Deeper Reflection
A CHRISTIAN LEADER MAY LEAD AT TWO LEVELS. HE OR SHE leads by influence. Influence is the capacity to have a developmental effect on people to bring about change in their belief, opinion, behaviour or character. In Scripture, such leaders “speak the Word of God” and live their lives in Christ such that God’s people “consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith” (Heb 13:7). A leader may lead through infrastructure – being appointed to a leadership position. In leadership, influence is greater than infrastructure. There can be influence without leading through an infrastructure, but leading through an infrastructure may not have influence. A critical test of leadership is: Is there followership?A leader has the God-given responsibility to lead and people who are under their leaders have their God-given responsibility to follow. It can be challenging to follow a leader who is difficult to follow. Probably this was happening in the Thessalonian church.⁵⁴ We are to “esteem” (to think of, to consider⁵⁵) our leaders “most exceedingly” (v.13) – to “hold them in the highest regard” (NIV). But this ought not to be done to flatter or praise a leader too much and give him or her a lot of attention that is not sincere, but for personal gain. The key lies in “love”: The “highest regard” is given and received “in love”. Love restrains and removes wrong motives and negative attitudes. Leaders are humans who can stumble (cf. Jas 3:1-2), but we can still think positively of them with affirmation, appreciation, encouragement and prayer support for “their work”. Good leader-follower relationships help a great deal in this.

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⁵⁴ John R. W. Stott, Thessalonians, 119 ⁵⁵ Gene L. Green, 250