Which do you look for most in a leader? Character or competence? I know we'd ideally like both, but which most important? Which can you train and develop and which rarely changes?
I've been looking again at Mark Dever's book 'The Deliberate Church', as I've been musing over the results of the survey I mentioned yesterday. Its a great book on the church and has some good chapters on leaders, specifically elders. He gives a helpful list of what a Biblical elder is not:
- simply an older male.
- simply a successful businessman.
- simply an involved community member.
- simply a "good ol' boy."
- female (1 Tim 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9 assume male leadership).
- a politician.
This is then followed by what an elder is, I've picked out the following highlights. An elder is:
- a man of exemplary, Christlike character.
- a man who loves Christ and displays that love in his service of others.
- a man who holds firmly to the truths of the Bible and will stand for them.
- a man with a good reputation in the community.
- able to lead God's people by teaching them God's Word profitably.
- committed to private prayer and Bible study
- living a holy life whilst engaged with society.
A good leader is known by his character and character is vital because the elder models godliness for others. Just as Israels spiritual health rarely rose above the level of its leader so it is with the church and its leaders.
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