Leaders or Servants - How Do We View Ourselves ?

My good friend,  Chip Kingsbury posted the following on the Facebook Group, Kingdom Village.  I found it so compelling that I wanted to share it with you.

What does the world say a leader is?

 Jesus told us clearly in Matt 20:25-28. The leaders of the world:
1. “lord it over them” (See Acts 19:16)
2. “Exercise authority over them”
3. “Call themselves benefactors” Luke 22:25

The oppressor seeks to look like a benefactor, having a respectable image. He does this to prevent the oppressed from resisting. So long as the oppressor appears kind, reasonable, and of benefit to the people, the oppressed just accept this type of leadership as “good.” Some might even believe that the oppression is really good for them since the oppressor really means well.

But what does Jesus say?
• “It will not be so with you”
• “Not so with you”
• “But you are not to be like that”

So it seems (to me anyway) that we:
We are NOT to LORD IT OVER, but to be accountable to those whom we serve;
We are NOT TO EXERCISE AUTHORITY OVER, but to be one who serves;
We are NOT TO CALL OURSELVES BENEFACTORS, but to be humble vision setters.

Instead of holding followers accountable to themselves, biblical servants are to be accountable to the Lord and their followers.

Biblical leadership separates leadership from authority.
Leadership: Brings vision, Sets goals, rallies the people, pulls people together, brings unity
Authority: Choice, decision-making, accountability must rest with those whom we serve.

I challenge each of us who considers ourselves to be leaders, to "Make the road by walking." Choose to separate leadership from authority. Refuse to follow the well worn “ancient” paths of despotism, dictatorship and rulers.
• Instead, establish accountability structures where you and all others leaders will be accountable to those whom they serve.
• Provide vision, dreams, and ideas.
• Pull people together, bring unity to disarray,
• And then go to those for whom you have done all of that. Ask them:
How am I doing?
Where do I need to change?
What have I missed?
What needs to be done differently?
How must I change?

It is not easy to be a servant leader – it means giving up power and authority, and putting those things in the hands of God and those you serve.

Can we take up the challenge?