Spiritual Leadership–So What?

[This article is part of the “spiritual leadership today” study/discussion going on this year. For all articles in the series, click the Spiritual Leadership tab at the top of the page. To have them delivered, subscribe to The Brook Letter]

A senior leader handed me a book the day I was selected to be a leader of the campus ministry at my college. He said it was required reading for all new leaders. It was called Spiritual Leadership, and the author was J. Oswald Sanders. I remember reading for the first time about sincerity, discipline, wisdom, integrity, humility, and other characteristics of spiritual leadership. Sounded both inspiring and intimidating. Sanders also wrote about the effective use of time, the art of delegation, and the costs of leadership. As I re-read Sanders now it seems slightly idealized, yet it is without question a classic, having provided a baseline for leadership for more than one generation.

The world has changed in so many ways in the last forty years since Sanders wrote. So what does spiritual leadership look like today?

The obvious place to begin is with the question: just what is “spiritual leadership”? I’ve found different authorities using slightly different concepts, but they all agree that spiritual leadership, in contrast with leadership in general, draws upon the power and purposes of God. That is easy to say, but not always lived out.

It is simple for Christian leaders to go about the business of exerting influence toward certain goals, and to do it “in the name of Christ,” but that is not the same thing as leadership that truly draws upon the mysterious power and movement of God. Leadership that knows when to go and when to wait. Leadership that cuts against conventional wisdom when that is contradicted by the wisdom from above.

A mountain of books have been written on leadership, and they have this common denominator: leadership means influence. The distinctive of spiritual leadership is that it assumes that God is the only true transforming influence, and that our role as leaders is to be God’s instruments in the work he wants to do in the world.

If that seems to us to go without saying, we should be careful. Usually the things that go without saying need to be said. And said again. And again.

In leadership we deal with matters of power, authority, and truth. In the 21st century, however, people are understandably leery of power (because it often takes the form of manipulation), authority (because of all the authoritarian controllers out there), and truth (because some people see truth as their personal possession). There is a fine line between the use and abuse of the role of leadership in nations, corporations, and even Christian churches and organizations. Yet, when we look at the first generation of Christian leaders, they definitely pursued the mission Jesus left them with power, authority, and truth. So how do we prevent their corruption? And how do we make sure that even as we use the word “spiritual,” we don’t have an attitude of privilege, superiority, or elitism.

Spiritual leadership means helping people come under the transforming influence of God. But it also means dealing with people as the spiritual creatures that they are. Secular leadership can look like herding cattle, but spiritual leadership must address matters of the spirit. The theology of the Imago Dei will help us here. Human beings are made “in the image of God.” In the Genesis account, only humans are made “in the image.” This is the foundation of our dignity and worth. Like God, humans are capable of being relational, self-aware, creative, moral, rational, deliberative. Sin has tarnished that image at every level, yet this is what we are to be. Spiritual leadership, in other words, recognizes the essential spiritual nature of human beings, and pursues objectives that line up with the Genesis intent. Creation, fall, redemption, and restoration is the great arc of history. And God’s leadership call places on business leaders, community leaders, educators, church leaders, parents, and other kinds of leaders the onus of following that arc.

I find myself thinking a lot about the specific ways in which this world would be different if Christian leaders of all sorts saw their calling in these terms. The consequences would be enormous.

Some of my colleagues and I have been laying the groundwork in recent months for a year-long study and discussion of spiritual leadership today. I have asked leaders I know from many walks of life to share their experience and wisdom. Once a week The Brook Letter will focus on this theme, including a bit of writing, interviews, surveys, and other places where you, and leaders you know, can join in the discussion. We will be actively pursuing the insights of leaders from all walks of life, from different generations, and from different parts of the world.

This is the perspective I’m starting with on this.

So how do you think things would be different if we restored our baseline of spiritual leadership? And what are some of the practical issues you think we need to deal with in spiritual leadership today?

(Comment below.)

58 thoughts on “Spiritual Leadership–So What?”

  1. Right now as we speak my ministry team is being transformed by the healing powers of God. We have had a lot of attacks on us this last year by church members that were former leaders in our ministry. In this church if God calls someone to lead – then they get attacked. I have never seen anything like it at any church I have ever served at. Thank you for this article that I can share with our church leaders. Get them coming!

    1. Jo – Thanks for sharing this. It is a sad fact that “friendly fire” is a reality in Christian organizations. And why do we call it “friendly fire” anyway? Not friendly at all.

  2. I remember how much Joe Stowell’s book – Following Christ, impacted me the first time I went through it. Spiritual leadership begins and ends with our “followership”. As leaders, we must first, and always, follow our Savior and Lord.

  3. I am very grateful for the call to follow the arc in all areas of relationship and influence. Thank you for expressing it so clearly.

  4. We often tie leadership to power, direction, and influence today. The Scripture uses the image of the Shepherd and under-Shepherd. Leadership in this sense involves protection and caring, what Jesus called elsewhere service. It knows where it should go and where the dangers are and it leads in that direction. Leaders who lead well and gain respect are then followed. Under-shpherds also know how to follow. They follow The Leader. In doing that, the authority they reflect shoudl be that of Jesus, the only one worth following.

  5. Spiritual leadership would help establish a North Star so to speak for not only the people who come to church but those in the community as well. It would say here is a mark that we need to reach to minister effectively and to witness effectively. We are to let our light so shine that men will see Christ in us. Where does that light come from for the Christian leader except it be Christ. Let’s pray that our younger generation catches a glimmer of that light form those of us who serve in the churches across America. Our third world brothers who serve in the ministry are doing a much better job of that than I am. Thank you for the thoughts.

    1. Ray – Like the North Star analogy. And I agree 100% on what we have to learn from our friends in the majority world. Thanks for commenting.

  6. I believe this is going to prove to be a very valuable series for readers/leaders. Thanks for taking the time to work on this. I look forward to future submissions.

  7. This leadership you are talking about means being open and honest before God. To learn what is needed to lead in these times requires humility. We are in need of a new “anointing” for a new task. Without God’s leading and our listening we will never be truly successful.

  8. God bless you (all) Jo… May He strengthen you, lead you in His providence and by His wisdom, that you may lead and strengthen others; deliver you from the destroyer and discourager…that you may know Him as Lord and that He will be glorified…

  9. Thanks for doing this series. I like what you said, “And God’s leadership call places on business leaders, community leaders, educators, church leaders, parents, and other kinds of leaders the onus of following that arc.

    I find myself thinking a lot about the specific ways in which this world would be different if Christian leaders of all sorts saw their calling in these terms. The consequences would be enormous.”

    Spiritual leadership is not only needed in the church but as we follow Christ in the walk of life God has called us to we will unveil God’s glory to world which is desperately seeking to fill the emptiness that the brokenness has brought.

  10. Dr. Bock’s comment certainly resonates! “Leadership in this sense involves protection and caring, what Jesus called elsewhere service.” It has been my experience that those who approach their leaders do so because they are in need of some sort of care. In some way their own sufficiency has been found wanting, and they are now forced to seek a greater sufficiency than that which they possess. These are, of course, exactly the type of opportunities to minister that we all long for; but in order to facilitate the occurrences, we must be seen as approachable. We would do well to be aware of the presence we create. As we enter a room does our presence proclaim with a trumpet blast “Ta Da! Here I am!” or warmly invite–“Ah, there YOU are.”?

  11. Spiritual Leadership was the first book I read on this topic while in college as well. Made me smile to think of how this all began and what God is continuing to teach and mature in me on this relevant and crucial topic for the church today. Looking forward to being shaped by the Word, the community and prayer through this series. Many blessings!

    1. So you’re at Carroll University now in student ministry, Amy, and that was where I was given the Sanders book when I was 19 years old. How interesting! Thanks for the comment.

  12. I was helped by the reminder that the use of the word “spiritual” in front of “leadership” is prone to the danger of elitism. My own leadership journey resonated with this caution. I have been encouraged by the truth that believers have the indwelling Holy Spirit guiding and aiding us in all that we do. Whether our assignment is to lead through business, strategy, staffing, intercession, teaching or anything else, it is all spiritual work if it is done in step with the Spirit and shaped by the community of believers. I have seen members of the body who are business, process and strategy-minded discounted and diminished because their contributions appear “worldly”. I fear we miss the whole voice and will of God if we keep “spiritual” in a narrow box. Thanks for these important reminders, Mel.

  13. Thanks for expanding on that, Jenny. I’m reminded of Paul’s comment about the divisions in the church of Corinth in which some said: “I follow Paul”; another, “I follow Apollos”; another, “I follow Cephas’”. And then there were the super-spiritual people who said “I follow Christ.” I don’t know, maybe they weren’t elitist, but it seems Paul was intimating that.

  14. Far too long we have equated being a spiritual leader with a position or title in a church. When you were then “outside” the church, performing your secular job, you were then a leader, not spiritual leader. Being a spiritual leader flows out of one’s relationship with Jesus Himself. In 1 Kings 17, Elijah is introduced as a spokesperson for God as Elijah the Tishbite. At the end of that chapter after God worked on who Elijah was, breaking, humbling and reshaping him, the widow called him a man of God. Spiritual transformation occured in Elijah’s life and that can occur in any believer. Then a believer in any walk in life can be a spiritual leader impacting and influencing their world for Christ. Thanks for your insight, Mel.

    1. Mike, this note is coming through loudly and clearly from a number of comments: we can’t trap “spiritual leadership” in the church. What a powerful thing it will be if we can be more affirming of Christian leaders who exercise forms of spiritual leadership in society, in the marketplace, etc. Thanks for the focus.

  15. Mel, I appreciate your approach and posture, and I’m excited to see what spins out of these conversations! As I read this piece I thought about how important it will be to frame this conversation with a wide range of leaders, rather than always having the majority voices setting the rules and asking others to join in. I wrote this a while back for the context of youth ministry, yet I think it applies to many contexts. Spiritual Leadership “transformation” will require all of us to be wiling to change and question our own assumptions…

    YM must witness minority voices leading majority voices (not vice versa)

    The majority voices in youth ministry must commit to follow, learn from, and respond to the minority voices in the conversation. While we are seeing broader representation in youth ministry, most of the channels are still predominantly male and Eurocentric (like this writer). This leaves youth ministry at a huge disadvantage for understanding and interacting our wonderfully diverse world.

    What won’t help is the majority culture continuing to frame the conversations and inviting token voices to comment. We need a greater learning posture toward racial, gender, and sexual minority voices that can help us understand the issues before we attempt to solve them. Our inability to do this will leave us with no voice as the conversation moves to other venues with more representation and better appreciation.

    While we nod in agreement, follow-through will be difficult for two reasons. First, the majority culture must give up power and control to make room for diverse voices. Giving up control is very hard. Second, space for more and diverse dialogue challenges all to change. It means holding our beliefs and practices loosely, trusting that together, we can find a new, creative, representative way to live out the narrative in our contexts. People are afraid to change. Those that are truly willing to give up control and change will move the conversation forward and be moved themselves.

    1. Appreciate the word about being “willing to change and question our own assumptions,” Steve. I hope we can get into the question of how we discover what our assumptions are. With limited self-awareness, it is unlikely we will adapt and change. Do we learn about our own assumptions by being exposed to leaders in other contexts, or from times of difficulty? Other ways?

  16. Leadership can really only best take place in the context of relationship. People who are leaders come and go, rise and fall, elevate and deflate; this can only be understood and appreciated in the context of a relationship that overcomes failure and adversity. So many “well-known” leaders present a sense of invincibility that their ability to “relate” is lost on the person who struggles to make every day meaningful. Ministry must be on a personal level and ministry is what makes leadership possible.

    1. Your the only one to raise this point so far, Charles. Thanks for the reminder. When we get more into the theology of the image of God (which includes the relational nature of God, and of us), we’ll spend some time focusing on what relationship means for leadership.

  17. Mel, thanks for prompting the conversation.

    First and foremost, I believe, spiritual leadership means following our ‘head’, who is Christ. As you mentioned, we are all ‘under-shepherds’ in pursuit of the Great Shepherd, and so we must be under-shepherds who hear the voice of the shepherd as sheep. Our goal is not that the sheep hear our voice, but His voice in how we lead as well as where we lead.

    You wrote: “Spiritual leadership means helping people come under the transforming influence of God. But it also means dealing with people as the spiritual creatures that they are.” Absolutely on both fronts! Often, leaders in ministry will affirm the first statement, and then act as if the second statement has no bearing. If we truly believe that spiritual leadership means approaching people with care and awe as spiritual beings, then we would, I think, do many things differently.

    Eugene Peterson’s series on spiritual theology has been helpful for me on that last note, particularly The Jesus Way. In that book, he emphasizes the importance of living life with God not just with the goal that Jesus had – union with the Father – but in the way that Jesus lived His life. Is our leadership characterized by the fruits of the Spirit’s presence in our lives or are we putting people into our ministry plans like cogs in a machine?

    1. Matt, it does seem strange that we should split the two issues: acknowledging God’s transforming influence, but then treating people as less than spiritual beings. And thanks for highlighting Eugene Peterson’s The Jesus Way. I am halfway through the audio version of it. Fantastic book. Peterson’s memoir releases in a few weeks. All being well, we should be doing a Faith Conversations interview with him about it. Really looking forward to that. Keep it coming, Matt, and let us know what you’re learning at Eastbrook Church.

  18. A time of risks and dangers: Acts 14:8-18 says, “Now when the people saw what Paul had done, they raised their voices, saying…‘The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!’ And Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul, Hermes…”

    In Lystra a miracle takes place that leaves the crowd shocked: there was a paralytic, who was born lame, and who had never walked. Paul orders him, in a loud voice, “Stand up straight on your feet!” The result of this miracle was that they treated the servants of God as gods. Paul and Barnabas tell them that they are only men, and that the people must return to God. With these arguments, they are able to dissuade the crowd.
    The danger and risk that they ran in those days is the same that we have today. What happens is that people try to transfer their admiration and adoration that only belongs to God to the people that God has sent as messengers. The problem can be even greater if we stimulate these feelings. There are times in the life of the church when little empires are built. They attract followers of people or institutions, but not of Jesus Christ.

  19. Thanks for getting this going. Looking forward to this series. Our pastors study group just finished an excellent book which doea address these issues. It is from an unlikely source Henri Nowen. In The Name of Jesus. Excellent resource. Again thanks for this series.

  20. George Papachristou

    Your statement describing leadership that “knows when to go and when to wait” really struck home. It is part of the ongoing effort all believers must work at, that of knowing and discerning the will of God. Something that requires great patience and practice in a world that often demands immediate answers.
    Thanks for doing this!

  21. From Latin America: Thanks for doing this series Mel and I appreciate your posture. Many times churches or leadership live a miserable fight for power, loving power instead of the power of love. Other times functionality has distanced them from Biblical principles. They search for results where people are valued for what they produce in their jobs in the least amount of time. This type of theology of productivity is affecting and creating a prejudice in the formation of pastors, missionaries, etc. It tries to train them in the least amount of time possible. Ministerial success shows results and not a life of humility. The act of allowing Christ to grow, where we are invisible, doesn’t enter in this type of life. This type of living causes competition that demands production. Competition distances churches-leadership, and creates jealousy within itself. The unity of the body of Christ is affected by this structure. The consequences are seen: pressure and tension lived in the churches, pastors, missionaries, etc. This can grow to create a secular and mundane environment.

    We are not called to form business stereotypes based on utilitarianism, mercantilism and of numbers. Multiplication, numbers and percentages are not synonymous with transformation. We must not sacrifice the demands of the gospel on the altar of numbers. We are living in times that seem like some churches have clients, and like businesses, they are always right. It is the clients that are always content and are the center of everything. We from Latin America want to encourage people to break these productivity schemes and think in kingdom terms. We want to encourage them to preach the Word of God and give a message that leaves us uncomfortable, causing us to examine our walk with Christ. The concept of success for Jesus was: “Father, I’ve done everything you told me to do.” The results are random. Denying ourselves, knowing Jesus Christ and being like Him in His death is transforming power (Philippians 3:10).

    1. Good to hear from Latin America, Carlos. You’ve got some explosive words in there: miserable fight, competition, jealousy, pressure, tension, mundane, etc. How we all wish those things were never true in Christian circles. I really hope we hear from you leaders in Latin America in the months to come.

  22. This will be a great discussion. I think it is appropriate to borrow as much wisdom as we can from on leadership from non-church organisations. But I also think we need to be clear on the distinct nature of spiritual leadership. I have many unanswered questions on this matter so I will be looking forward to seeing this process unfold.

    1. Good to hear from Australia, Matt. Sometime later maybe you could spell out some of your “unanswered questions on this matter.”

  23. I have been anxiously awaiting a series on leadership and am encouraged you have recognized the spiritual leadership footprint includes those of us who serve as leaders in business, education and the community. You noted the distinctive of spiritual leadership is that it assumes God is the only true transforming influence, and that our role as leaders is to be God’s instruments in the work he wants to do in the world. How true that is yet sometimes challenging to simply let God “lead us as leaders”. I think, externally – we recognize we are capable of being relational, rational and self-aware of how our actions and words impact others but we struggle internally with who and what we allow to influence us. It is this internal struggle that causes many leaders to question their leadership calling and at times unintentially pull away from the foundational characteristics of integrity, humilty, sincerity, discipline and wisdom. Practically, how do we translate this to staying to true to our beliefs and be effective leaders in a demanding, competitive, world? I am looking forward to this journey and drawing on the insights, wisdom and strength of others through this process to be a more christ-like leader. Thank you devoting time and focus on this topic.

    1. Thanks for the thoughts, Cindy. Your way of reframing the central issues is very helpful. And, like others, you’ve highlighted the fact that we have not affirmed that spiritual leadership applies in many contexts: business, education, community, etc.

  24. Well, day one of this discussion and study of “spiritual leadership today,” which will stretch out over the next year, is done, and I am truly grateful for the many comments that have come through so far. Biggest takeaway for me so far: the number of folks who have said that they believe it is important to extend “spiritual leadership” outside the specific activities of the church. Just think of the untapped potential in the thousands of leaders out there in education, community leadership, business, parenting, and elsewhere, who need to be encouraged as spiritual leaders. I hope in the months to come that we can unpack that in some detail.

  25. I think if we restored spiritual leadership, we would see a dramatic contrast between the world and the Church. I think risk would be a term to describe christians, instead of financial portfolios.

    as for practical issues: find creative ways to give roles of responsibility to every christian, because we see that they are all made in the image of God. My passion is a gift from God primarily, but older christians encouraged me to use it by giving me “ownership” in ministry. The question wasn’t “how you can help us complete this program” it was, “how can you make this program better?”

  26. I like the basic foundation of connecting spiritual leadership and the mysterious power and movement of God. It would seem to me that if one does not begin here, one does not have spiritual leadership at all. And to begin here, I would think, would require a priority of alone time with God- both in prayer and the scriptures daily. And this alone time with God ought to take priority over everything else one would do. I know that Charles Spurgeon, before he preached, spent three hours alone with God in prayer; that just covered his preaching. Unless we slow down and make communion with God a priority – over all else – including our schedules- how would we ever expect to be a spiritual leader? If we spent more time in prayer, everything else would fall into place.

  27. William R Ellefson (Bill)

    Hello Mel:

    This is explosvice material.

    I have been sitting here absorbing your words and am anxious to read more together with the comments and further input.

    By explosive I mean within and outside the church doors. When, not if, this catches on by God’s Spirit moving among us just sit back and imagine the outcome. We forget how simple it can be for every Christian to be a cold drink of water to all of those around us no matter who they may be, very convcting. A most welcome topic Pastor.

    Thank you.

  28. In your article you stated “I find myself thinking a lot about the specific ways in which this world would be different if Christian leaders of all sorts saw their calling in these terms. The consequences would be enormous.” I personally have felt the enormous consequences since 2009 when I resigned from a secular leadership position that I held for the past 17 years and lost the lion’s share of our family income. I was a passionate spiritual leader-I always tried to measure my decisions with God’s word. In the aftermath of a company reorganization I suddenly found myself a lone “Christian” leader on a management team that operated contrary to almost every Christian value I hold dear. After several months of disagreements and terribly uncomfortable situations I resigned when I was forced to compromise my beliefs to uphold the appearance of a united management team. I realize your statement was most likely speaking to the enormous positive response if Christian leaders would have a greater infiltration of all vocations but I am hoping you will address the tough situations these leaders may face when exercising their spiritual beliefs in the workplace. I am not an expert but assume the challenges might differ from those within a Christian organization. I look forward to your series and hope to gain some insight and wisdom I might apply in the next position I hold!

  29. I’m glad you put this issue on the table, Sue. We certainly will have to address the battle that spiritual leadership sometimes is. The clash of values in the workplace is a reality, and oftentimes is the place where spiritual leadership is tested. You’ve had to make tough choices. I hope people will take from your comment the sober reality of what we face. Thanks for taking the time to comment, and I pray that the path forward to a new position happens in the right way and at the right time.

  30. Thanks Mel for this conversation. I particularly appreciate your beginning point–the Imago Dei. I wonder if the arc we are supposed to follow as spiritual leaders often goes in misguided directions because we start conversations about leadership in the wrong place. Instead of beginning the conversation in Genesis 1-2 which reinforce human dignity, all too often we seem to begin in Genesis 3, which reinforces human depravity. When we ignore the issue of human dignity our practice of leadership easily becomes manipulative, coercive and most of all unspiritual. Thanks for this stimulating reminder!

  31. I too was given Oswald Sanders’ book at the beginning of my ministry. I loved it! I remember having the sense that it was not just a good book, but a great book. Not because of what the book said or any particular chapter or lesson, but because of who gave me the book. A spiritual leader in my life whom I looked to as a mentor. I trusted this person as I saw them trust the Lord with their life and ministry. When I got the book, I immediately read it cover to cover.

    For spiritual leadership to work, there must be an environment of trust. If trust isn’t present, any good intention or desire to care for another person will be seen with suspicion.

    1. Thanks, Josh, for the comments about trust. It certainly is a make-or-break issue. In the weeks to come we’ll have to get into the matter of how trust is built.

      I’m also noting how many people were given the Sanders book as a kind of touchpoint. Reminds me of when I was given a compass for the first time.

  32. In an attempt to keep my last comment brief I just realized I left out the most important part of the whole story! 8 months after I left my job I started to lose heart and was almost convinced that all my years of “spiritual leadership” had no impact on the people I led. Within 24 hours of the conception of that thought I ran into an employee from my former company. She had absolutely no knowledge of my state of mind or current situation. She said she had meant to talk to me because she heard so many positive things said about me since I had left and wanted me to know that even after all the time that had past I was still influencing the people I worked with. She cited several examples, each one a healing balm. God used this woman to speak to me in very specific terms that my time had not been wasted and my attempts to serve were not futile. So when you asked what practical issue we need to deal with I would have to suggest the topic of encouragement. It is critical that we not only encourage those we lead but also one another as spiritual leaders. It can get pretty lonely out there.

  33. Sue – I can relate to your experience from several different angles – but let me pick just one for now – the delayed encouragement from a former co-worker/employee/supevisor in the secular world. My observation is that people don’t actually see or appreciate what they have in their midst when a spiritual leader is part of the workforce; however, when the spiritual leader is gone, the hole left in the social fabric quickly becomes obvious and significant.

    The lessons learned can actually become more important to those “left behind” – the differences made by the spiritual leader may become the inspiration for real change on the part of others.

    The encouragement and validation for the spiritual leader is important, when we get the blessing of having someone share with us “the rest of the story”. But, we don’t always get to hear that part of the story – and believing that we DID do some good, even when the (superficial?) evidence says otherwise, may be one of the biggest challenges for spiritual leaders, regardless of whether we are talking about the secular world or not.

  34. Sue – thanks for the follow-up comment. It is so great when someone with the gift of encouragement lets us know that our efforts are not in vain, even when they seem to be. It is so important that we try to do the right thing, even if the acknowledgment isn’t there immediately. And maybe we never will be acknowledged. But God knows. Anyone tuning into this–please give the gift of encouraging words as often as you can (authentically).

  35. I like the power of God. It is so good. The power of God is His love, which is stronger than death.

    “for love is as strong as death, its jealousy unyielding as the grave. It burns like a blazing fire, like a mighty flame [like the very flame of the LORD].” Song of Songs 8:6

    It is as we draw near to God that His love burns away the things in us that are not of Him, and we become more like Him. It is as we draw near to God in dependence and adoration that the power of God is released in and through us.

  36. Bayelgne Tesfaye

    I have leadership potential, so I would like to develop that. Please send me any resource. God bless your activity. BAY

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