Approaches to Leadership: Biblical and Secular Perspectives
While there are several different approaches to both the secular and biblical leadership models, in this post, I will focus on what I believe are the two greatest chasms between them.
Goals in Leadership
The first division is the difference in goals between secular and biblical leadership approaches. While the secular approach may reflect various goals, the biblical model’s ultimate goal is glorifying God in all we do (see 1 Corinthians 10:31). In The Three-Dimensional Leader, the authors remind us that the goal of many secular leadership models reflects a “power-hungry and pompous” attitude.[1] The Christian leadership model, on the other hand, sees ourselves as servants who represent God well while serving others.
Chelsea Kight said, “Christian [leadership] is about more than self-improvement or personal development. It’s about helping people become more and more like another person, and that person is Jesus.”[2] Or, to put it another way, “True Christian leadership is all about kneeling to wash feet…”[3] It’s not about moving up in the success chain but being faithful to one’s Lord and Savior.[4] As believers, we do not just represent ourselves, our company, or our ministry. We represent Christ to a world that is watching and desperately needs to see Him in us![5]
This goal of glorifying God in leadership is reflected in David's life. When faced with the Philistines' blasphemies as a shepherd boy, David’s zeal was for God's glory, not self-aggrandizement.[6] As a result, he stood up and led, while those who should have been leading did nothing. He glorified God and led a great victory against Goliath and the Philistines that day.
Character in Leadership
A second distinction between the secular and biblical leadership models is that character is more important than the bottom line. An ungodly and godly person can have many of the same leadership capacities,[7] but the biblical leader understands that God looks at the heart, not just the outcome. Believers struggle with the temptation for prestige and promotion and are tempted to lead from a place of selfishness. However, we must guard our hearts and lead from the Spirit, not the flesh.[8] As a result, we can lead out of pure motives.[9] The authors of our text go on to say, “Character matters for the leader…For the believer in Jesus, this approach to leadership is also about leading under authority in a way that brings greater authenticity, clarity, power, and respectability to our leadership.”[10]
An important aspect of character in leadership is how we treat those we lead, within and without our organization and/or ministry. We must see them as individuals created in God’s image and essential to our leadership.[11]
Regarding character, God-fearing leaders must guard against greed. Many times, the secular model is based on greed. As believers, we cannot allow the love of money to creep in and become the motivator for our decisions and pursuits. Paul reminded Timothy in 1 Timothy 3:3b that Christian leaders cannot be “lovers of money.” While money in and of itself is not evil, it cannot be the end goal of our lives or become our primary motive.[12] As the authors of our text so aptly put it, “Be sure money is a means of accomplishing the mission and doesn’t become the mission. To confuse the two will infect your leadership.”[13]
There are many other differences between secular and Christian leadership models, but leading for God’s glory and leading as a person of character are two of the most important.
[1] Rod Dempsey, Dave Earley, and Adam McClendon, The Three-Dimensional Leader: A Biblical, Spiritual & Practical Guide to Christian Leadership (Bellingham, WA: Kirkdale Press, 2023), 8–9.
[2] Chelsea Kight, “What is Christian Mentoring, and How Do I Do It?,” CRU, https://www.cru.org/us/en/train-and-grow/help-others-grow/mentoring.html
[3] Dempsey, Earley, and McClendon, Three-Dimensional, 10.
[4] Ibid., 11.
[5] Ibid., 33.
[6] Jonathan Dodson, “Worldly Leaders vs. Spiritual Leaders: 3 Key Differences,” October 3, 2011, https://churchleaders.com/pastors/pastor-how-to/154498-wordlly-leaders-vs-spiritual-leaders-3-key-differences.html
[7] Dempsey, Earley, and McClendon, Three-Dimensional, 15.
[8] Ibid., 16.
[9] Ibid., 19.
[10] Ibid., 23-24.
[11] Ibid., 39.
[12] Ibid., 45.
[13] Ibid., 46.
