Probably my most requested teaching topic is on leadership, or more specifically,
servant-leadership
and the fact that there is so little of it going on at the top in our God-ordained but hurting profession. While I've shared here before on this issue, God used last week's FOP training conference in Nashville to press me into tackling it here again from a fresh perspective.
Sharing the stage at the conference was Cattaraugus County (NY) Sheriff Tim Whitcomb who gave a spirited presentation on PTSD. On the topic of leadership, Tim rightly said, "
My job is to serve and protect those who serve and protect." What a great introduction for this message on servant-leadership. While Tim certainly didn't come at it from a faith-based perspective, his statement is right on target. Hear me on this: if you are in a position of leadership (and EVERY Christian is called to leadership in one form or another), it is God who placed you there (
Romans 13:1-4) and you are under a Divine mandate -- a command from our ultimate "Chief" -- to SERVE those He has placed under your care! In fact, the word "leader" only appears six times in the Bible (KJV) whilst "servant" is mentioned 900 times (as a friend asked, "Then why are we having so many leadership conferences? -- Why indeed!).
So with this in mind, let me start by stating emphatically that our ultimate example for servant-leadership is Jesus Christ Himself. In fact, Jesus spent much time addressing this issue with His disciples. Accordingly, we're going to break down the issue of "boss vs. leader" (the image I've shared here) and then take a look at five main points on biblical servant-leadership geared towards law enforcement (using Jon Bloom's excellent
Five Marks of a Servant Leader
.as a template).
BOSS vs. LEADER
I want to start this message by addressing the difference between a
"boss
" and a genuine servant
leader
. Sadly, most of those who have supervisory authority both in law enforcement and the civilian sector are what I would define as a "boss." W
hen we describe someone as ‘bossy’, we generally don’t imply the person is behaving positively. The Oxford Dictionary defines a "
boss
" as “a person who is in charge of a worker or organization.”
In a way, being a boss refers to a specific position of power and whether you like it or not, a boss will have power over his or her subordinates because of this role. The word should also be examined through the lens of the verb "to boss," as it helps define the differences between a leader (or more specifically, a SERVANT-leader) and a boss (a manager or supervisor) more clearly. The verb is informally defined as the act of giving someone orders in a domineering manner. A boss, through his/her position of power, tells their subordinates what to do and expects them to act accordingly. A boss gives orders and supervises people, making sure the people he or she is in charge of will do the job as directed.
Sadly and even tragically, it is the bosses in our profession who have the power to make our lives a living nightmare and one of the main causal factors contributing to suicide, PTSD and otherwise pushing officers out of our profession (again, it is not so much what we see on the street that impacts most of us).
In contrast, the Oxford Dictionary defines a
leader
(noun) as, “a person who leads or commands a group, organization, or a country." The verb "to lead" is defined as an act to “show someone or something the way to a destination by going in front of or beside them." Unlike a boss, a leader is thought to be someone who serves as an adviser to those under his/her CARE/protection and who doesn’t just bark orders, but actually does the acts he or she is waiting others to do. In short, someone who l
eads from the front
!
So what does that look like from biblical perspective? The message from God's Word, the Bible, is clear:
a Christian leader should be a
servant-leader
and NEVER a "boss." On this, Jesus taught
"
The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those in authority over them are called benefactors. But not so with you. Rather, let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves
." (
Luke 22:25-26
)
And Jesus called them to him and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant,
and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all.
For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
(
Mark 10:42-45
)
Now understand that God's call for us in this applies to ALL who have been placed in a position of "leadership" -- including those in law enforcement. Jesus taught that genuine servant-leaders
wash others' feet
(
John 13:1-17
), while at other times they rebuke (
Matthew 16:23
), and even discipline (
Matthew 18:15-20
). Sometimes we serve at our own expense (
1
Corinthians 9:7
), and there are certainly times when it is necessary to issue strong commands (
1 Corinthians 5:2; 11:16
).
So then what does a biblical servant-leader look like? Consider the following points adapted from Jon Blooms study on this issue:
MARKS OF A SERVANT-LEADER
God, through His Word (the Bible -- the greatest leadership "policy and procedure manual" of all time), instructs us to exercise due diligence in discerning someone's fitness to lead (see, for instance,
1 Timothy 3:1-13
). What traits do we look for in a leader that suggest their fundamental orientation is Christlike servanthood? This list is by no means exhaustive, but here are
five fundamental "marks"
(indicators)
of a
servant-leader
:
1. A servant leader seeks the glory of his Chief (his King)
:
Jesus said,
"The one who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory; but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and in him there is no falsehood
" (
John 7:18
). A Christlike leader is a
bondservant
of Christ (
Ephesians 6:6
), and demonstrates over time that Christ -- not public approval, position, or financial security -- has his primary loyalty.
2. A servant leader sacrificially seeks the highest joy of those he serves:
This does not conflict with seeking the glory of his "Chief" (Master). Jesus said, "
Whoever would be great among you must be your servant . . . even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for man
y" (
Matthew 20:26, 28
). Whatever his temperament, gift mix, capacities, or sphere of influence, he will make necessary sacrifices in order to pursue people's "
progress and joy in the faith
," which results in the greater glory of God (
Philippians 1:25; 2:9-11
).
3. A servant leader will forgo his rights rather than obscure the truth:
Paul said it this way: "
I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them
" (
1 Corinthians 9:19
). What did this mean for him? It meant sometimes he abstained from certain foods and drinks, or refused financial support from those he served, or worked with his own hands to provide for himself, or went hungry, or dressed poorly, or was beaten, or was homeless, or endured disrespect inside and outside the church (
1 Corinthians 4:11-13; 9:4-7
). This all before he was martyred (executed for his faith). Paul's servant bar may have been set extraordinarily high, but all servant leaders will yield their rights if they believe more will be won to Christ as a result.
4. A servant-leader is not preoccupied with personal visibility and recognition:
Like John the Baptist, a servant leader sees himself as a "
friend of the Bridegroom
" (
John 3:29
), and is not preoccupied with the visibility of his own role. He doesn't view those with less visible roles as less significant, nor does he covet more visible roles as more significant (
1 Corinthians 12:12-26
). He seeks to steward the role he's received as best he can, and gladly leaves the role assignments to God (
John 3:27
).
5. A servant leader anticipates and graciously accepts the time to step aside:
All leaders serve only for a season. Some seasons are long, some short; some are abundant, some lean; some are recorded and recalled, but most are not. But all seasons end. When John the Baptist recognized the ending of his season, he said, "
Therefore this joy of mine is now complete. He must increase, but I must decrease
" (
John 3:29-30
).
Sometimes a leader is the first to recognize his season's end, sometimes others recognize it first, and sometimes God lets a season end unjustly for purposes a leader can't understand at the time (for example, the average tenure for a police chief in the U.S. is about three years, and, often because of bad leadership, many officers see their career ended or negatively impacted through no fault of their own). But a servant-leader graciously yields his role for the good of
the
(Christ's)
cause
, because his identity and trust are not in his calling, but in Christ -- a most difficult concept to be sure for most of us serving in our God-ordained calling of law enforcement.
As I continue to preach and teach around the country, ours is a profession and a nation desperate for biblical servant-leadership. This is why I continue to press Christians to prayerfully seek positions of authority as the Lord directs and to then lead as Christ-like
servants
(to wit, asking God for opportunities to lead biblically so as to
"
serve and protect those who serve and protect
"
and be used of God to
FIX
what ails us).
Clearly, our "dirty little secret" as a God-ordained (
Romans 13:1-4
) profession in terms of stress is not so much what we deal with on "the street" as it is about the fallout from poor leadership (bosses, wolves) from
within
our ranks. The solution, therefore, is to
replace
the "bosses" with genuine servant-leaders who have been transformed by surrendering their lives to Christ as Lord and Savior! In the end, He alone is the "Cure" for all that ails us. Secondly, we must PRAY for those currently in positions of authority -- that they would yield to Christ and then allow Him to transform them from bosses to the
servant-leaders
He has called us all to be.
Finally, understand that
one does not need to hold rank in order to be a genuine servant-leader!
But given our sinful nature, HOW then can we be the servant-leaders God has called us to be?
Folks, it is all but impossible unless we are first radically born again in Christ and leading under the inspiration and direction of the Holy Spirit! Is that you? Can you even begin to imagine the difference we can make (or more correctly, God can make through us) in our marriages, families, departments, communities, our country and even the world when we leading as Spirit-led (and Spirit-filled) born again servant-leaders?
So again I ask: do you truly know Christ as Lord and Savior? Have you yielded to His Kingship and leadership over your life? If not (or you're not sure), please consider the following:
(1) Still think you can "earn" or otherwise "badge" your way into heaven and escape hell (a just and unending "death sentence" for your wickedness -- aka "sin") because you are a so-called "good" cop or person? Take the
Good Person Test
and see how you do!
(2) Jesus' first recorded words in His earthly ministry were and remain, "
Repent and believe in the Good News
" (
Mark 1:15
). To
repent
is a "180" -- a complete, radical change of mind and heart as it relates our sin (wickedness as God defines it). To believe (
pisteuo
in the original Greek) as Jesus intends it here is to cry out to Him for your salvation and wholeheartedly surrender to Him in faith in the same way we have "faith" that our body armor will do its job against the rounds it is intended to stop, that a well-maintained weapon will function properly when used against criminals intent on destroying us or others, or that a parachute will open when it is supposed to (we stake our very lives on it)! And the "Good News"? It is simply
the gospel of Jesus Christ
!
(3)
This same concept of "believe" (the saving kind) is further revealed in
John 3:1-21
where Jesus says, "
... you must be born again
." Again, note our Lord's emphasis on the word "
must
" (not "may" or "should"): this is ultimately the life-saving/life-changing personal relationship (and NOT "religion") with Jesus Christ that I stress here every week (see
What does it mean to be a born again Christian
? [hint -- there is no other kind]). Folks, it is only through this miraculous event that we can be made "righteous" before a just and Holy God and thus become part of His family.
(5)
Need more? Then check out this powerful, short video message by my friend, fellow officer and noted trainer,
Travis Yates
:
Cops and Salvation
.
(6)
Have you now said "yes" to Jesus but are wondering what to do next? Then click on,
Now what?
Understand that the "Now what?" MUST include regular "iron sharpens iron" fellowship with other believers, including (for us cops) other mature Christian officers who can help support you, encourage you, disciple (help you grow) you in the faith and yes, hold you lovingly accountable. Message me for how you can do that!
MC
