I said I wanted to build a theological framwork for leadership in the next several posts on my blog. This particular framework, I believe, applies to Leadership proper. In other words, this framework is not providing for a dichotomy between secular vs. sacred.
The Scripture provides principles for leadership that are transferable to all of life. Now, I have had a previous discussion with Andy Stanley on this blog concerning the spiritual nature of leadership in the local church. I agree with him, that Scriptural priniciples apply to leadership in general. I disagree that all leadership exist in a vacuum. For example, one may apply this theological framework to work or home or church, but one may not be qualified be Scripture to be an elder in a local church. Why? Because local church leadership demands certain qualifications. Now that I think I cleared that up…or muddied the waters, depending on how you look at it, I will move on to my main point.
Leadership begins with our view of God. Everything I do as a leader will flow from my view of God, consciously or sub-consciously. The way I approach the leadership task will be influenced by what I believe about God. Now, this opens up a large can of theological worms. All of theology flows from God and impacts leadership. For instance….A leader who believes that people are created in the image of God will treat people differently than one who believes that we are all cosmic accidents. A leader that understands that the nature of man is depravity will lead differenty than a person who believes in the basic goodness of human nature. A leader who is convinced of the authority, sufficiency, clarity, and neccesity of Scripture will lead differently than the leader who relies most heavily on the Harvard Business Review.
So the starting point for leadership is that there is ONE TRUE GOD.
ESV Deuteronomy 6:1 “Now this is the commandment, the statutes and the rules that the LORD your God commanded me to teach you, that you may do them in the land to which you are going over, to possess it,
2 that you may fear the LORD your God, you and your son and your son’s son, by keeping all his statutes and his commandments, which I command you, all the days of your life, and that your days may be long.
3 Hear therefore, O Israel, and be careful to do them, that it may go well with you, and that you may multiply greatly, as the LORD, the God of your fathers, has promised you, in a land flowing with milk and honey.
4 “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.
That is enough for today…I will follow up with the truth that the one true God is to be both Feared and Adored.
