A true leader is one who accepts the principles and responsibilities of being an influencer. Jesus was the greatest influencer who ever lived. What is your influence and impact on others? Everyone consciously, or unconsciously, looks for someone to follow.

Responsibility

We influence all we come in contact with, but we have a responsibility as to what our influence is. ‘Kings set the moral pace for the people’.

As a true follower of Christ we are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, 1 Peter 2:9. We must ensure that our influence is to the glory of God, the great I Am That I Am, Exodus 3:14.

All Are Influencers

We are all an influencer in one form or another. Consider a mother or father in a family, a sibling, a neighbour, a friend, a relative. The list goes on and on, where we influence others day by day. Few true leaders stand in the pulpit.

Without a leader the people are headless and a headless body is powerless. Even a mob intent on destruction and murder is not the disorganized organism it appears to be. Somewhere behind the violence is a leader whose ideas the mob is putting into effect. There is always a leader of some kind, either for good or for evil.

Gifting or Skill

Many claim that leadership can be learned and acquired. Millions of dollars are earned through claiming that leadership can be taught.

The other debate is whether leaders make the times, or do times make the leaders. Many claim that is was the times that made Winston Churchill. However, the true leader is made by both the times and natural abilities, though some people have a genetic disposition to leadership.

Leadership is the ability to empower others, but there are many other factors that impact the amount of influence a leader has. Anyone can become a leader but only the few become true leaders.

Power of Leadership

There have always been good and bad leaders. Israel followed Aaron in the making of a calf. David led them in the worship of Jehovah, and Hezekiah in the restoration of temple worship. Idol worshipping kings led Israel into idolatry and eventual slavery.

All this is proof that a true leader can change the moral complexion of an entire nation. Or the leader can totally corrupt. Every community is influenced by the strength or weakness of its leaders.

Major Keys

Self-confidence plays a major role in any true leader’s life. However, in Christ we do not rely on our own self-confidence alone. Our confidence is in who Christ is and our position in Him. A true follower of Christ sets their mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. Their life is hid in Christ, Col 3:3.

Humility then is the fabric of a true leader. Jesus was about to go through the utter agony of the Cross. Yet, one of His last acts for His disciples was to wash their feet, John 13:1-17. This task was usually delegated to the lowest servant in the household. However, our Lord and Saviour came not as a conqueror but as a servant.

If anyone wants to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give His life a ransom for many, Matthew 20:28.

Deterrents

Bad spiritual leadership is influenced by many factors. The greatest deterrent is the fear of man. Rather than risk public disapproval the leader is tempted to ‘sit on his or her hands’.

God calls, but the inner voice of man says, ‘I don’t want to make a fool of myself, so I’ll keep quiet’. The fear of man brings a snare, but he who trusts in the Lord will be exalted, Proverbs 29:25.

A pastor will withhold leadership through fear of losing the people and their monetary gifts. That creates an inverted kind of leadership where the lack of leadership will cause a loss of flock anyway. A pastor may also withhold leadership from others for fear of losing control. The reverse side of that coin is a ‘control freak’. This turns leadership into a dictatorship even on a small scale, based on their own insecurity.

More Deterrents

A leader who seeks to do things his way instead of doing it Christ’s way, gives rise to false leadership. Ego, pride and self-ambition are a dangerous combination and a sure way to fail as a true leader.

Such a leader gives the people only what they want to hear. A ‘man-pleaser’ who can never be a ‘God-pleaser’. Consider the writings of Paul who was no man-pleaser.

Combine man-pleasing with intellectual pride and you have the beginnings of a cult-type leadership. Such a leader takes his people into a dry desert, instead of beside still waters and green pastures.

Tried by Fire

A true spiritual leader can only take his people to the heights he has himself reached, for he has been tried by fire. You cannot lead others beyond what you experience yourself. The people will never be totally sold out to Christ unless you are totally sold out yourself. Unless you know personally the intimate presence of God.

The true leader knows that Christ is his All in All. When all things are subjected to Him, then the Son Himself also will be subjected to the One who subjected all things to Him, so the God may be All in All, 1 Corinthians 15:28. Christ is the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end, Revelation 22:12 in every area of life.

How to be a True Leader

He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers. For the equipping of the saints for the work of service to the building up of the body of Christ, Ephesians 4:11. These are the offices of the five-fold ministry.

A leader may have one particular area as their greatest strength or calling. However, Jesus ministered in the office of all five at different times. The true leader will reflect all five areas at different times in varying strengths. Different situations require a different office.

As true followers of Jesus Christ we are His light and influence in the world, Matthew 5:14-16, and the greatest treasure. We are to attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God. To a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ, Ephesians 4:13.

True Calling

We all have the privilege of being an influencer for Christ. We are to empower others to also become a true influencer in their particular sphere. A true leader is the Power of One.

The true leader will press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus…..forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead. I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus, Philippines 3:12-14. Sadly, only the few true leaders follow this calling.

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Dr. Wendy Stenberg-Tendys is a freelance writer and servant of the Lord who enjoys researching a topic and sharing words of encouragement from the Word of God.

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