Mysteries of Leadership

I have been reading a book by leadership scholar, James McGregor Burns, entitled Transforming Leadership (2003). The opening chapter deals with what Burns calls the mysteries of leadership. The mystery is coming to an understanding of the emergence of the phenomenon that we call leadership. Is leadership the result of certain traits that are found in those who have in some extraordinary way affected a change in the course of human events? Or, is leadership the result of certain events and circumstances that propel an individual into the role of leadership? Burns suggests that the inquiry into the mysteries of leadership is complicated because strong arguments can be presented that support one or the other; while at the same time an argument can be made for both as part of the mystery.

How do we as Christian thinkers make sense of the mysteries of leadership? Many who find themselves in leadership roles have wondered; “Am I in this role because of some quality or qualities that I possess or am I in this position because I am in the right place at the right time?” Some wonder; “Am I in a leadership position only because of the will of God and there is absolutely nothing about me or the situation that has contributed to the role of leadership I have?” Why does this even matter? All of these potential explanations can be used as a crutch or as an explanation. We can use the theories to explain how it is certain parachurch ministries, agencies, camps, or churches have experienced a positive change. The circumstances were just right for the change to occur. We might say that given those circumstances how could they help but be successful. Looking at the situation or circumstances can become a crutch as we seek to differentiate our circumstances from the circumstances elsewhere to demonstrate that nothing could be done given the circumstances in which we find ourselves. If something significant is happening because of an individual we want to know what it is that they bring to the table that explains the positive change. If we know what qualities or traits that the individual has we can try and develop those same qualities or explain why they were successful and we aren’t. Finally, there is a certain degree of comfort in saying that it is all God. If things work well we can sound pious as we call it a God thing. Or, if things don’t go well we can slough off any sense of failure because it is obvious that God has not called us to this or that specific task.

I submit to you for your consideration that the bigger question is; “How does looking at the mysteries of leadership through a biblical worldview help us make sense of the mystery? This is an important question because too often people read leadership books and look for ideas or perspectives that appeal to them and then try to give them biblical legitimacy by proof-texting the idea. A biblical worldview perspective is more than finding proof-texts to back up our ideas and/or perspectives. Biblical worldview analysis of leadership starts with the biblical narrative that looks at leadership in light of the purpose of scripture. I want to urge you to not look to scripture to find a theology of leadership. Scripture was not written to help us be the right kind of leader. Rather it was written to show us God’s purpose for his creation, including the human component of his creation. Consider that we are not looking so much for a theology of leadership as much as we are developing a theology to inform our leadership. The ultimate purpose that we were given the scripture is to know what the human predicament is, how it came to be, what it is that God has done, and how we ought to then live. Thus, we want to look at leadership through the narrative of God, creation, fall, redemption, and restoration.

The benefit of a looking at how scripture informs our leadership recognizes that God has equipped humanity to be leaders. The biblical narrative also points to the fact that as leaders were also expected to be followers. Human leadership from the biblical narrative is less about certain qualities or traits that distinguish leaders and followers or even situations that create leaders. Rather, as we follow the narrative we see leadership as a creational purpose. Genesis 1:26-28 is the starting point of humankind’s leadership. Genesis 1:26-28 reads:
Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” So God created man in his own image, in the image of god he created him; male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth. And subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”

This part of the narrative shares God’s expectation. Verse 26 yields a simple formula that demonstrates God’s intention. It can be expressed in the following way:

Divine desire (let us) + Divine plan (make man) + Divine pattern (in our image and our likeness) + Divine purpose (let them rule over…).

Divine desire demonstrates that God is making a free choice. This is what God wants for humankind. Divine plan demonstrates that God’s plan is congruent with the purpose for which God was making humankind. Leupold in his commentary (Exposition of Genesis Vol. 1) notes that the word man is linked not so much to gender but to task as “cultivator of the soil” (p. 88). God has a desire to make those who will care for and cultivate the soil. He then equips them for this role by creating them according to a divine pattern. Leupold writes: “Man is not only made after the deliberate plan and purpose of God but is very definitely patterned after Him” (p. 88). The purpose for which God creates humanity is that they would rule. God is entrusting the creation to those whom have been formed in his image. God is creating and entrusting to another the role of leadership (for further explanation see Walter Brueggemann’s commentary pp. 32-33).

The biblical narrative does not yet provide a detailed plan for exercising leadership beyond being a leader according to the pattern of the imago Dei. What the biblical narrative does provide is an understanding that from the beginning God desired that human beings be leaders and that by creating us according to a plan and a pattern that was congruent with the his divine purpose we are able to exercise leadership that is consistent with God’s desire. The mystery of leadership is best understood in terms of God’s desire, plan, pattern, and purpose. Humanity was formed by God in the image of God in order that they might exercise leadership that reflects the character and purpose of God as self-giving. “The man and the woman are not chattel and servants of God, but the agents of God to whom much has been given and from whom much is expected” (Brueggemann p. 33).

How does this help us think about the emergence of leadership? We understand leadership as not dependent upon either traits or circumstances but as the result of a creational commission. You and I are commissioned by God to be leaders. Leadership is not gender-specific but is gender-shared. The origin or emergence of leadership is not rooted in positional thinking but in seen in relationship to the Creator God’s intention and purpose. Human leadership is seen as something which has been given and thus is exercised in humility and in submission to God’s purpose. Simply, the emergence of leadership is seen in relationship to one being a faithful follower of God as leader. The traits of leadership are rooted in being created in the image of God. The circumstance which produces leadership is God’s creational desire and expectation. Human beings are leaders because of a Divine desire, Divine plan, Divine pattern, with a Divine purpose; therein lays the mystery of leadership.