Few things are as peculiar as the attachment to leadership in this world. Russia finds itself embroiled in a war that the Russian people might not have any reason to be involved in. Yet, it is likely supported simply because it has the endorsement of the country’s leader. A leader with an opposing perspective might have received similarly unquestioned support. Often, a leader is accorded a level of respect akin to that of a deity, even without merit. The glorification of leaders is symptomatic of a cultural condition stemming from idol worship. Nevertheless, one may also consider the option of requesting favours from the person in a leadership position.
However, anyone living under a leader’s protection is essentially enslaved. They may seem content, but their soul would not be free. Being under a leader’s dominion equates to a state of bondage, although the leader would also be bound by servitude. A leader is necessary only for those groping in ignorance. Leadership embodies the visionary quality of guiding others towards safety; thus, leadership can be categorized as either positive or negative. A positive leader guides those who are led towards security, whereas a negative leader steers them towards ruin. It is crucial to discern these distinctions to understand the true essence of leadership.
Ineffective leadership often manifests through self-interest and the abuse of power, leading to numerous problems for team members. The common lack of effective leadership in this world can usually be traced back to the election of self-centred individuals to positions of authority. These negative leaders, wielding power tools, can make life unbearable for their subordinates. In a democracy, if the majority of voters are self-centred, they may elect a leader with similar traits. This situation can create difficulties for the entire community, particularly when they are responsible for voting that leader into office.
Negative leaders often find protection among their followers. Such leadership styles attract those with dubious ethics within their ranks. The appointed ones, akin to criminals, seek shelter under the wing of a negative leader. They are prepared to risk their lives for their leader, as their leader’s fall could mean peril for them. This explains why even the most despotic rulers are defended; despite being widely condemned by the masses. Their main focus is on self-preservation, not the welfare of the people they purport to lead. In contrast, negative leaders detest criticism, whereas positive leaders are generally recognized for valuing criticism and showing a readiness to change.
Seasoned dictators often lavish rewards on their inner circle to ensure loyalty. These confidants may even be allowed to engage in illegal activities, which can be used for blackmail to maintain their allegiance. True freedom comes from escaping these spiritual shackles. Thus, the pivotal question is whether leadership is necessary at all. When leadership issues are addressed, people find joy, as the Book of Proverbs states: “When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice; when the wicked rule, the people groan” (Proverbs 29:2 NKJV). Effective leadership starts with a thorough understanding of the role of leadership, aiming to provide robust guidance.
A positive leader differs from a negative one in that they surround themselves with individuals of integrity rather than criminals. They aspire for those they lead to surpass them, fostering a sustainable and positive future. This leadership style is what brings joy to their followers. The global landscape is often divided into ‘third world’ and ‘first world’ countries, but ultimately, the issue with the third world lies in negative individuals rising to leadership positions. Positive leadership is the one that can elevate a country’s status from third-world to first-world.
Spiritually advanced individuals do not seek leaders, believing their state of being transcends such a need for direction. Thus, they consider themselves akin to God’s children, beyond the realm of human leadership. Conversely, those focused on the physical realm often find leadership to be essential to overcoming various challenges and value the insight of an informed guide. This dependency on a leader to bear their burdens fosters a submissive mindset among the people. The Israelites found themselves in such a circumstance when they implored God to bestow upon them a king.
Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah, and said to him, “Look, you are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.” But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” So Samuel prayed to the Lord. And the Lord said to Samuel, “Heed the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them. According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt, even to this day—with which they have forsaken Me and served other gods—so they are doing to you also.
Now, therefore, heed their voice. However, you shall solemnly forewarn them, and show them the behaviour of the king who will reign over them.” So Samuel told all the words of the Lord to the people who asked him for a king. And he said, “This will be the behaviour of the king who will reign over you: He will take your sons and appoint them for his own chariots and to be his horsemen, and some will run before his chariots. He will appoint captains over his thousands and captains over his fifties, will set some to plough his ground and reap his harvest, and some to make his weapons of war and equipment for his chariots. He will take your daughters to be perfumers, cooks, and bakers. And he will take the best of your fields, your vineyards, and your olive groves, and give them to his servants. He will take a tenth of your grain and your vintage, and give it to his officers and servants.
And he will take your male servants, your female servants, your finest young men, and your donkeys, and put them to his work. He will take a tenth of your sheep. And you will be his servants. And you will cry out in that day because of your king whom you have chosen for yourselves, and the Lord will not hear you in that day.” Nevertheless, the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, “No, but we will have a king over us, that we also may be like all the nations, and that our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles.” And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he repeated them in the hearing of the Lord the Lord. So the Lord said to Samuel, “Heed their voice, and make them a king.” And Samuel said to the men of Israel, “Every man go to his city.” (1 Samuel 8:4-22 NKJV).
The Israelites were meant to set an example and not follow the customs of neighbouring nations. Despite God’s warnings about the pitfalls of human rulers, they persisted, as people often prefer to be led and avoid personal responsibility. Following a human leader is workable only when that leader adheres to God’s laws. Through Samuel’s intermediation, God communicated with the Israelites, before eventually granting their request. Their encounters with God since leaving Egypt did not aid in fostering an appreciation for the deity they were connected with.
Even though the Israelites’ wish for a monarch was misguided, God permitted it as a lesson, akin to the educational outcome of Adam’s consumption of the forbidden fruit. The request for a king seems perplexing given the presence of God’s Laws that they beheld. Nevertheless, the Israelites favoured the worldly practices of their neighbours over God’s less popular decrees. Lacking the Holy Spirit, humans are inherently weak and require guidance. Saul, who represented the people’s ideals, was consecrated as Israel’s first inaugural king. Through Israel, God revealed human imperfection.
Jesus taught His disciples that true leadership means serving those who are led. This concept is integral to effective leadership, where the leader prioritizes the needs of the followers over personal gain. Accustomed to the benefits that come with leadership, some disciples sought higher positions, assuming that a leadership role implies an advantage over others. Jesus seized this moment to explain the essence of true greatness in straightforward terms.
But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:25-28 NKJV).
Jesus introduced a culture contrary to the secular view that leaders deserve to be served. This secular approach is often linked to negative leadership that exploits followers, prioritizing self-interest over the welfare of others. While Jesus envisioned this selfless service as a hallmark among Christians, it is observed that many Christian organizations do the contrary, They align with secular practices and thus, integrate Christianity into the secular world. Jesus taught spiritual principles that are often uncommon in secular contexts.
Being created in God’s image, humans, in theory, should not need leadership. Jesus proposed the idea of a community without leaders (Matthew 23:8-12). Spirit beings, self-governing as their Creator, require no oversight. Only in their physical limitations do humans see the necessity for leadership. Spirit beings, free and with efficient communication, face no such constraints. As the physical embodiments of God’s children, serving those less informed is a core tenet. Throughout His three-and-a-half-year ministry, Jesus was regarded as the most industrious person the world has ever known. His followers, having been elevated to that status, are likewise expected to act accordingly. This outlines the implications of Christianity.
In other species, leadership is often instinctual, with each member of the species performing their designated role as per the inherent plan. For instance, honey bee colonies display a complex social structure with a queen bee, drones, and worker bees, each fulfilling their roles to perpetuate the species. This system is highly organized and efficient, with every bee having a particular task. A detailed observation reveals that each of the other species is equipped for self-regulation. Humans, believed to be created in the image of God, ought to mirror these divine traits.
After the monarchy was established, Israel experienced alternating prosperity and adversity under its human kings. Initially, Saul, David, and Solomon ruled a united Israel. However, following Solomon’s death, the kingdom was divided, with ten tribes forming a separate kingdom under a new ruler. The cause of this division seemed to fulfil God’s earlier warning about the consequences of their desire for a monarch. The Jews, however, remained under the rule of David’s line, which lasted longer than the breakaway tribes. In Christian theology, it is held that upon Jesus’ return, he will reign over the kingdom of David for a millennium, marking the end of the current era of human governance.
The concept of leadership is unique to humans and not naturally applicable to other species, except through instinct. God’s intention was never for humans to be ruled by another entity. As created in God’s image, humans possess the innate ability to govern themselves. Jesus established the Church and offered a promise of something imperishable. It is crucial to reassess the importance of this institution, as it was confirmed to His disciples.
When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?” So they said, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock, I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Then He commanded His disciples that they should tell no one that He was Jesus the Christ (Matthew 16:13-20 NKJV).
In the aforementioned discourse, Jesus presented previously unknown teachings, declaring that those incorporated into this institution would become God’s children. Such individuals would not be subject to earthly governments. They would not refer to anyone on Earth as ‘Father,’ having re-established a connection with their heavenly Father. Guided by Jesus, they would require no earthly leadership, except to serve others selflessly (Matthew 23:8-12). As members of this Church, our responsibility is to unfailingly serve others in the capacities God has bestowed upon each of us.
Andrew Masuku is the author of Dimensions of a New Civilization, laying down standards for uplifting Zimbabwe from the current state of economic depression into a model for other nations worldwide. A decaying tree provides an opportunity for a blossoming sprout. Written from a Christian perspective, the book is a product of inspiration, bringing relief to those having witnessed the strings of unworkable solutions––leading to the current economic and social decay. Most Zimbabweans should find the book as a long-awaited providential oasis of hope, in a simple conversational tone.
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