Jesus was no ta servant leader article

Jesus was no ta servant leader article

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  Jesus Was NOTa Servant Leader! By the Rev. Dr. Gary W. Downing Key Point: Contrary to popular misconceptions found in some leadership resources, in place of a formula for eventual greatness, Jesus calls us to be leaders who serve primarily as His friends, without regard for personal consequences, and who willingly sacrifice human ambition even to the point of martyrdom. *************** On Sunday as I bent over to pick up another gum wrapper and a discarded bulletin in the hallway, I thought, “What it would be like to not worry about the appearance of the church building?” On Monday when I stood at the church copy machine putting together the notes for a committee leader who was too busy to prepare for that evening meeting, I wondered if this was a good use of my time. I’ve often asked, “Am I an over-paid, under-qualified custodian or secretary?” I wanted to serve, even in an unnoticeable manner, but in the back of my mind I figured God was watching and would eventually recognize and reward my willingness. I got it wrong! I honestly thought that to be a “servant leader” meant that I would one day become great if I was willing to go out of my way to serve people in my ministry. I look back and realize I worked very hard to serve them. I tried to never become a burden or barrier to anyone. If someone assigned did not set up the tables and chairs for a Board meeting, I did it. If someone dropped a candy wrapper, I picked it up. If a classroom door needed unlocked, I went out of my way to open it. I worked longer hours, did more trivial things, over-achieved in logistical support, and all the while prided myself on being a servant leader. I also thought I was serving by being a “nice guy” and avoiding conflict. I kept my convictions to myself even if I believed other people were Biblically wrong. I was obsequious at times and often became a doormat to keep the peace. I tried very hard to keep everything going smoothly. So hard, as a matter of fact, that I began to over-function to the point of exhaustion and disillusionment (all the while covering my latent resentment with assurances that one day I would be vindicated). But, I realize now, it was often at the expense of my family relationships and long-term, effective pastoral leadership. Was I leading the way Jesus would? Now, I don’t think so.
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  As we examineJesus’ earthly ministry, there are a series of examples that should cause us to pause. For instance, if we look closer at John 13:3-17, we see that beautiful model of foot washing Jesus used to teach His disciples a spiritual truth was effective because He did NOT usually wash His disciples’ feet. It was the exception that made it noteworthy! Look at other examples: Jesus asked a woman to give Him water; Jesus was sleeping in the back of the boat while others rowed; Jesus had His disciples distribute and pick up the remains of the loaves and fishes; He sent an advance group to prepare for His Passover Meal; Jesus operated on His own timetable and not that of His followers; Jesus wasn’t counted as one of the disciples group of “12;” etc. He was not, like I think of so many clergy today, mere purveyors of religious services, or “house chaplains” hoping for later vindication. We do well to pay more attention to, “The last shall be first and the first shall be last” (Matthew 19:30; 20:16; Mark 10:31; Luke 13:30). In the same way Jesus taught contrary ethics in the Beatitudes, so He is making the point that the ways of the world are in reverse priority to customary leadership patterns in His Kingdom Coming. Are we to even aspire to be first, eventually? His ironic parable (Luke 14:7-11), of the guest taking the lowest position only to be elevated to a position of honor at the table, reflects how “smart” humans are to operate. (Who doesn’t like the idea of greater honor bestowed on the self-effacing, “humble” ones who know their turn will come when other people recognize their true worth?) Is that what Jesus was really teaching? Jesus does not give us a recipe for stardom – instead He offers a precedent for martyrdom. We are to prepare to never be recognized, and possibly, to be rejected and killed as Jesus was for the sake of the Kingdom. In Mark 10:43-44 (with parallels in Mark 9:33-37, Matthew 20:26-27 and Luke 22:26-27), James and John ask for priority and pre-eminence when Jesus came into the kind of kingdom they imagined He had come to establish. In response, Jesus spoke words of admonition. You will drink the cup of sorrow and experience the baptism of death which I will undergo. You are not to be like the Gentile rulers. Rather, the one who would © GWD, 2007, ARR 2
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  become great, orbe first, in His Kingdom must become as a servant, or last in line, to receive human recognition and honor. We mistakenly think Jesus is offering here a formula for achievement. We rush to a conclusion without paying adequate attention to His main point. We fail to ask the prior question, “Are we to even aspire to human greatness in Jesus’ `Kingdom Come’?” Is our goal as followers of Jesus to pursue worldly-style positions of religious power? Or, is that very ambition inappropriate to Jesus upside-down, contrarian Kingdom? Are we leaders who serve people in order to become successful, or leaders who serve Christ sacrificially as we serve people? While the answer to this question may not make for a “successful leadership” seminar, I believe it calls us to a more Biblical model of ministry. What might that mean for a pastor or ministry leader? Jesus tells His disciples in essence, “To lead is to serve Me without regard for personal consequences and to suffer, even die for the Kingdom Coming.” So why should we aspire to leadership? Only if we are willing to allow God’s providence to place us in positions we would not humanly seek, and fates we would normally avoid! (Cf. Mark 10:38-40) Jesus words in Luke 17:7-10 [NIV] remind us, “Suppose one of you had a servant plowing or looking after the sheep. Would he say to the servant when he comes in from the field, ‘Come along now and sit down to eat’? Would he not rather say, ‘Prepare my supper, get yourself ready and wait on me while I eat and drink; after that you may eat and drink’? Would he thank the servant because he did what he was told to do? So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.’” Doing our duty is a call to lead with completely different motivations and a new set of expectations. In place of allowing the role of ministry leader to be an excuse for passivity and obsequious service, we are to be obedient agents of reconciliation and transformation (Cf. 2 Corinthians 5:17ff. Like the Apostle Paul, we are God’s fellow workers (1 Corinthians 3:5), not distributors of religious goods and services that make people feel better by serving their fallen, selfish natures (or ours) in exchange for money, security and eventual affirmation. © GWD, 2007, ARR 3
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  We are notcongregational or organizational hirelings (even if they pay us). We are to be “servants of the Gospel.” Ephesians 3:7-8 [NIV] says, “I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power. Although I am less than the least of all God’s people, this grace was given me…” In place of co-opted leadership that substitutes passive administrative maintenance for priestly and presiding ministry leadership, and “nice and safe” conflict avoidance for prophetic ministry, we are to serve as Jesus’ friends (John 15:14-16) in His mission to transform the world. That does not mean we “lord it over people,” or become as “little tin gods” (1 Peter 5:1-3, Phillips). We might still set up tables and pick up litter - but not as the household help hoping to become great. Rather, with an eternal view in mind, we are to serve Jesus first, then lead the others who share His mission, and reach out to people in real need for healing and restoration, as an expression of the high calling, purpose and ministry partnership we have been given by the Holy Spirit. This is true servant leadership. The kind that will result in our Savior saying, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant…and friend!” © GWD, 2007, ARR 4