by Keith Hamilton
Synopsis: A google search on “leadership” yields 2.6 billion results. Instead of searching the internet for inspirational quotes on this subject, let’s turn to God’s word for guidance.
In the spring of 1939, General George Marshall and Colonel Matthew Ridgeway spent ten days on a trip to South America discussing and identifying a good leader’s characteristics. General Marshall had reason to worry as the drums of war were beating in Europe and the Pacific. He knew the United States military was unprepared to carry out major military warfare in two different theatres of operation. His primary concern was that qualified men were not in place—ones who could lead this nation’s military in combat. Taking the fourteen characteristics that he and Colonel Ridgeway identified as the standard for the leaders they were seeking, General Marshall devised a stringent and rigid process to assess the military’s current generals. In operation “Louisiana Maneuvers,” General Marshall evaluated the capabilities of over one hundred generals, and from that determined that only eleven could truly lead in combat. General George Patton, a man known for his fiery temperament and courage, was one that General Marshall identified. Patton would later comment on how challenging were the Louisiana Maneuvers. The brilliance of using this method to choose good leaders was seen in America’s subsequent success in World War II. Leading a nation in war is one of the greatest of all tests. When subsequently discussing his selection process, Marshall noted: they “valued character more than intellect.” “Leaders of Character” happens to be the motto of West Point.
In 1989, I had the good fortune to be part of a start-up opportunity for the Bridgestone Corporation. The management team wanted to do something different with the new workforce: i.e., create a “culture of leadership” where everyone from the top down would possess leadership characteristics. Fourteen factors were identified as key to the kind of people who would uphold the values and principles that would be expected from everyone. To recognize individuals who possessed those characteristics, we created a stringent selection process utilizing an “Assessment Center.” It was a challenging and grueling process, and only a few people were identified and selected. In a recent discussion with a good friend (who was the Production Manager and a vital part of the team that developed our selection process), we agreed that the stringent selection process and commitment to maintaining our core values had been the key to that plant’s success. The Bridgestone Plant in Morrison, TN, has become what the Japanese identify as “dan-totsu,” i.e., not one of the best, but the best. Over the years, I have become a firm believer that careful and diligent attention to “Leadership Selection” needs to be given by any organization striving for success.
This method of identifying leadership characteristics did not begin with our military or with recent business trends. In His infinite wisdom, God long ago revealed this process for choosing individuals to serve in leadership positions. In Acts 6, the newly formed church in Jerusalem faced the challenge of ensuring that the Grecian widows were not “neglected in the daily ministration” (v. 1). The inspired apostles’ solution was for the church to identify seven men who could take the lead in ministering to this work. However, they were not just to pick out any seven men. The apostles defined the leadership characteristics those men were to possess: honest report, full of the Holy Ghost, and wisdom. (v. 3) The church picked good men who would be faithful in performing this service.
We see a similar biblical pattern of identifying the characteristics of those who would occupy leadership roles in a local congregation. God set forth the essential attributes for those who would serve in any “leadership” capacity. Whether a church is choosing elders (1 Tim. 3:1ff; Titus 1:5ff), deacons (1 Tim. 3:7ff), or those who serve in the capacity of an evangelist (2 Timothy—yes, the entire book), each person must be measured against the characteristics that God identified (for specific qualifications, please see the resources cited below).
“Leadership selection” by a congregation of the Lord’s people should be approached with grave and diligent concern. A stringent process to ensure that the church is picking the right person for the right reasons is necessary. In the business world, chaos results from the wrong person being chosen as a leader of an organization. In contrast, at Bridgestone, we witnessed great things happening when a “right fit” with leadership selection occurred.
Sacred Scripture is full of examples of what happens under good and bad leaders. How many churches have suffered because a congregation made a poor decision regarding its leadership? Just as a company’s leaders represent that company, congregational leaders represent the Lord to those they lead. This brings us to an essential point in our discussion. We should strive to see those who are being considered for leadership as God sees them.
God sent Samuel the prophet to Bethlehem to anoint a successor to King Saul. Entering the house of Jesse and seeing Eliab, Samuel thought he was the one God had chosen. Yet, the Lord said unto Samuel,
Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart (1 Sam. 16:7, NASB).
When you think about it, would any of us have chosen Saul of Tarsus, or (for that matter) any of those whom Jesus called to be apostles? Since we are not the Lord and cannot “look on the heart,” then what are we to do? The best we can do is to look at a person’s behavior. In other words, what they say and what they do equals their “fruit” (Luke 6:43-45).
The characteristics that God has identified for leaders must not be considered lightly. Anyone who is being considered for appointment to the eldership must meet all the qualifications before he is appointed. Beware of any attempt to disregard the characteristics required by the Lord through His inspired writers. An ungodly trend is occurring today where churches ignore these divinely specified qualifications and appoint individuals to leadership roles who are not qualified.
Moreover, let us not insert carnal characteristics like some at Corinth, who rejected the apostle Paul because of his “appearance” (2 Cor. 10:10). Sadly, leaders are often selected by the “like principle” or the “halo effect.” This occurs when folks make such choices because they are enamored with someone’s personality. Charm, wit, humor, intellect, oratory skills, looks, social graces, and charisma are never used in the New Testament to define the character of one to be selected to serve in a leadership role.
When a congregation faces the process of choosing someone for a leadership role, great care and prayerful consideration should be employed to ensure that they meet the defined characteristics that God has revealed. Those God-defined characteristics are in the Scriptures for a reason. Let us regard those with the highest of esteem. Congregations should use God’s stringent and rigid selection process to choose its leaders wisely. Success or failure hangs in the balance.
Phillips, H.E. Scriptural Elders And Deacons. Athens, AL: Truth Publications, Inc., 2019. https://truthbooks.com/scriptural-elders-and-deacons/.
Needham, James P. Preachers and Preaching. Temple Terrace, FL: Florida College Press, 1969, second printing 1985. https://truthbooks.com/reference-materials/preaching/preachers-and-preaching/.
