Biblical Leadership
Biblical leadership has many different styles and methods. The reason for biblical
leadership is to honor God. "Biblical leadership is always connected to a divine calling
related to the will of God to perform a specific task and to take full responsibility thereof"
(Slater, 2020, p. 7). We choose to lead biblically because it is what God wants from us.
This is not limited to just faith-based settings. To show God our honor, it should be in all
environments.
Elijah the Mentor
When we look at Elijah, we can see how he was a trusting leader and a leader that
mentored others. Elijah would pour into those coming up after him like Elisha. Elisha
was considered Elijah's protégé. Elijah knew to invest into other leaders, and he did this
by supporting Elisha. We can see this in Elisha's response when Elijah was going to go to
Jericho. "As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you" (New Living
Translation, 2021, 2 Kings 2:4). Because Elijah supported Elisha in the past, he was
willing and wanting to support Elijah during his trip to Jericho. We should look to
biblical leaders, like Elijah, to understand that it is important to mentor future leaders
because they will take our place or move in other directions and become leaders of
something new. Being a mentor in every aspect of our lives is needed. When people hear
the word “mentor” in a current context, they may think "the word mentor brings to mind
someone I look up to, someone with experience and wisdom beyond my own"
(Laminack, 2017, p. 753). When we see opportunities where we have experience and
expertise in something that another person does not, but they also desire to understand,
we can take advantage of that opportunity to become a mentor and invest in them. "I have
come to trust. I turn to a mentor to help me gain perspective, to see the bigger picture and
explore options" (Laminack, 2017, p. 753). If I stop and look at my life, I can name
several people that came into my life when I needed a mentor. When it came time to
consider to going back to school, I turned to someone I consider a mentor. We talked
about what major I should pursue, where I should go to school, and if I should search for
an online program or an on-campus program. How could I not take the chance and repay
those that have invested in me by pouring into someone else? If I am able to be even 1/4
of the mentor Elijah was to Elisha, that would be incredible. We need to keep in mind
that if we have become a mentor to someone, that does not mean we do not need a
mentor for ourselves. The person I turn to about major things in my life still turns to
others when they need guidance.
God's Command
I believe that with the verse "Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit" (New Living
Translation, 2021, Matthew 28:19) in mind, that I am reflecting on God's command of
mentorship. He asks us to go make disciples of all nations, which can be interpreted in
many ways. For example, Jehovah Witnesses interpret it as their door-to-door ministry to
convert believers. I also look at it several ways and one of those ways is related to
mentoring. When mentoring others, people are doing their part in a small way by making
and strengthening disciples. People may not be mentoring in a faith-based organization
but if they are mentoring while honoring God, others will see God in them.
References
Holy bible new living translation. (2021). DaySpring; Candace Cameron Bure
Laminack, L. (2017). Mentors and mentor texts: What, why, and how?DThe Reading
Teacher,D70(6), 753–755. https://doi.org/10.1002/trtr.1578D
Merida, T. (2015).DChrist-centered exposition: Exalting Jesus in 1 and 2 kings. (D. Platt & D. L.
Akin, Eds.). B & H Publishing Group.D
Slater, J. (2020). The first shall be last… – A biblical inversion of leadership traps and pressure-
cooker appetites for ambitious statuses.DHTS Teologiese Studies / Theological
Studies,D76(2), 1–7. https://doi.org/10.4102/hts.v76i2.5963D
Response 1: Erick Mitchell
Reading our textbook by Merida has been helpful for me. I am not very knowledgeable
about the Kings. Your post about King Rehoboam was insightful and helpful. I wrote about him
for last week's paper. I agree with many of your thought on him. I did v to look up what the
definition of autocratic was, and it said "of, relating to, or being an autocracye: ABSOLUTEan
autocratic government" (Merriam-Webster, n.d.) That made me think, are not all the Kings from
the Old Testament an autocratic ruler? Would you not classify them as one if they were always
turning to God for guidance for their leadership? You pointed out how his father had a servant
leadership style. But as a King in that time period, he still would have been an autocratic leader.
If he looks to others for input, in the end, he still makes the final decision, and there is nothing to
overrule him. So, is he not still an autocratic leader? One way I look at it is people like Fidel
Castro in Cuba have an ultimate say in their leadership, but they do look to others for input.
(Krishnarajan, 2019) When we look at King's like Solomon, Hezekiah, Josiah, and Elijah, they
were all considered good Kings. They also all had the ultimate rule. He would turn to God and
others for wisdom so that he can rule the people of Israel with integrity (1 Kings 3:5-15)
References
Holy bible new living translation. (2021). DaySpring; Candace Cameron Bure
Krishnarajan, S. (2019). Economic crisis, natural resources, and irregular leader removal in
autocracies. International Studies Quarterly, 63(3), 726–741.
https://doi.org/10.1093/isq/sqz006
Merida, T. (2015).DChrist-centered exposition: Exalting Jesus in 1 and 2 kings. (D. Platt & D. L.
Akin, Eds.). B & H Publishing Group.D
Merriam-Webster. (n.d.) Merriam-Webster.com dictionary. Retrieved June 10, 2021, from
https://www.merriam-webster.com/
Response 2: David Bascom
David, I am much like you; biblical writing is not a strong suit for me as well. You discussed
how King Ahab used a directive leadership style. In some ways, I like a directive leadership
style. If done correctly, it can give your subordinate clear expectations. Now it the expectations
were severe and out of line, those make it a leadership style I would not like. I think it all
depends on how you go about utilizing a directive leadership style. "Directive leadership is
where a leader sets goals for the team and structures and sequences tasks of subordinates with an
unsaid rule of compliance from subordinates" (Mukherjee & Mulla, 2021, p. 3). This style of
leaders assumes that their employees will comply with what they want or are looking for. This
style would not be suitable for free thinkers and artistic people. One study I read results showed
that directive leadership had a negative effect on staff but showed a positive result with
organizational commitment. They went on to say that this kind of leadership needs to be
implemented in the right way or it will not have a chance for success. (Banjarnahor et al., 2018)
When I think about God and his leadership style, I think he had the trait of directive leadership.
He gave us commands and wanted us to just blindly follow them at times. "So now I am giving
you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other.
Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples" (John 13:34-35,
New Living Translation). God is giving a clear directive, but looking at the directive, it is not in
anger or hate but in love.D
References
Banjarnahor, H., Hutabarat, W., Sibuea, A. M., & Situmorang, M. (2018). Job satisfaction as a
mediator between directive and participatory leadership styles toward organizational
commitment.DInternational Journal of Instruction,D11(4), 869–888.
Holy bible new living translation. (2021). DaySpring; Candace Cameron Bure
Mukherjee, S., & Mulla, Z. R. (2021). Empowering and directive leadership: The cost of
changing styles.DBusiness Perspectives and Research, 1–17.
https://doi.org/10.1177/22785337211008321D
