Foundations of Christian Leadership, Mentor's Guide, MG07

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F O U N D A T I O N S O F C H R I S T I A N L E A D E R S H I P

but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; [3] not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. [4] And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. In this text, the Apostle Peter addresses his exhortation to the elders among the believers, those who were charged with the responsibility to care for the people of God. He exhorts the elders as a “fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ,” i.e., one who was personally called by the Lord himself to “feed his sheep” and thus show in his actions that his love for the risen Savior was authentic (cf. John 21.15-17). For the Christian leader, the demonstration of their deep love for Jesus is shown concretely in their ability to care with compassion and wisdom for the little sheep of Christ. Peter also anchors his exhortation on the fact that he, too, is a “partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed.” His testimony is solid and sure, based on his identity in Christ and the calling he has to both lead God’s people and inherit the coming glory of the Kingdom. What is the word for elder that invokes such a rich and solemn introduction? The answer is simple and clear. Elders are to “shepherd the flock of God that is among them.” Here is a clear example of the overlap of the terminology of Christian leadership that is recognized by so many scholars. Elders are called to shepherd the flock , to be pastoral, guarding and protecting, leading and feeding, caring for and nurturing these dear saints who belong to Christ. To be God’s leader is to have a relationship with him through his people . To put this another way, Christian leadership is bound to the context of community ; God’s flock is the concern that Christian leaders attend and address. The livelihood of the people of God is the sole concern of Christian leadership. This connecting of Christian leadership to the context of the people of God ought to radically change our perspective of the nature of authentic Christian leadership. Leadership through the Christian grid can never be construed to be extraordinary personal achievement, project accomplishment, or acquiring goods or fame. The context of Christian leadership is the body of Christ, and superb leadership is to exercise oversight over them for their edification, not because you are compelled to by outward accountability, but willingly even as God would have us do. This care and oversight is not motivated by greed or for the purpose of shameful gain, but to be done with an eager spirit. This oversight neither dominates nor domineers, but leads those under its charge by the power of personal example and modeling. This rule, according to Peter, represents the heart and soul of what it means to shepherd God’s people, even as our Lord functions as the Great Shepherd. For, as Peter

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