As required by Singapore laws, all young men who reach the age of 18, have to serve in the military for two or two and a half years. It was in this compulsory military service that I met some of the most despicable leaders. Many of the officers were only one or two years older than I was but they had learned to be rude and ruthless. Their harsh attitude could be part of the military tactic to break us civilian softies and make us into real soldiers. However, I really doubted the effectiveness of using such unreasonable harshness. Instead of training us to be soldiers, it seemed like they were training us to be prisoners-of-war.

On the day of conscription, we were driven in large military trucks to the recruit-training center known as School of Basic Military Training (SBMT). Before we could even jump out of the trucks, the officers and non-commissioned officers were already ridiculing and scolding us with languages that would make my mother rub their mouths with hot chilly peppers. Being a young black-belt exponent of Tae Kwon Do, it took a lot of self-control to prevent myself from doing damage to those abusive officers. At that time, I was not a Christian and so fighting it out was one of the ways I solved my relational problem. I went through the recruit training grudgingly. I did the minimal of any instructions that my superiors gave me. On the surface, I obeyed the officers’ orders, but deep inside, I was angry enough to rearrange their faces. However, the fear of being court-martialed and incarcerated prevented me from doing so.

Then one day, a new non-commissioned officer, Corporal Poh, was posted to take charge of our platoon. He was a different kind of leader - distinctly different from all the other officers. There was a certain peaceful disposition about him. He was very firm with us but kind. Respect was his key to our hearts. He told us that if we wanted respect then we had to earn it. He led by example and would work alongside us. In the evenings, he would visit us in our barracks and spent time talking to each recruit. He did not just do his job as a corporal but he really cared for us.

The result of such caring treatment was amazing. We the recruits would go the second mile for him. We cooperated because we wanted to and not because we were forced to do so. Corporal Poh undoubtedly became our most popular corporal.  Personally, his servant leadership had left a deep impression in my heart. The three-month recruit training was soon over. I was posted to serve at a military airbase and so lost touch of Corporal Poh. Some years later, after I became a pastor, I was to meet Corporal Poh again. This time it was at one of the local churches where I was invited to preach. It was not surprising for me to learn that the former Corporal Poh was serving as an elder in his church.

 

Servant Leaders In The Church

We all like to serve servant-leaders but when leadership is being entrusted upon us, do we behave like servant-leaders? As Christians, we really have no choice but to obey the words of our Savior: “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:42-45).

In the church, true servant leaders carry the burden of leading, caring, protecting, nurturing, feeding, loving, encouraging and building the flock of God. They lead by serving. Therefore leadership in the church is never based on succession like that of empires where fathers pass their positions to the sons. It is also not based on a pyramid structure by which certain people cling on to leadership positions just because they are from the right societal background or pedigree. Leadership in the church is based on the call of God and how one responds in service. Whom God has called, He would also give the relevant gifts to fulfill that call. We have to find the right ministries so as to suit our gifts. In Romans 12:6,8, Paul wrote, “We have different gifts, according to the grace given us...if it is leadership, let him govern diligently….”

Have you ever met pastors who do not have the gift of preaching? I have and it is an agonizing experience just to listen to their sermons. Not all pastors are preachers. Sometimes it might be better for the pastor to acknowledge his weakness. On Sundays, he may address his church by giving short words of exhortation and leave the preaching to some of his lay leaders who may be gifted preachers. Whatever the gifts may be, one must consider carefully the call of God in one’s life.

I am a firm believer that there is such a thing as the “call of God” in our lives. Nothing is more tragic than being successful in something God has never called us to be or do. For example, a person who has the gift of evangelism may become a very good sales person. If God has called him to be a full-time evangelist then he should not be spending most of his waking hours as a sales person? However if God has called him to be a sales person than he should not be a full-time evangelist, even though he may evangelize as a Christian witness. Success is becoming the person whom God has intended you to be. This is not to say that you have been destined but that you have been given the privilege to serve in a particular area of God’s kingdom.

 

No Blind Submission

Good attitude has to do with our willingness to submit to God and His leaders. As Paul the Apostle said to the early Christians, “Follow my example as I follow the example of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1). We cannot adopt blind submission without checking whether our leaders are following the example of Christ and serving in accordance with biblical principles.

A couple of years ago, I met a pastor who was extremely abusive in his church and behaved like a tyrant. I had the opportunity to observe the loud scolding and threatening words that he used on his staff and members. Even though I tried to admonish him to respect these Christians, he did not accept my advice. He continued his abusive behavior and therefore lost many potential and existing members. Today, his church remains small and only those who could take his abuses stay behind.

I have learned one important thing from this abusive man and that is we who are pastors should never behave more like the devil than like Christ. Another important thing that I have learned is that no one should allow himself or herself to live under such abusive leadership. God’s Word is very clear about how true servant-leaders should perform: “Shepherd the flock of God among you, not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness; nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock” (1Peter 5:2, 3).

Thankfully, God has given me the privilege of meeting some true servant leaders and prime examples of Christ-likeness. One of them is Dr. William Menzies, who once served as the president of the seminary that I attended. He was a strong leader with good vision. On top of that he was a caring and loving person. He would welcome me into his office and I would never feel being slighted by his position. While attending some of his classes, I noticed nothing but politeness and good manners in him, even while addressing students. In my mind, I was thinking that if I ever wanted to have a model for my painting of Christ, I would choose Dr. Menzies.

Another humble servant-leader was Dr. Koichi Kitano, who served as the Academic Dean in the same seminary. He treated the students with the same respect that he used for the teachers or denominational leaders. I have never seen him lost his temper or being rude to anybody. Later, when he served as the principal of a bible school in Singapore, he invited me to teach in some of the courses. He displayed the same respect and love for everybody in the school. These two men of God are shinning examples of true servant leadership. My only regret is that I am a long way away from being true servant leader like them. I am working hard at it.

 

Servant Leadership Attitude

Learning to follow and learning to lead are both important. It is a matter of having the right attitude. As a former manager, I evaluated employees more for their attitude than their skill levels. If an employee’s attitude was good but lacked the skills to do the job I could train him. However, if an employee’s attitude was bad and refused to learn, then this person rarely lasted long in the company. As a Christian, we have to check our attitude regularly. Do we have a teachable and amiable spirit? Are we willing to be humble and learn? This is important because it determines how we respond to God and His commandments.

Success is usually linked with good leadership but success has to be handled with extreme care. Some time it can become a deathtrap for immature leaders. When I was a younger pastor and success came easy, I became easily puffed up. Today, as I look back, there were many people whom I had slighted and offended because of my arrogance. “Successful” pastors are easy preys for the pride monster. Success somehow has a way of expanding the heads and exploding the minds. When pride comes into the picture, it can cause a person to think what he is not. A true servant leader has to recognize this danger and deal with this area of pride. If not, it can become a stumbling block that causes a leader to become un-teachable, un-trainable and untouchable.

A true servant-leader bears much of the fruit of the Spirit. He or she is more loving, patient, and caring than most people. These should be observable behaviors and people should give glory to God because they have been positively affected by such behaviors. How can we lead if we have not ourselves been positively affected by the grace of Christ? Are we growing more Christ-like today than yesterday? Are we growing more in the grace of Christ every moment of the day? Are we opened to the convicting power of the Holy Spirit? How can we be good Christian models when we are not in the perfecting process? A Christian leader does not need to be perfect but in the perfecting process. He or she is never fully sanctified but are being sanctified all the time. Sanctification is a pilgrimage and not a destination as long as we are living in this present evil age.

 

The Gifts Of Servant Leadership

When a person is called to serve in a church, he or she must show the evidence of the spiritual gifts in carrying out the tasks. Some Christians may bear tremendous fruit of the Spirit but if they do not have the gifts to do the job then it will only be appropriate to let those who have the gifts to do so. For example, a pastor of a small church, who did not have the gift of an evangelist, was constantly frustrated for years when he preached at his own annual evangelistic meetings and received little responses for salvation.  Then on one occasion, he broke with his tradition and invited a gifted evangelist to preach. The result was astounding. He received more responses for salvation in one meeting than all the meetings that he had conducted. A Holy-Spirit empowered gift is something to reckon with.

Some pastors are multi-gifted and therefore are able to handle many aspects of ministries. However, as true servant-leaders, they must identify others with the appropriate gifts to do the tasks. They must be willing to impart their gifts and teach others to serve as effectively as they do. The gift of delegating is not a common one. Many pastors want to do everything themselves and are afraid that they might lose their usefulness once they delegate it to others. The Bible emphasizes that we should develop the Body of Christ so that every member will become a minister (Ephesians 4:11).

A true servant leader works himself out of a job. He does not only hand over the task but also the authority that is related to it. This kind of attitude is difficult to adopt because so often we are affected by the principles of the world. We are told to grab and hold on to the important task and power. If you want to spot a small in-grown church, look for a pastor who does everything himself, holds all the power and is unwilling to trust anyone else.

Finally, if we were ever asked to take on leadership role, let us remember to be kind, gentle, loving and caring. We must acknowledge that all true servant leadership derives its authority from Christ and it is therefore best expressed with the attitude of Christ. Whether we are leaders in the church, leaders at home or in our workplace, it is important to adopt the servant-leadership attitude and serve others just as though we are serving Christ. It is by such service-oriented leadership that we will grow to become more like Christ in every aspect of our lives. Indeed the mark of a true servant leader is a Christ-centered heart and humble attitude. Let’s pray for God to be merciful and help us to be true servant leaders.