The Divine Agenda

Throughout the ages, God has been moving mankind toward an intended end, one with an eschatological hope. Ever since the Fall of mankind (Gen. 3), the story of mankind has been one of God revealing himself to man, with the intention to reconcile them back to himself (2 Cor. 5:19). What he (God) has, is a divine agenda (Howell, p.300). The Fall necessitated a rescue plan (Gen. 3:16), predetermined before time began and realized in the sacrifice of God’s Son for mankind (Jn. 3:16), a once for all sacrifice (Heb. 10:1-18) that would grant mankind the gift of eternal life and justification for the stain of sin.

With this in mind, leaders who are servants of the King, embrace the high calling to proclaim the saving truth of the Gospel (1 Cor. 15) and with a willing heart, seek to fulfill the Great Commission mandate to reach, teach and make disciples (Mat. 28:19-20). This is the praxis of theology and leadership realized. Howell (2016) uses Paul as an example leader who, having internalized the divine agenda of God for his people regularly “reaffirmed the mission’s core value and message, and contextualized the message” in order to avoid “mission ambiguity, mission drift, and mission confusion” (p. 301). Paul’s modus operandi is a reminder of whose mission it is – God’s. It is his mission, his people, and while there may be benefits along the way for his under-shepherds, the mission remains one of self-sacrifice, with seasons of suffering.

The biblical foundations of leadership informs us then, that “all people are under the suffocating authority of sin” (Howell, p. 13; cf. Rom. 3:9). But faith in the Lord Jesus Christ has transferred anyone who believes from the dominating and burdensome influence (and ownership) of sin into servants (slaves) of Christ (Gal. 3:13; Rom. 6:17-19). With Christ Jesus as the ultimate example of a servant/slave submitted to a divine agenda (Phil. 2:7), leaders have a model to emulate (Jn. 13:15-17). Our duty then, as slaves of Christ and shepherds of his people is to “take the initiative to bring others to a passionate commitment to what is on the heart of God, the extension of his saving rule over individuals and communities both qualitatively  and quantitatively” (Howell, p.301). And because we (as leaders) are committed to the divine mission, we will lead with “a subtle blend of authority and care” (Laniak, p. 247).

                                                             References

Harris, M. J. (1999). Slave of Christ: A New Testament metaphor for total devotion to Christ. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.

Howell, D.N. Jr. (2003). Servants of the Servant: A biblical theology of leadership. Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock Publishers.

Laniak, T. S. (2006). Shepherds after my own heart: Pastoral traditions and leadership in the Bible. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.

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Written by Kevin A. Hall