Leadership Authority

By John Weaver

March 1, 2025

There are three kinds of authority.

HUMAN AUTHORITY

First, our parents were our authority. Then came the teacher, the boss, and the person in the car behind us with the blue lights flashing. They are all our human authorities. Our opinions or ideas aside, they called the shots. We obeyed. Or we better have.

RELIGIOUS AUTHORITY

Oh, this is the one that causes all the trouble. Jesus had a lot of problems with this one. The religious people wanted to impose all kinds of demands and restrictions on the people. Jesus was tough on them. Talking about leaders, He said:

“For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers” (Matthew 23:4).

Today, we see church leaders who seem to feel that leadership comes with glory, power, and positions of honor. They will exercise authority over the church, a lot like human authority. They act more in the pattern of a king than a servant. A leader like this will scatter more than gather, or, as a brother once said, he will drive the sheep to market. This type of authority should not even exist.

SPIRITUAL AUTHORITY

This is what Jesus was all about: serving and ministering. He was the greatest authority who walked on this earth, yet he humbly washed His disciples’ feet. He was without sin, yet He wanted to be baptized: not to show an outward sign of inner cleansing but as an example to us. His whole life was all about doing His Father’s will. In fact, He plainly stated that He came not to be ministered to but to minister.

A spiritual leader will follow the same pattern that Jesus had. He will always seek the Father’s will. He will be an example in his leadership. He will never ask others what he is not willing to do first. He will lead as a gentle shepherd, esteeming others higher than himself. A spiritual leader will understand that it is not his church. He is not called to build the church but to guide, to show forth the Lord Jesus as the builder of the church, and to point the people to Him.

His goal will be to prepare God’s people for works of service, “For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ” (Eph 4 12). He will always be in God’s service as he leads (never pushes) the flock.

Finally, a spiritual leader will (again, like a shepherd) always be on the lookout for wolves. He knows that they will try to slip into the flock and cause destruction. The spiritual leader, who is always gentle with the flock, will be ruthless with the wolf. He knows that a wolf, no matter how much he comes in sheep’s clothing, will try to tear the sheep apart. The wolf will be sent packing. In fact, the shepherd will give his life for the sheep. He does this because he is not a hireling.

Let me tell you what a hireling is. It is someone who does what he does because it is a job, not more. A year ago, when I was in the hospital, I received excellent care. The nurses cared for my every need - until their shift was over. Then they were gone. They served me because it was their job. On the other hand, my good and faithful wife took care of me - not because it was her job. She didn't do it out of duty but out of love. Her shift never ended. I had to encourage her to go home sometimes and get rest. She was by my side 24/7 if she could.

The difference between a shepherd who is a spiritual authority and a hireling is as different as day from night.

Lord, make men into spiritual leaders who pattern after Jesus and not after human authority.