Philosophy of Christian Leadership The philosoph

The philosophy of Christian leadership, like Christian philosophy in general, is a paradigm that exists in opposition to what one might call the "worldly" mind. To the mind unwilling to accept the supernatural, leadership is frequently confused with power, and the human desire for power is commonly manifested in attempts to exert authority over others. In stark contrast is the Christian vision of leadership, which is manifested in humility and service.

Anyone capable of generating enthusiasm in others for the sake of an ideal or a cause is a leader. However, leadership comes in many guises, and can be as diverse as Cesar Chavez and Mussolini. The history of philosophy provides numerous theories regarding leadership, organization, and motivation, some which appeal to base instincts and fear, and some which appeal to nobility and humanity. Strictly pragmatic leadership manuals like Machiavelli's The Prince, or Sun-Tzu's The Art of War, are typical examples of philosophies that are more concerned with the exertion of power rather than leadership. Using the simple lust for control as a guideline, the good leader might be defined as one who maintains control over a populace, wages war effectively, instills fear in one's subjects, and holds on to power with tenacity. Other works on leadership, like Plato's Republic, assert that leadership comes through a pursuit of wisdom. The goal of a good citizen ought to be the acquisition of wisdom throu

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odel. Though a tautology, a Christian leader must first and foremost be a Christian. Any "success" in what might primarily be perceived as church work (i.e. building religious communities, feeding the poor, visiting those in prison) is hollow if the individual doing the work is not acting out of service to God first. Although servanthood is the model for Christian leadership, this does not preclude some politically-ambitious clergy from seeking power and authority by using the church as a campaign base. To do so, however, is a grave error. Seeking ego-gratification in building bigger sanctuaries, or drawing larger crowds, is delusional. Of the many different spheres in which Christian leadership may be exercised, the organizational processes of the church offers the greatest potential for exploring the philosophy in practice. How the church is established and structured, how it reaches others, what its driving force is, and what kind of world vision motivates its followers are all questions that address the competing elements of power and humility directly. One of the earliest written attempts to reconcile these two competing elements is the Rule of St. Benedict, a guide for the establishment and maintenance of monasteries.

Category: Philosophy - P