Christian leadership must be spiritual. The great need of God’s people in every place is leaders who are spiritually developed and spiritually mature. Christian leadership is more than knowing the Bible. A long line of Christian leaders who have fallen into Satan’s snare and the trap of sin demonstrate that one of the first (perhaps, THE first) characteristics of a capable, Christian leader is the spiritual development of the inner person. This comes from Christ being formed in us (Gal. 4:19), a theme and text which are the focus at Baxter Institute during 2011. This is lived out as Christ dwells in our hearts strengthening our inner being (Eph. 3:17). Too many leaders (and too many churches) are trying to do God’s work without God’s presence in their lives.
Spiritual leadership begins by choosing men of faith, full of the Holy Spirit. Spiritual leadership is lived out by God’s power and presence–not by human ability and success. The first challenge in spiritual leadership is to choose the right kind of person to lead. Choosing the right kind of person is more than choosing someone who is involved in the work, or someone who knows the Bible. Factors such as these cannot be ignored, but the beginning point is not activity and knowledge. The beginning point is the heart. Who has the heart of a leader? Who is already pastoring? Who is already equipping and healing the saints? Who is holding up God’s people in prayer?
Most contemporary churches measure success by activity and push for more, more, more of things that will not matter at all until the human heart is remade–perhaps replaced is a more accurate word. God said through the prophet Ezekiel, in a prophetic reference to the new covenant arrangement, “I will give you a new heart.” Church success is not in more service projects, hospitality, fellowship, devotion or devotionals, or caring. Church success is measured by changed hearts.
Spiritual leaders help God’s people grow into his image, so that the spiritual body (the church) ministers, supports, encourages, and speaks in love. May God give us a clearer vision of the kind of spiritual leaders the church needs. May God give us such leaders!