Denecia Anderson
SaturdayMay 14 at 10:49am
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The model I believe to be consistent with a biblical worldview is associated with modeling the way by setting the example. Leaders must confront critical incidents. No matter how much leaders plan and strategize, life disrupts the most disciplined leaders (Kouzes & Posner, 2017). Life will present critical incidents that will need to be confronted. The confrontation provides opportunities for growth and development. Kouzes and Posner (2017) state, “critical incidents present opportunities for leaders to teach important lessons about appropriate norms of behavior” (p. 85). Jesus illustrates the significance of confronting a critical incident in his response to the disciples when faced with a demon-possessed boy. Matthew 17: 19-20 says,
Afterward the disciples asked Jesus privately, ‘Why couldn’t we cast out that demon?’ ‘You don’t have enough faith,’ Jesus told them. ‘I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’, and it would move. Nothing would be impossible.’ (New Living Translation, 1996/2015)
The critical incident in this passage is the disciples’ level of faith to cast out the demon in the young boy. In this scripture text, the young boy’s father came to Jesus because he said he went to his disciples first, but they could not cast the demon out (Matthew 17:16, New Living Translation, 1996/2015). This led Jesus to confront the faith level of his disciples, and this was another learning experience for the disciples.
The concept I believe to be inconsistent with a biblical worldview is connected to the trait theory approach. According to Northouse (2019), one of the strengths of the trait theory approach is the idea of leaders being individuals who are at the forefront. People in the media who have an influential presence within society are considered a “special kind of people” (p. 30). However, the idea of leaders having to possess a specific quality or gifting is not always a defining factor of effective leadership. Many leaders have charisma, and due to position, they are placed as the face of a company or organization. Though, they are not considered great or effective leaders because leadership encompasses so much more than position and being out in the front. For example, David was not in the open where everyone knew him, and neither did anyone believe he was the proper selection as the next king of Israel. I Samuel 16: 6-7 says,
When they arrived, Samuel took one look at Eliab and thought, ‘Surely this is the Lord’s anointed!’ But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.’ (New Living Translation, 1996/2015)
I Samuel 16 describes the story of the Lord directing Samuel to go to Jesse’s house to anoint the next king. Samuel believes Eliab is the one who the Lord has chosen as king due to his outward appearance. Eliab looked the part and seemed to be the correct choice, but God reveals he hasn’t made his selection based on a specific trait, quality, ability, or appearance. David is not in the house. David is out in the field tending his father’s flock. He is not considered out in the front or visible, yet God chose him to be Israel’s next king.
Kouzes, J. M. and Posner, B. Z. (2017). The Leadership Challenge (6th ed.). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass. ISBN: 9781119278962.
Northouse, P. (2019). Leadership: Theory and practice (8th ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. ISBN: 9781506362311.
Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation. (Original work
published 1996).
Mark Buku
YesterdayMay 18 at 2:50am
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The model the way concept of leadership espoused by Kouzes and Posner, which can also be called the mentorship concept is consistent with biblical worldview. In this concept, leadership seeks to model the way by being examples to followers by aligning personal actions with shared values (Kouzes & Posner, 2017, 72). It is explained that creditability which is the foundation of leadership makes followers come along and imitated a leader whose values are clearly set out when words and deeds are also matched together. This is only when results can be achieved through influence. Paul instructed Titus to be of a good role model and an example to the church and body of Christ (Titus 2:7) to demonstrate integrity and effectiveness in his ministry as a leader. Jesus puts it succinctly that whoever wants to be a great leader should first be a servant (Mathew 20:26). Jesus demonstrated this by washing the feet of the apostles in John 13:14-17, though a preserve service only to servants to their master’s guests, was demonstrated by Jesus as an example of character and value He wants to inculcate in His disciples. This is how to become a steward and an effective leader in ministry and real life situations.
The trait approach to the leadership concept is one that recognizes only traits, qualities and skills as elements that make leaders great in the process of producing desired results. With this concept “it was believed that people were born with traits and characteristics, and that only those who possessed these traits could be leaders. (Northhouse, 2016, p.19). Further, in the eyes of followers, certain traits like intelligence, insight, initiative, and self-confidence are associated with individual who are leaders (Northhouse, 2016, p.20). Therefore, an individual in this leadership role was seen to be different from the rest and recognized as the sole player in the leadership/management process, with disregard to situational and follower roles. An example is the Ford auto assembly plant in Detroit, which utilized the Taylor scientific management theory to control workers who were used like tools for desired results. Though, this concept was a practical answer to production speed and quantity requirements of the industrial revolution, it was inconsistent with biblical worldview. Jesus referred to this kind of leadership in Mathew 20:25 as leaders who exercise absolute authority over followers. The trait concept which was an organizational concentrate and still used in today’s manufacturing industries, make products affordable, raise wages with record quantities of goods available. The nature of the trait theory’s bureaucratic structure is inconsistent with biblical worldview because the trait concept is focused only on the leader (Northhouse, 2016, p.30), leaving out the followers who are an integral component of the shepherd leadership concept and a concept that should not be replicated in a ministry setting or Christian environment.
References:
Kouzes, J. M. & Posner, B. Z. (2017). The leadership challenge: How to make extraordinary things happen in organizations. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey.
Northhouse, P. G. (2016). Leadership: Theory and practice. Sage Publications, Inc.
Holman Study Bible, NKJV (2015).
