By: Dale Weckbacher
Titus 1:7-9
For an overseer,[f] as God's steward, must
be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard
or violent or greedy for gain, 8 but
hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and
disciplined. 9 He must hold firm to the
trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction
in sound[g] doctrine and also to
rebuke those who contradict it.
(ESV)
Robert K Greenleaf in his 1970 essay entitled The Servant as
Leader first coined the term servant leadership. (1) Mr. Greenleaf’s definition of the servant
leader is one who sees themselves as servant first. A servant leader is one with a desire to
serve first with the decision to lead being a conscious choice in contrast to
the traditional view as a leader being one aspiring to lead first through the
accumulation of power or material possessions.
The stark difference in the servant leader as opposed to the traditional
view of a leader is how the leader views the needs of those following
them. A traditional leader focuses on carrying
out the objectives of the organization through the exercise of influence and
power over followers with little consideration of the followers needs. In contrast the servant leader seeks to carry
out organizational objectives through creation of an atmosphere of mutual trust
between leader and follower with followers working to accomplish organizational
objectives out of respect for the concern the leader has for their needs.
While leadership experts credit Mr. Greenleaf with coining
the phrase servant leadership, Jesus modeled this leadership philosophy in His
ministry culminating in his offering up His life for the sins of those
following Him. Granted, as God Jesus
knew a resurrection in three days would follow His death (Mark 10:32-34), but the
experience of crucifixion was excruciatingly painful. Jesus example of servant leadership though
initially misunderstood by His disciples who viewed leadership in the secular
hierarchical model came to follow Jesus example, with all but John giving their
life in martyrdom for their faith (Luke 22:24-27).
While we typically think of leaders being someone holding a
political office of running a business, everyone reading this is a leader at
some level. Our leadership may be over
our family, or those we work with.
Teachers are leaders over the students in their classroom. Teachers, Rabbi’s, and pastors in a church or
synagogue are leaders in their religious organization. As leaders, people are watching us and like
it or not, if those following us have a level of respect and awe of us as
leaders, will have a desire to follow our example. For this reason, it is crucial for anyone in
a leadership position to practice spiritual disciplines in their lives so as to
provide a positive example for people to follow.
Titus 1:5-16 gives us the qualification for elders in the
church. As we view these qualifications,
they parallel the fruits of the Spirit which are rooted in one leading a life
of self-control. Perhaps we should apply
these high standards to those leading us in Congress considering the endless allegations
of lewd behaviors from those we elect to lead us under the assumption they are
mature.
What we are seeing in these leaders are individuals that
view leadership as one in authority over those they lead with no need to follow
the laws they pass. What they neglect to
consider is that those following them elect them and since voters hire them,
voters can fire them in the next election.
I encourage voters to begin employing a higher standard for elected
officials following the pattern of Titus 1:5-16 by electing leaders that are,
1)
Above reproach (Titus 1:6) – When elected
officials are in the news, voters want it to be for something they have
accomplished and not some scandalous behavior.
2)
Not arrogant or quick-tempered (Titus 1:7) – The
politics of anger creates interesting soundbites but accomplishes nothing. Voters have also had enough of arrogant
leaders more interested in their own political advancement instead of the
interests of the voters electing them.
This is one reason voters elected an outsider for President who had
nothing to gain by becoming President.
3)
Hospitable (Titus 1:8)
– All elected officials put on a face of hospitality during the campaign, but
voters have had their fill of elected officials taking off the mask of
hospitality after the election. Voters
want a genuinely hospitable leader.
4)
A lover of good (Titus 1:8) – The news is alive
with the sound of scandal. This may be a
great theme for a reality show, TV drama, or Movie but in the real-world
leaders distracted by scandal are ineffective.
Voters seek ethical leaders that love doing good towards those electing
them to office.
5)
Disciplined and Self-controlled (Titus 1:8) –
The business of politics is stressful with opposition doing their best to
distract leaders, causing them to lose their self-control. Voters seek leaders that exercise a quiet
strength with self-control that stay focused on fulfilling campaign promises.
6)
One keeping their promises (Titus 1:9) – While
some voters vote along party lines without consideration for what the candidate
stands for, many take the time to research the candidate to judge if they are
people of integrity who keep their promises.
With many elections being close in our divisive political climate,
informed voters need to apply pressure on candidates letting them know that if
they do not fulfill their promises, voters will replace them.
To effect the needed changes in our government and culture,
we must have leaders leading by exampling a high standard in their lives. If you agree, please feel free to leave your
comment to this post. May God bless everyone
reading this.
1. Robert K. Greenleaf Center for Servant
Leadership. The Servant as Leader. www.greenleaf.org. [Online]
Robert K. Greenleaf Center for Servant Leadership. [Cited: December 3, 2017.]
https://www.greenleaf.org/what-is-servant-leadership/.
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