Values of Christian Leadership

by NuWELL Online Counseling | Jun 7, 2022 | NuWELL | 242 comments

As Christians, we are called by God to be leaders through Scripture. Through the Bible, Jesus instructs us that we are not to be overlords or oppressive like the gentile leaders of old but to be leaders in service to others. How can we do that? They say with great power comes great responsibility, after all. Thankfully, God gives us guidance in the Bible on how we should conduct ourselves in a leadership role as a follower of Christ.

Be Loving

God is love. This one may seem obvious, but acting towards others in a godly manner, especially during times of conflict, can be a test of our character and our faith. Love is essential in our lives as Christians and particularly Christian leaders. A Christian leader should be a pillar of love in their community and be recognized as a follower of Jesus through that love, leading with love for their neighbor first.

Be Modest

Everyone’s seen that leader who thinks they know it all or flaunts their position. This leadership style is in direct violation of the Scriptures, as being arrogant and prideful does not model the Kingdom of God, as we can see in Proverbs 16:18-19. “Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall. Better to be of a humble spirit with the lowly than to divide the spoil with the proud.”

Improve Yourself

Leaders need to take time for their spiritual wellness. In the Bible, Jesus always sought the guidance of God even up to the crucifixion. As leaders and servants, we need to understand the will and signs passed down to us by our leader in Heaven. Take the time to have personal moments to be with God throughout the day and improve your spiritual well-being.

Be Motivational

Good leaders (especially Christian ones) do not exploit or mislead people. Instead, we fearlessly motivate those around us by setting an example through our actions, such as Nehemiah when he inspired the people to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem in Nehemiah 2:17.

Correct Others

Correcting others in the right ways should be a landmark value for all Christians. “And let us consider one another to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching” (Hebrews 10:24-25). How can we correct others in a way that models the values of God? Seek first to understand their temperaments. Validate their gifts and respect their concerns. Support their dreams and challenge their flaws respectfully.

Hold Integrity

Practice what you preach. Pretty simple, right? Having integrity as a Christian leader is how these values stick together, allowing us to bring others (and ourselves) closer to Christ through our actions and words and living in His light every day.

As Christians, we are called to lead by service. Our actions should reflect the actions of Christ in every aspect of our lives. Through maintaining Christian leadership values grounded in Scripture, we will bring ourselves and others closer to God. Lifting others up is the key to lifting yourself up!