAND magazine we introduced our discussion of: "Christian officers exercising biblical leadership to raise up a godly military."

We said that "Christian officers" defines most OCF members. "Exercising biblical leadership" states what we should we do as professionals to impact our military society. And, "to raise up a godly military" explains the end state for our vision. We then talked about what the words "Christian officers" really means. In this article we'll talk about what it means to "exercise biblical leadership."

Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ said a lot about exercising leadership both in word and deed. He focused much of his leadership attention on the twelve disciples as he prepared them to carry his Word to all the world and establish his church on earth. Although there is much throughout the Bible that concerns leadership, probably the most significant words concerning leadership were spoken by Jesus as part of a request by James and John, the sons of Zebedee, to have a place by his side in glory. Jesus responded by saying, "Can you drink the cup I drink…?" He then spoke of two important aspects of leadership. Jesus said, "You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

Jesus states the position from which we are to lead and the actions we should take as we exercise leadership. With respect to our position as servant leaders, this fundamentally has to do with where we view ourselves in an organizational structure. It doesn't matter whether we are discussing our military organizations, our families, or our churches or chapels, the question is the same. Do we view ourselves at the apex of the organization giving top-down direction, or is it at the bottom offering encouragement, providing the tools to do the job, exercising fair discipline, setting the right standards and having the courage to get off the dance floor and onto the balcony so others can take the responsibility and accomplish the mission or work at hand? Didn't Jesus, who is God's own Son, position himself as a servant to his disciples? Consider Paul's word in Philippians, "Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant…" You see, as a servant leader your position is really at the bottom with an attitude of humility, taking on the cares and burdens of the organization and giving them back to the people with hope and encouragement so they can accomplish the work.

Jesus set the example at the last supper by washing his disciples' feet. It was the night before he would leave the disciples with the task of building his church, the night before he would execute his most demanding mission, the night before he was crucified on the cross. Would you wash your subordinates' feet just before taking on the most difficult combat mission of your life? Consider it.

Second, how should we act as we exercise leadership? Jesus said "…But I am among you as one who serves." Jesus acted as a servant when he exercised leadership. He specifically said you are not to exercise authority, but to exercise servant leadership. You see, authority is the power to influence or command thought, opinion, or behavior. Leadership is taking on the dreams, the fears, and discouragements of the people and returning them in a way that provides hope, confidence and encouragement so people can take responsibility for the tasks at hand and accomplish the mission. Isn't this what Jesus did during his final moments with his disciples, as recorded in the book of John, chapters 16 and 17, when he explained the challenges to come and how their grief would be turned to joy? He promised them the power of the Holy Spirit, and then prayed for them and all believers. Isn't this a good model for our actions as we exercise leadership?

But consider this warning. With respect to servant leadership, particularly as commanders, taking a position of humility in no way relieves you of the responsibility for the performance of your unit or for taking the point when the going gets rough. You are always responsible for unit performance, good or bad. You should always share the credit for accomplishments with your subordinates (and give the glory to God). You are always responsible for the tough calls. And, exercising leadership is not necessarily an exercise in democracy.

There are many other things we could say about exercising biblical leadership. We could talk about leading with the faith and abandonment of a David (I Samuel 17:45-47, "…the battle is the Lord's…"), or leading prayerfully as Jesus did (John, Chapter 17) or leading from a position of holiness and moral and ethical purity (Lev 20:7-8, I Peter 1:14-15). But, for this part on "exercising biblical leadership" we'll conclude by saying this. Lead from a position of humility and lead as a servant. "You lead to serve and you serve to lead."

Now that we have an understanding of what a "Christian officer" is and how we view "biblical leadership," next month we'll discuss what we think a "godly military" looks like.

> Part 3