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Q. How does spiritual leadership differ from leadership in general?

A. It involves many of the same principles, but has several distinctive elements:

The spiritual leader's task is to move people from where they are to where God wants them to be. Once spiritual leaders understand God's will, they make every effort, by persuasion and example, to move their followers from following their own agendas to pursuing God's purposes.

Spiritual leaders work within a paradox, since God calls them to do something that, in fact, only He can do. Ultimately, spiritual leaders can't produce spiritual change in people; only the Holy Spirit can accomplish this. Yet the Spirit often uses people to bring about spiritual growth in others.

So spiritual leaders must work from God's agenda. Too often, leaders assume that they're responsible to determine what should be done. They develop aggressive goals, then pray and ask God to join them in their agenda and to bless their efforts. That's not what spiritual leaders do. Spiritual leaders seek God's will, whether it is for their church or for their corporation; then marshal their people to pursue God's plan.

What is a special requirement of spiritual leadership?

An acute sense of accountability to God. Leaders don't blame their followers when they don't do what they should do. Leaders don't make excuses. They assume their responsibility is to move people to do God's will. Until they do this, they haven't yet fulfilled their role as leaders.

Henry Blackaby, with his son Richard, is co-author of Spiritual Leadership.

Adapted from: Spiritual Leadership (Broadman & Holman, 2001) by permission.

Copyright © 2002 by the author or Christianity Today International/Men of Integrity magazine.
Click here for reprint information on Men of Integrity.

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Thank you, Lord, for men I know who demonstrate godly leadership. Help me to be more like them.

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