Leadership as followership (Part 2)

In the previous article, we discussed the three main models for leadership structures within a church. Now, let’s explore a more biblical model together.

Jesus is always at the top of every structure

In Philippians 2:9-11 (ESV), the apostle Paul is addressing the Philippian church which is dealing with this very same problem. It’s refreshing to know that this isn’t just our modern day problem, but that the issue of leadership has always been present in the Church, even from the early days. Paul ends this amazing picture of Jesus with talking about how Jesus is the ultimate authority over all the universe. Paul says in Philippians 2:9-10, “Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

In Matthew 28:18, after Jesus has been resurrected from the dead and before he ascended into heaven, Jesus said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.”

There is no higher authority than Jesus. If Jesus commands it, it is what must be done. If the structure of leadership in the church is a pyramid, then Jesus is going to be at the top of that pyramid. No pastor, no congregation is allowed to dictate what the mission of the local church is supposed to be.

The perfect example of leadership

Now, let’s go back to Philippians 2:5-8. “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.  And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”

The ultimate authority in the universe, Jesus, used his power and ability to become a servant. Jesus leads us by showing us how to follow. Jesus was such an amazing example of a leader because he was completely devoted to following the will of the Father.

In John 5:19 Jesus says, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise.”

Although Jesus was God, he willingly chose to follow the will and desires of the Father. He consistently shows us that leaders must be intently listening to the voice of the Father and be willing to do whatever he asks of them. Even if it is painful. Even if it leads to a cross.

If our leadership structures are modeled as a pyramid, then Jesus is at the top. However, I don’t think that the structure of a pyramid is the most faithful to the example of Jesus as detailed in the Bible. Jesus stepped out of the pyramid structure and joined us on the bottom of the pyramid of society. Or simply put, he abolished the pyramid structure of leadership. He didn’t lead through power. He led by example and by influence.

Leading by following

Let me suggest a better way to visualize church leadership that I believe is more accurate to the desires of God.

Under this model, there are only two levels of authority. The first level is the unparalleled and uncontested authority of Jesus. Ephesians 5:22 talks about how Christ is the head of the church. There is only one head. We listen for, submit to, and seek to walk in obedience to the leadership of Jesus.

Christ above us, Christ before us, Christ within us

However, Jesus is not simply sitting in heaven dictating his commands to us so that we follow his command. Through his Holy Spirit, he is still at work among us. He’s down with us in the middle of our lives and in the middle of the church, working alongside us and empowering us to do his will.

I love that after the resurrection, the angels told Mary in Matthew 28:5-7, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified.  He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay.  Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you.” The resurrected Jesus tells his disciples that he is “going before them.” Their job is to listen to what God reveals to them about his will, believe that Jesus will meet them there, and that they are to show up.

Jesus is still going before us, preparing the way for his work to be done in us. Even today, he is calling us to where he wants us to be. He goes before us and then calls us to follow him. Our job as leaders is to let Jesus lead us as we listen to him speak to us through the Holy Spirit.

In John 14 Jesus is preparing his disciples for his death, burial, resurrection, and ascension. In John 14:16 he says, “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever…”

The language “another Helper” means a helper just like the one they have right now. At the very least, the Holy Spirit is as good as having Jesus himself, in the flesh, with us. However, Jesus says it’s actually better that he leaves so that he can send us the Spirit. This statement indicates that Jesus believed that through the Holy Spirit within us, he could be even more effective in leading and changing us.

Even as Jesus is commissioning his disciples for their mission of going and making more disciples he promises them, “And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20) He promises to be with us and help lead us through his Holy Spirit within us.

So, a leader in the church is someone who is deeply committed to the spiritual discipline of discernment. Discernment is the ability to listen for the voice of Jesus and then decide on how to be obedient. A leader must be obedient to what they hear from Jesus and continually depend on him for the accomplishing of Jesus’ will. Do not simply acknowledge this to be true. As a group of leaders, learn to practice discernment. I would highly recommend the book Pursuing God’s Will Together. It gives a practical framework for learning to integrate prayer and discernment into your church’s eldership.

Christ goes before us, and speaks from within us. We follow, then invite others to do the same.

Leadership is about listening for the voice of Jesus and then getting up and moving in that direction. We don’t coerce people to go with us, but we simply go and invite others to join us. True leaders are the ones who set the example of listening and following Jesus. First, we are to be the followers. Then we invite others to follow us as we follow Jesus.

Now this shouldn’t be surprising. Every person who has read the Bible and been around the Church for very long time would say that this makes sense and is the way it should be. However, it’s one thing to say we believe something, and quite another to put it into practice. Paid pastors and elders have affirmed this model, yet practically lived out the previous models of CEO, Board, and Customer structures. Even people in the congregation would say that followership model is what they want, until their preference or opinion doesn’t get considered or applied to the church.

“When we don’t get what we want, we all inevitably turn to power structures to get things done.”

People will naturally turn to the leaders in the church to make things happen. So when they do, it’s important to define who is actually included in that group. Whose responsibility is it to listen to Jesus and then begin moving in the direction Jesus is calling them to?

In our next article, let’s clearly define who is “leading in following.”