How a biblical call for diligent leadership is being hindered by a modern fear of authority, mirroring a societal trend of excessive red tape that stifles progress.



In Paul’s great manifesto to the Roman church, he makes a clear and unambiguous statement: if you have the gift of leadership, lead diligently. Or as the New Living Translation translates the Greek into English: “In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well.... If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously” (Romans 12:6, 8).

There are two biblical truths about spiritual gifts upon which all Christians agree: first, that every Christian has been given at least one gift through the indwelling power and presence of the Holy Spirit. Second, these gifts are meant to build up and serve the church.

Yet theological and practical confusion can still rain down on certain gifts. Yes, tongues come to mind, as do the gifts of healing and prophecy. But I am not so sure that leadership hasn’t come to the fore. Specifically, what does it mean to practice leadership as a leader?

For example, we live in a day where it has been sorely abused. Leadership in the life of the Church has often become associated with autocratic and dictatorial behaviors. This is far from the kind of leadership Jesus had in mind. “You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them,” Jesus reminded His disciples. “But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant.” (Matthew 20:25-26, NLT)

In reaction to this abuse is the seeming call for the rejection of leadership, as if taking up the mantle is suspect. This has resulted in too many churches having handcuffed chaplains instead of diligent leaders.

I cannot begin to tell you how frustrating it is to lead a seminar or conference, lay out some simple decision or action that would radically improve a church’s health or effectiveness, and have it met by a chorus of leaders saying, “We can’t do that.” And nine times out of 10, it’s not because they don’t have the money, the volunteers, the facility, or even the desire—it’s because they don’t have the freedom to lead.

It would seem, as Philip K. Howard recently wrote for The Atlantic, that “Americans are afraid of authority.” Howard, a lawyer and chair of Common Good, has long argued for the importance of allowing leaders to lead, and specifically to exercise judgment. In his book, The Death of Common Sense, Howard writes, for example, about policies. A policy governs decisions and directs procedures independent of a situation. In many ways, this is considered to be the strength of a policy.

Yet as Howard observes, the one indispensable ingredient for the success of any human endeavor is the use of judgment. Policies are inherently limited because there can never be enough rules to cover every conceivable circumstance. A few years ago, the federal government bought hammers with a specification that was 33 pages long. Howard asks, “Why not just trust the person to go out and buy hammers?”

Exactly.

When leaders are allowed to lead, things happen. Quickly. In 2023, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro fixed a fallen section of I-95 in 12 days. Operation Warp Speed developed COVID-19 vaccines in less than nine months. Compare this to a San Francisco public toilet having a $1.7 million price tag and taking as long as 18 months to approve and build. Reflecting on such an absurdity, Howard writes:

The example might be comical if it weren’t emblematic of a broader trend: America has become a red-tape state with an almost pathological aversion to giving officials the authority to do their jobs. The country is stalled as a result, falling behind global competitors in almost every important category: infrastructure, education, and defense. For America to function, we need to put people in charge again.

Yet Howard rightly notes that “autocracy isn’t a replacement for authority. It doesn’t usually deliver, either, as the Soviets demonstrated with central planning.” So the answer is neither autocracy nor endless red tape.

It’s something else.

It’s leadership.

And specifically, letting leaders lead through the exercise of sound judgment. Give them both the responsibility and the authority. Or in Howard’s words, “What America needs is a governing system that defines officials’ responsibilities, lets them use their judgment, and holds them accountable for making good decisions.”

Yes. But it’s not just what America needs. It’s what the Church needs, too. Spirit-gifted leaders who are allowed to lead,

... and who you turn loose to buy a hammer or two.

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