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Christianity Today, November (Web-only), 2008 |

SoulWork

The Leadership Cult

Why are we fascinated with the very thing Jesus warned us against?

Mark Galli | posted 11/13/2008 09:33AM

Not a week goes by before another leadership book or three crosses my desk. In a pile of recent church books sitting in front of me sits The Soul of a Leader, The Leadership Dynamic, and Strengthening ...

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Tom	Posted: November 18, 2008 9:28 AM

Excellent article. Long before the disciples became leaders, Jesus taught them to serve. I think it is hard to find "leadership" lessons in the Gospels. There are numerous "followship" lessons. Those early followers under the anointing of the Holy Spirit started a movement. Today's leaders build great organizations but I have not seen a recent movement of multiplying disciples. Perhaps we need to change our aspirations.

Chris

Posted: November 17, 2008 11:21 AM

I am an officer in the US Army with over 16 years of service now, so I believe I am qualified to comment on leadership. I whole heartly agree with Mr. Galli's article! I often see Christians treat the Church as just another organization. In large churches the lead pastor is about leading the leaders. Matt 20:27 says ". . . and whoever wants to be first must be your slave — just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." My job is all about leading, I have lead Soldiers at many levels, but those Christians who have made the most impact on my life have been Servants. They are not the powerful people who make decisions, they are the ones who will get down on their hands and knees and scrub the toilets because it needs to be done. They don't seek praise and they don't look for a pat on the back to know they are doing God's work. We don't need more leaders in the Church we need more Servants! God bless you and thank you.

Barth

Posted: November 17, 2008 9:58 AM


I could be wrong but isn't all of this fixation on leadership originating from 'market driven churches' where the pastor is a CEO?

tekton

Posted: November 16, 2008 2:24 PM

This article opened my eyes to a distinction between leadership and ministering. My pastor changed his title to "Lead Pastor" and is earning a PhD in "Leadership." Yet when my wife's mother died, he did not make a phone call and attempt to offer comfort or solace. She needed to hear, "I grieve with you. God knows your sorrow." Our pastor is an excellent man, intelligent and articulate, a very strong administrator. I would even say he is a Godly man, especially as he tries to move the church forward. His efforts are often program-based and the result of surveys, leadership meetings, etc. which certainly have their place. But if I were in a state of spiritual angst, I would not look to him to function as a "minister" or counselor for deep needs. I am not sure to whom I would turn, but I do know that it is not "leadership" that I would need.

Mike Zook

Posted: November 15, 2008 5:37 PM

Why is that whenever someone is critical that they MUST have their own "demons" that they can't control. Why can't Mr. Galli simply be a well adjusted individual that does NOT have any damage in his life from poor leaders (which I doubt since we all follow a few buffoons)? It seems that whenever there is a bit of prophetic tone in anyones words, the easy thing to do is rebuttal, through stones and make false accusations about this author. Why? It makes us feel good about our own disconnected reality of the topic. Ironically Drifter you are doing the very thing you are not happy with Mr. Galli doing. Have a critical and valid point of view. Nice article Mark! I think you nailed it.

Brent Vermillion

Posted: November 15, 2008 5:01 PM


Of course the church needs leaders and leadership training and empowerment but for what cause? To love and serve God and thereby love and serve others. Church leaders need to be appropriately authoritative and service oriented in order to empower their congregations to be ministers of reconciliation in their communities and around the world.

Rick in KC

Posted: November 14, 2008 5:31 PM

Something feels funny about this article. I agree with the premise, that we are often attracted to leadership for less-than-servant-oriented purposes. However, I think it's a stretch (and maybe even a slam) to say that the "unbelieving world looks at the church and sees another Disney Institute." Many new (and existing) churches these days are working hard to redefine their purpose in light of serving Jesus by serving one another, their communities and the world. Again, good premise, good warning; but a reach on the conclusion. Of course, that's just one leader's opinion.

trisha

Posted: November 14, 2008 2:31 PM

We were in a church as described by Mark. It was an awesome church in many ways, empowered young adults, women freed in ministry, many ministries to the poor. But they were obssessed with leadership. The senior pastor spent all his focus on young men with "leadership potential", the women leaders virtually had a "club" and lucky were you if you were invited to join their club. The focus of the leadership was completely and totally on raising leaders. Ordinarly normal families were excluded from the "blessing" of the church leadership because they were not in the leadership mode. Maybe we need a sabbatical from leadership and more of a rest to hear God's direction

libereco

Posted: November 14, 2008 1:16 PM


GREAT ARTICLE... until "We certainly need leaders who wisely exercise authority among us." No, we don't ! What we need is community, not authority. All authority in heaven and on earth was given to Jesus (Mat 28:18). no human being should have authority over any other human being.

Bruce C. E. Fleming

Posted: November 14, 2008 12:59 PM


Some criticized the title of my 2005 book: Familiar 'Leadership' Heresies Uncovered by Bruce C. E. Fleming, Wipf and Stock publishers. I had to use quotation marks in the tile to indicate my unease with even using the word. http://wipfandstock.com/store/Familiar_Leadership_Heresies_Uncovered

simon

Posted: November 14, 2008 12:01 PM

i loved the article. there is alot of truth in it. i have seen many pastors today that seem to thrive on the power. My problem is not men having authority, it`s the unbiblical guidelines that are followed. paul went anointing elders in the churches {read Titus chp 1}. He even said in 1 Timothy 3:1 "This is a true saying, if a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work". The problem is that we have leaders that 1- They are not qualified read 1Timothy 3 & Titus 1 2- They don`t have a SERVANT`s heart

Daniel Rickett

Posted: November 14, 2008 10:27 AM

At one point in my missionary carrier I accepted a position as professor of leadership, a strange job for one who avoided the leadership fad like the flue. In preparation I found that the best literature on leadership has nothing to do with leadership. The best examples of leadership never wrote a book on the subject. The best training for leadership is in the crucible of suffering for the benefit of others. In the Scriptures I found two things about leadership. Leadership is a gift God gives to good “men” and bad, to the wise and foolish. Regardless of one’s disposition the purpose of leadership is to justice. It seems to me a better understanding of the biblical view of leadership would thin the ranks of aspiring leaders.

Arch	Posted: November 14, 2008 9:51 AM

Thanks for the article. I've been a full-time pastor/missionary/pastor for over 34 years. In three decades, "trends" come and go, books are published and later sold at discounts, seminars and "must do" trainings have been in abundance. In the end, what concerns me the most is what the Bible says. It's true, we north americans struggle with this. But re. a previous post about other cultural leadership--well, in my experience, some of those "strong" leaders maybe could have done well with a good dose of biblical humility themselves. The message of the Word is trans-cultural. What was good for the 12 apostles remains good for all of us who follow our callings and who desire only what He desires for us.

darren

Posted: November 14, 2008 6:36 AM


yes! and it's interesting how much this accommodation to "lording it over others" translates into evangelical perceptions of politics. ooooh, that's scary, should we take the next logical step and go there?

emp	Posted: November 14, 2008 4:16 AM

Thanks for this excellent article, Mark. It was a timely reminder for me, as i prepare to take up appointment of a christian ministry as the "Managing Director". I have been grappeling with how to lead in a godly way, including to change the dynamic of the relationship between the MD and staff, which i see as having been unhealthy and (almost) unbiblical. In my quest, i have also been reading lots of leadership books...and this article has helped me balance off against the emphasis of some of those. I need to remember to be a servant of all....not to be great, but to lead like Jesus! THANKS. God bless you.

Mary Doerflein

Posted: November 14, 2008 2:46 AM


A five star article!

Ephrem Hagos

Posted: November 14, 2008 12:41 AM


There is the Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ, with life to give out in all its fulness. And then there are the thieves and robbers who come to steal, kill and destroy (John 10: 7-18). Do you have any doubts as to who the other leaders are? The two are incompatible!

Mick	Posted: November 13, 2008 11:32 PM

I agree wholeheartedly. Not many church 'leaders' these days seem to follow the example of Jesus, whose response to knowing that "the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God" (John 13:3) was to wrap a towel around his waist and wash his disciples grubby feet, thus positioning himself as the lowest of servants. It's unfortunate that in so many ways the modern church seems to be intent on imitating rather than challenging and subverting worldly models.

Mark Galli

Posted: November 13, 2008 10:50 PM

I appreciate the comments. The only one that needs a response is Drifter's. You are right to point out that many leaders in the church are godly men and women who humbly exercise their leadership gifts. I don't think many leaders I know are anything but sincere. I just think that, in general, we make much more of leadership than Jesus thinks is healthy. And as for my own demons--well, as you guessed, they are too many to count. But I don't think that takes away from my larger point here.

A.K.	Posted: November 13, 2008 9:38 PM

I like this article. It raises an important issue that I don't think will matter much in the future. I have a leadership degree and if my husband loses his job, I'll probably get a job washing floors. I say this to reinforce what Galen says, I have not seen much as for real empowerment of the sheep. Much is based on exploiting the fervent impetus of new believers into volunteerism, under the enticement of learning "leadership" skills, and then the leaders-that-be continue the work of reinforcing their own positions in the cult.

lori	Posted: November 13, 2008 8:28 PM

Thank you Mr. Galli! I first noted this tendency to glorify leadership 17 years ago when my husband and I were celebrating our daughter's first birthday. Close friends of ours were with us, and as we watched the two one-year old girls fist deep in chocolate birthday cake, I was surprised to hear the friends say "All we pray is for her to be a leader." Very odd, coming as THE wish at a birthday party!You voiced my opinions more thoroughly and much more eloquently than I could have! Insightful. Bless you! True. True. True. Unfortunate, but true. If everyone's a "leader" who are the followers?

t.	Posted: November 13, 2008 6:10 PM

This article sparked debate so that gets it 5stars. But I will also give a Rhema testimony about a prayer session. I was working as a cleaner emptying trash while undergoing discipleship studies and I foolishly and immaturely asked God would he empty the trash in heaven? And he said he would! Few leaders really get the foot-washing "ritual" Jesus instituted and have turned it into a fantasy. Too few get the "take up your cross" doctrine and have also turned it into a fantasy. It is time a few leaders died to their flesh and scrubbed some floors as their main internship practice. No wonder Galli compares Christianity to Disney. It's all fantasia and not a speck of what Jesus taught about leadership. Jesus gathered the disciples around and said, “If any one would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.” Paul writes: "in humility consider others better than yourselves": He does not write that you must consider others as equals, but says they're to be seen as better than you.

TR	Posted: November 13, 2008 5:24 PM

Thank God women are in leadership??? In case you didn't notice, this is a brand new social experiment of women in leadership. Through thousands of years of history, with the Bible's approval, men have been public leaders. So we have our secular society with women leaders and somehow that is a clear thing to thank God for?? If you asked St. Paul about a woman being president do you think he would consider that or laugh in your face? God does not change, just our human whims change, but apparently that is not worth reflecting upon. Is 3 11 Woe to the wicked! Disaster is upon them! They will be paid back for what their hands have done. 12 Youths oppress my people, women rule over them. O my people, your guides lead you astray; they turn you from the path.

Ted Voth Jr

Posted: November 13, 2008 5:08 PM

When I started trying to walk the Walk, the Lord led me and my then-wife to a warm, lively, loving little free Pentecostal congregation. I was in the bathroom in the church building one day when the pastor walked in; he noticed that someone had left a mess, crumpled paper towels all over and water all splashed around. So He picked up, dried up, straightened out the mess. The Lord said to me 'Did you see that, Ted?' I said 'Yes, Lord.' That's how I learned early on in my Walk the joy of serving! It's a real trip! I recommend it highly! 'Even as the Son of Man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.' Mt 20:28 and Mark 10:45

Christina Archer

Posted: November 13, 2008 4:36 PM


Thank you for wmpasising the 'servanthood' all of us are commanded to be servants. Nobody aspires to this, yet all have to serve. Does leadership consist of helping others, or by getting others to do what you think to be best? That is a question we must ask ourselves. I enjoy leading, but usually that is my ego that feels the 'glory'.

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