WORDPOWER ONLY

1

Thinking Theologically (“Worldviewishly”) about Leadership (Questions Adapted from Dr. Robert Kurka)

Questions to be asked about almost any issue:

1. How is this issue related to God’s original (“good”) creation?

2. How has this issue been affected (corrupted) by the Fall? (What are the dimensions of “fallenness”—morally, ecologically, spiritually, politically, economically, etc?)

3. In what ways has Christ redeemed this issue? In what ways is it yet to be redeemed?

4. How is this issue being redemptively addressed? By the culture? By the church? What are the limitations in such approaches? What are the “worldview presuppositions” governing these approaches? (Research these; Truth and accuracy matters!)

5. How should this issue be addressed redemptively by God’ people? (the prophetic element). Does the Bible give any clear examples and/or analogies for addressing this in a godly manner?

6. How will God eschatalogically redeem this issue? How does this future perspective condition our present responses and strategies?

2

Thinking Theologically (“Worldviewishly”) about Leadership (Adapted from Dr. Guy Saffold, Theology of Leadership, TEDS, 2007)

1. How is leadership related to God’s original (“good”) creation? --Genesis 1:26-28 (His Triune image and His cultural mandate to man)

a. Trinitarian Leadership:

• Among leaders there ought to be unity yet diversity. • At the human level there should be multiple, not singular, leadership

among God’s people. • Leadership is neither hierarchical nor organizational; it is relational. • Power struggles, jealousy, and competition have no place; they destroy

relationship. • Relationship, not the tasks of organization, should be the glue that holds

human beings together. • The final goal should be to direct people to the Triune God, not to the

leader or the organization. (In John 17 each gives glory to another.) • The possibility of “shared authority” flows from the model of the Trinity. • Though we are all brothers and sisters before Him, we have unique roles

and contributions to make. • Respect for one another and dependence upon God are the qualities that

mark our character as spiritual. • Leaders must be listeners and learners. If the Holy Spirit indwells all, then

we need to listen to Him through others. This means repenting of pride that puts us in opposition to God or produces a sense of superiority toward others.

b. God’s Gift of His Likeness

• In who we are (character) • In what we do (function)

c. Meaning of Image in Bible

• Likeness (Looks like original) • Representation (can represent original) • Symbol (can be symbol with meaning) • Message (can convey message)

d. Character Image (What we are like: God—attributes and character) God made us to:

• Know Him personally, relationally, experientially (Col. 3:9-10) • Reflect His holy character (1 Peter 1:14-16) • Expressed in righteous acts (Eph. 4:22-24)

e. Functional Image (What we do: Govern—acts and function)

3

God made us to be: • Rulers (govern for His glory and good of His creation)—“rule over earth”—

Gen. 1:26, 28 • Family and community builders (expand governing group)—“be fruitful and

multiply”-Gen. 1:28 • Creative contributors (bring out potential of each part and the whole

process)—“fill and subdue the earth”—Gen. 1:28 f. Context for Task: Web of Loving Relationships

• Created male and female—Gen. 1:27 Not just for purpose of reproduction (other beings are asexual and

reproduce) but to complete/complement each other in equal yet different roles

• Created for loving community—Gen. 1:28 Not just husband and wife but extended family

• Anchor theology of leadership to the model “Glory of God Manifested” (ultimate purpose/mandate for male and female)

2. How has leadership been affected (corrupted) by the Fall? (What are the

dimensions of “fallenness”—morally, ecologically, spiritually, politically, economically, etc?) --Genesis 3:1-13 (Man’s fall and consequences of living East of Eden)

3. In what ways has Christ redeemed this issue (leadership)? In what ways is it yet to be redeemed? --John 1:14—“full of grace and truth”

Revealing the image/glory of God • Structural image (sculptural view—quality, capacity)—Col. 1:15, 19,

Heb. 1:3 • Relational image (mirroring view—relationally reflects God’s glory)—

John 1:1-3, 14 • Functional image (dominion view—rules over all things, kings, and

powers)—Col. 1:16 • Communal image (ecclesial view—Head of the new human family)—

Col. 1:18

--Matthew 4:2-11 Rejecting the world system’s leadership principles • Putting self first (Matt. 4:2-4) • Leading by charismatic image (Matt. 4:5-7) • Seeking power and illegitimate authority (Matt. 4:8-11)

--John 13: 1-17

Revealing how love leads by serving • Showing the full extent of His love (13:1) • Serving others in spite of who He was (13:2-11)

4

• Setting an example of servant leadership (13:12-17) --Philippians 2:5-11

Reversing the “Great Lie” and rejecting the choices of the First Adam • Rejecting disobedient grasping to be like God (Phil. 2:6) • Choosing humility over pride and position (Phil. 2:7) • Committing Himself to a life of service (Phil. 2:7) • Accepting Adam’s judgment of death in the most humiliating way (Phil.

2:8) • Being exalted by God to position of honor with ultimate authority

restored to Him (Phil. 2:9-11)

4. How is leadership being redemptively addressed—By the culture? By the church? What are the limitations in such approaches? What are the “worldview presuppositions” governing these approaches? (Research these; Truth and accuracy matters!) --See examples of servant leadership, authentic leadership, spiritual leadership

5. How should leadership be addressed redemptively by God’ people? (the prophetic element). Does the Bible give any clear examples and/or analogies for addressing this in a godly manner? --Acts 6:1-7 --Ephesians 4:11-16 --1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 --Hebrews 13:7, 17, 8

6. How will God eschatalogically redeem leadership? How does this future perspective condition our present responses and strategies? --Revelation 7:17

A Definition of Leadership from a Biblical Worldview Perspective:

“Leadership is a lifelong process of taking the initiative • to know God deeply, • to reflect His holy character abundantly,

and through loving relationships • to draw people together • to further His purposes in the world.”

(©Guy Saffold 2007, Used with permission) How would organizations be different if leaders put this perspective into practice?