“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works” (Titus 2:11-14, ESV).
Last week I had the privilege of serving as a guest lecturer in Dr. Frankie Melton’s class on leadership. While there are many important aspects of leadership that grow out of the literature on the topic, management theories and practices, vision for the future, servanthood, etc., I chose to address spiritual formation in leadership. Many Christian schools have lost their way due at least in part to a failure to focus on the need for continued growth in discipleship for every constituent of the organization (students, faculty, staff, administration, donors, and the Board of Trustees).
A basic axiom of leadership is that you cannot lead anyone anywhere that you are unwilling to go. You may be able to give directions to the destination, point others in the right direction, etc., but you can only lead people to the destination by choosing to go on the journey with them. Community is a significant aspect of spiritual formation. The spiritual leader must engage the community.
The character of leaders determines the impact of their influence, particularly in Christian institutions. The text above focuses on the inner life of believers. Here are some character traits of Christian leaders.
- Inner purity/personal holiness. Many avoid the topic of personal holiness because of our sinfulness. Yet inner purity is essential for leadership. Ron Boehme states in Leadership for the 21st Century that we are only as pure as our thought lives are pure. Our thoughts are a primary spiritual battlefield. We must take every thought captive to make it obedient to Christ (2 Cor 10:5).
- Integrity reveals our true motives and who we really are. Chuck Swindoll stated that integrity is what we are like when no one else is around.
- Faith involves salvation, mission, vision, endurance, and completion. Where there is no faith the people are defeated.
- Hope is at the heart of the Christian faith. It gives us the courage to endure in the face of great challenges. Leaders must radiate this kind of hope. It is compassionate and contagious.
- Love/Compassion. This characteristic demonstrates kindness and gentleness. Christian leaders must show compassion for the people they serve, for the lost, and for the nations (the mission of God has always been global in nature). Our conversations must be seasoned with love.
- Micah asked what does God require of his people (Mic 6:8)? He has told us to do justice, love kindness (mercy), and to walk humbly with God. We have to move beyond political correctness and traditions to do justice. Christ has broken down the dividing wall that separated races and ethnicities. He is our peace (Eph 2:11-22). We are called to be ministers of reconciliation. The gospel requires that we love our neighbors (all people) as we love ourselves. We need to address the justice issues of our day with the gospel of Christ. We are called to a ministry of reconciliation (2 Cor 5:17-21).
- Knowledge (including education) is power. Lord Acton stated that power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely. History reveals the truthfulness of this axiom. This is why we must guard ourselves against arrogance. Humility is not a weakness, but rather a strength. It is an honest assessment of character and gifts grounded in a sense of one’s unworthiness and sin. Christ is the ultimate example of humble leadership.
- Christian leaders must cultivate unity through humble service, a listening ear, personal sacrifice, and team development. The joy of leadership is found in sharing the journey, graciously dealing with defeat, and celebrating victories with no regard for who gets the credit.
Can you think of other character traits of successful spiritual leaders? I’d love to hear from you.