Leadership
Lou Tiscione, Pastor, Weatherford Presbyterian Church (PCA)
A church leader once told me what he thought was profound advice. He said, “If you’re going in the opposite direction from the people, you’re probably going in the wrong direction.” I respectfully responded that there were more logical explanations. You, as the leader might be wrong. The people might be wrong. Both you and the people might be wrong, or you might be right. The original statement reveals the world’s understanding of leadership. All too often in the church and the world, leaders ask first what direction the people are going rather than first seeking the right direction.
The Bible, both Testaments, contain God’s principles for godly leadership. The Apostle Paul gave instructions to both Timothy and Titus concerning the critical nature of selecting men to lead local churches.
Perhaps the most striking example of God’s revealed principles for leaders is Exodus 18:21. Moses’ father-in-law Jethro advised Moses to, “look for able men from all the people, men who fear God, who are trustworthy and hate a bribe, and place such men over the people as chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens.”
Jethro observed Moses’ leadership of the people of Israel and told him that what he was doing would wear him out. He recommended that Moses find men who would be able to lead the people with him.
Jethro gave four characteristics of the kind of men Moses should select: able, God-fearing, trustworthy, and bribery-hating. Each of these characteristics requires further explanation. None of these leadership attributes depend upon the direction of the people.
First, he should choose men from among the people. That is, those chosen should be recognized by the people as men who have a history of accomplishing assigned tasks. We can understand this as men who had resumes of accomplishments that demonstrated their abilities. Note that they should be chosen from among the people. That is, Jethro intended that their resumes could be verified as genuine. These men were known to the people whom they served.
“Able” is translated from the root word that means a rampart or fortress. In other words, the able man is a man of strong character having the trust of the people that they lead.
A God-fearer is a believer. A man who fears God is humble. Fearing God includes trembling, awe and worship. A man who fears God knows both intellectually and intimately that God is holy, sovereign and the one who is full of majesty. This man has a right assessment of himself before God. He is truly humble.
Thirdly, trustworthy men love the truth. These are men of integrity and faithfulness. As Jesus said in His Sermon on the Mount, “Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No;’ anything more than this comes from evil” (Matthew 5:37).
It is surely obvious that for one to love the truth, one must acknowledge that there is absolute truth. A man who loves the truth is not a relativist who changes his mind because of peer pressure or one who lacks principles or “leads from behind.”
Fourthly, a leader is a man who does not covet. He hates bribery. Not only will he not be bribed, but he will also not attempt to bribe anyone else to get what he wants. This is a leader who stands against those who constantly covet what others have. This leader finds his satisfaction in God, enjoying what God has provided to him.
These are the kind of men God calls to lead in His church. Yet, these basic qualities are also general in nature and possessed by all kinds of good leaders. These are the leaders in our communities, in military service, and wherever groups of people are called to move in unity to accomplish a common purpose.
Where are the leaders? They are in our midst. They are able, God-fearing, trustworthy, and honest.
All things are from God. “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change” (James 1:17). Leadership is not excluded from this principle. God provides the church with capable men, God-fearing men, trustworthy men, and those who hate bribery. May we recognize them and follow them for the glory of God. Also, may we use God’s revelation of leadership characteristics to evaluate and measure those who seek any position of leadership in our society.
