Sullivan church of Christ – Sullivan, MO
Date: February 22, 2009
THREE KINDS OF LEADERS
Ben Justice
Why is it that some congregations are lacking in enthusiasm and drive to work while other congregations are
not? Why is it that some congregations are struggling and see to have nowhere to go, while other
congregations don’t have this problem? Why is it that some congregations are seemingly stagnant in the
work of the Lord and others are overflowing with vitality? Why is it that some congregations are failing and
others are thriving? Dear brethren, the answer is clear: LEADERSHIP IS THE KEY!
It has been said, “A people will never rise above its leadership.” This is an axiom of truth. If they do, then
they become the leaders. The president of Hyatt Hotels said this:
If there is anything I have learned in my 27 years in the service industry, it is this: 99 percent of all employees want to a good job.
How they perform is simply a reflection of the one for whom they work (John C. Maxwell, “Developing the Leader Within You,”
Introduction).
In James R. Wilburn’s book, “Leadership for Christ in the Local Church,” he lists three different kinds of
leaders (Pg. 16-17). Read carefully the difference between these three types of leaders:
THE FIGUREHEAD LEADER
The figurehead leader is just that — a mere figurehead. No one would ever know that he was a leader
unless they happened to notice his name at the top of the stationary where it is listed with an “official”
title. But for all practical purposes, he is not a leader for the simple reason that no one is following him —
at least, let’s hope not. This is the man who may not even be too regular in attending public worship. No
one can remember when he attended a special training series to develop as a leader or teacher. He not only
drifts with the current, he actually lags behind some of his own “followers.” If he has any influence at all, it
is a demoralizing influence upon his fellow leaders and brethren. He can always give you a dozen reasons
why something cannot be done.
THE “AVERAGE” LEADER
The “average” leader stands a head taller than the figurehead leader. He is easy to spot because he is
always at worship services and often takes a public part. He probably even teaches a class now and then.
He attends all of the business meetings and does what he is expected to do for the most part. It would be
hard to say that he is not qualified to lead, for he actually may fit the Scriptural qualifications of a bishop in
the eyes of most other average people. He may be a sincere and upstanding man in the community as well
as in the church. BUT his religious library is not very prodigious (impressively great in size — BJ), he may
not even subscribe to one religious periodical (“What can I learn from them?”), and few men a generation
from now will stand before multitudes and tell them Brother Average Leader was the guiding and inspiring
light in their lives. Another characteristic of the average leader may be his preoccupation with “keeping
peace.” When he hears criticism or complaining in regard to an activity in the church, he may even try to
kill its good because he does not want others criticizing him. (Only those who do nothing are never
criticized.) While the dynamic leader blazes a new trail and leads out beyond and in front of his brethren in
Christ, the average leader appears to be only a rubber stamp for public opinion in his efforts to “keep
peace.” He forgets that the most peaceful place on earth is a cemetery.
THE DYNAMIC LEADER
The dynamic leader presents an image both inspiring and demanding. He makes Christianity worthwhile.
Somehow the demoralizing effect of the figurehead leader fades into nothingness when a person associates
with the dynamic leader. He is the man who takes his vacation so that he can attend that leadership
workshop in another state. He’s the man who reads about leadership. You should see his library! . . . He’s
the one who has too many ideas for all of them to be discussed in one business meeting! He’s the man who
knows how to pray publicly because he has learned through many hours alone with God how to pray
privately. . . He is obvious to all. You can’t miss him. No one has to tell the congregation that he is their
leader. They know and they want to follow him, because he knows where he’s going, and he is already on
his way before he turns to beckon for others to follow.
The Lord’s church is the greatest institution in the world. It, therefore, should have great leaders. God
didn’t put in place the qualifications for elders, deacons, preachers, and teachers for filler material.
I have been in the church all of my life. I have been in many different congregations in many different
states. I have seen what happens when unqualified men are put into positions of leadership. I have rarely
witnessed truly qualified leaders in the church. It is sad that many congregations have the mentality of just
putting men into the eldership just to say they have elders. They completely ignore the qualifications, or if
they consider any, it is usually only the part about being married and having children who are Christians.
In the last congregation I worked with, there was a man who argued that children of elders didn’t have to be
Christians. We can trace the digression and apostasy in the body of Christ back to the leadership. “The
buck stops with them.” This liberalism and apostasy could have been stopped in its tracks if elders and
leaders had simply done their job! We have too many managers in the church and not enough true leaders.
There is a distinction between management and leadership. As one writer stated,
Management is the process of assuring that the program and objectives are implemented. Leadership, on the other hand, has to do
with casting vision and motivating people (John C. Maxwell, Ibid.).
It is true that all leaders are managers, but not all managers are leaders. We need leaders in the church
who can manage the work of the church, but not just manage, but also lead it.
When it all boils down, God wants only one kind of leader — one that has met the required qualifications
(all of them) and is fulfilling their responsibilities according to his word. Of course, this entails not only
making sure the work of the church is being carried out, but inspiring others to do better work and to be
excited about the work of the Lord.