Today, the word leadership is used in so many ways that it can get confusing. To clarify this concept of leadership, we must understand how and why we use the word and what we think of when we hear it. We talk about our “country’s leadership,” our “business’s leadership,” and our “church’s leadership.” In almost every case, the word is used to describe authority. In the examples above, the word “leadership” simply communicates the plural form on occupational or volunteer position—it means a group of “more than one leader.” A Leader is a Person, Not a Position
However, the Bible’s definition of leadership is quite different. In Romans 12:8, when the Bible declares leadership a spiritual gift, Paul is not referring to the gift of “more than one leader”! When he writes, “If it is leadership, then let him govern diligently” (NIV), he refers to the relationship between two people: those who govern and those who are being governed. The first word of this sentence, “if,” is not asking whether or not a person has a leadership position. No, it is asking whether or not a person actually has leadership ability and spiritual gift the spiritual gift of leadership.
Thus, leadership is a gift found in the relationship between the leader and the one who follows. When the gift is found, it looks just like this definition by Dr. James Bultman: “Leadership is the art and science of inspiring others to reach their full potential in the pursuit of a common vision.” This definition is on the home page of my web site, this e-lead letter, and the bottom of every email TCL sends.
"Leadership is the art and science of inspiring others to reach their full potential in the pursuit of a common vision."
This definition emphasizes the fact that that leadership is all about the follower. In a leadership relationship, the followers are the primary recipients of what flows from the leader, not the other way around! “Inspiration” flows into the followers; “full potential” is achieved by the followers! The vision, however, that must be the equalizer—the “common factor.” Show me a leader good at leadership, and I will show you a leader who either has great vision embraced by his/her followers, or one who pursues with delight the vision of others.
Christian Leaders’ Kingdom Purposes
So how do we reconcile the fact that each of us knows an unbeliever or two who are very skillful at leading people? They have certain morals; they seem like nice people; and they produce results. What is different about them and us as believers?
The difference is this: If you are a Christian, and if you have the skill of a good leader, then God wants you to use that skill for kingdom purposes. The moment you acknowledge His purpose with your skill, the Holy Spirit transforms it into a spiritual gift to be used for Kingdom purposes.
If you are a Christian, and if you have the skill of a good leader, then God wants you to use that skill for kingdom purposes.
So am I saying that skillful Christian people who are leading outside the church must ultimately have a kingdom purpose? To answer, I say this: If you are a Christian and you have the gift of leadership, then eventually you will have a kingdom purpose because of the gift God has given you. Friends, why wait to find a kingdom purpose when you must already have a good idea of what it could be? Find joy in using what talents God has given you toward a kingdom purpose, and He will bless it beyond measure. Live in pursuit of that kingdom purpose, and you will discover a new bond with your church leaders
