Right Thinking On Christian Leadership (4)

by. Rev. James Wong

As we closed the nomination last Sunday we have a total of 20 nominees only, the number which we need to form the English Church Council for 2010-2011. Because we do not have more than 20 nominations we will not be able to have an election. Therefore, the 20 nominees will be the English Council Members for 2010-2011. Welcome on board!

This week I would share with you the DNA of Christian Leadership. Although there are numerous similarity in spiritual leadership and secular leadership, the similarities mostly rest on the principles of leading and achieving maximum result. However, the motivation could be entirely different and the approach to leadership will also be very different.

For example, a CEO can reprimand his subordinates for producing mediocre work but a pastor could not reprimand the church council members for failing to fulfill a task. At best, he can only encourage them unless it is a bad moral issue or wrong theological thinking. The reason is this; the subordinates of the CEO are paid staffs but the church council members are not paid staffs but people who serve the church voluntarily, out of love for God with the support of the congregation. Therefore, the church is the place where the leadership of a person is most severely tested! Here are the unique 8 DNA of a Christian leader.

1. Having a serving and giving attitude.
Jesus said: “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." (Mark 10:45 NIV). This is the summary of Jesus’ life. This is the first step to learn to lead like Jesus; having the serving and giving attitude. Without this fundamental attitude, we become frustrated easily. Church leadership is to serve the needs of the people in the church, to ensure efficient administration and to advance the gospel. Our level of serving and giving is measured by the standard of Christ. While we can learn valuable lessons of leadership from the experts in this field, our mentor is no other than Jesus Christ. The mandate of Christian discipleship is to become like Christ. Christian leaders are a group of people who serve and give like Jesus did. It is not seeking others to serve our little egos or to get what we can to satisfy our unexplained desires.

2. Love God wholeheartedly and love people fervently.
The motivation of Christian leadership must be founded on this rock: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these." (Mark 12:30-31 NIV). A leader shows his love for God by loving God’s people. If the unseen intention of leadership is the craving for recognition, respect or power, such leadership is doomed for unhappiness. You have to decide on the onset the single motivation of your leadership. What is driving you in your leadership? Is it your love for God and love for people? This is the crucial question of leadership that only you can answer. (to be continued next week)