“The power of inspiring others to service and sacrifice will mark God’s leader”[1] so spoke Oswald Sanders. He equates this quality to many leaders, Churchill after the fall of France in WWII notes that Nehemiah also arrived in Jerusalem to a disheartened and dispirited people. Nehemiah inspired the people to have “mind to work”[2] The people were inspired by Nehemiah as they saw a noble and worthwhile task, were equipped, allocated achievable goals, held accountable and valued.
The very word ‘inspire’[3] means to blow into or even inflame. In Genesis we read of God creating and then breathing into his creation. Inspiration was more than a mechanical cleverness; it was transference of the eternal life of God into a soulless creation. Life itself carries the notion of inspiration. God continues with Adam in having him name the animals and assigning him dominion over the creation. Inspiration from a leader should do more than excite them to a task or cause devotion to a passionate cause. It should empower them, sustain them and bring rationality to their existence.
There are many inspirational leaders in the Old Testament. A common characteristic is their call by God to lead and with this call came the ability to attract and inspire obedience in followers often accompanied by the promise of God’s presence. God said to Moses[4] ‘I will be with you’. To Abram[5] he says ‘Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.’ About Samuel it says ‘The LORD was with Samuel as he grew up, and he let none of Samuel’s words fall to the ground’. About Ezekiel’s ministry ‘God says Say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says.’ 5 And whether they listen or fail to listen—for they are a rebellious people—they will know that a prophet has been among them.’[6]
The notion that God is with him or her is a common theme and brings allegiance or recognition to a leader both in the New and Old Testaments.
Note also that the ‘called’ have spiritual experiences that bring a transformation in the person, a confidence and indeed a change within. Paul is the supreme example of this being transformed from a hate filled Christian killing zealot to an evangelist . Acts 9 tells of scales falling from his eyes, being filled with the spirit and being baptised. Pauls leadership is based on his call.[7]
Gideon is an example of an uninspiring and even timid[8] man who inspired an army. Almost the sole identifiable characteristic that brought inspiration was that he was chosen by God, people recognised this and God’s Spirit brought allegiance and success. People saw something, a transformation, a timid man who now tears down the idols of the false gods and builds an altar to the Lord. A common refrain in the Book of Judges[9] is that the spirit of the Lord was with them.
Inspiration comes by example. ‘Get out of the boat’ said Jesus and so Peter was inspired, ‘If Jesus can, so can I’. In fact discipleship was largely a matter of copying Jesus, the casting out of demons, healing the sick, teaching the Good News was done by Jesus first and then the disciples. They were trained and sent.[10] They were inspired by the trust that Jesus placed in them.
Gunter Krallman[11] calls this type of training ‘withness’. Discipleship is done by being with someone. Whenever you are doing ministry have someone with you learning so they can learn. This style of training multiplies skilled labourers. In the temple when Peter and John had healed the cripple it was observed ‘they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.’[12]
The Apostle Paul always had companions on his journeys not only as helpers but as trainee leaders. This is taken for granted or even ignored by the modern church whose educational paradigms lie in the classroom. Paul has many calls to faithfulness and perseverance but it is always backed up by his life as an example. After a long diatribe of his sufferings, perseverance and hope in Christ Paul states
‘Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do.’[13]
He provides ample teaching to convince the wider church that they can succeed as well. This is when success is measured in faithfulness to God and living in his power, even in the face of great suffering.
‘I can do all this through him who gives me strength.’[14]
and
‘But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.’[15]
Where does inspiration comes from? When people see that all things are possible and they are told ‘You can do it too’.
Inspirational leaders give a reason to live, a worthwhile cause, a challenge to change the unacceptable status quo and a means or plan to implement this change. When Jesus challenged his chosen disciples to ‘follow me’ they had beforehand heard of his preaching of the kingdom of God. Luke[16] describes their commissioning to do what they had seen Jesus do. They were equipped, trusted and empowered to perform the task.
Nehemiah inspired the rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. How did Nehemiah inspire the Jews? He set forth the state of Jerusalem, made the task achievable, called for sacrifice, made it collective (everyone would participate and make sacrifices) and trusted each group with their own task.
Inspirational people bring a ‘sense of future’. Jesus based his ministry heavenward preaching the kingdom of God or heaven. He promised the disciples to ‘make you fishers of men’. [17] On leaving the disciples he commissions with the task of discipling all nations.[18] He also promises his return.
Inspirational leaders embrace values.[19] The stronger the value system, the more strongly leaders can be empowered and empower others. Values strengthen the fabric of leadership providing a framework for action, a reason for following and a system for resolving complications such as conflict. When values strike the chord of the masses then movements begin, inspiration is normal. Jesus Christ claims to be the Truth[20]; he has value not only in his teaching, his conduct but also intrinsically by his nature. Jesus engaged the masses with values that were relevant to them; values of the kingdom, behavioural values and values of true religion. He did this in juxtaposition to the hypocritical values of the ruling religious leaders.
The values of Christ are adopted by the Church, by Paul, Peter, John and all the apostles. They not only are their modus operandi but their raison d’être. Values are inseparable from mission; they are one and the same. Values bring conviction and dedication to a cause two vital ingredients of inspiration.
Some literature warns of the dangers of inspirational leadership and of their ability to manipulate and mislead people. Kotlar and Karakowsky[21]suggest that ‘transformational leaders have the potential to unwittingly ignite disproportionately high levels of affective team conflict’. Paul writes against personality cults[22], when addressing those at Corinth. There is a difference between an inspirational person and a deceived magnetic personality.
Power can corrupt character.
However inspirational leaders are needed and the scriptures are bursting with
them. God wants to people who have gifts of leadership to aspire to be inspirational.
[1] Sanders, J.Oswald. Spiritual Leadership Moody Press Chicago 1994 Second Revision page 73
[2] Nehemiah 4:6 So we built the wall And all the wall was joined together to half its height, for the people had a mind to work.
[3] c.1303, from O.Fr. inspiration, from L.L. inspirationem (nom. inspiratio), from L. inspirare “inspire, inflame, blow into,” from in-“in” + spirare “breathe.”
[4] Exodus 3:11
[5] Genesis 12:1
[6] Ezekiel 2:4,5
[7] Romans 1:1
[8] Judges 6:11
[9] Judges 6:34, 11:29, 13:25
[10] Luke 10
[11] Krallman, Gunter. Mentoring For Mission. Gabriel Publishing 2003.
[12] Acts 4:13
[13] Philippians 3:17
[14] Philippians 4:13
[15] 2 Corinthians 12:9
[16] Luke 10:1-23
[17] Matthew 4:19
[18] Matthew 28:16-20
[19] Burns, James MacGregor. Transforming Leadership. New York, Grove Press, 2003. P211
[20] John 14:6
[21] Koltyar, Igor and Karakowsky, Leonard. Falling over ourselves to follow the leader. Journal of Leadership and Organisational Studies, August 2007.
[22] 1 Corinthians 1:10-17
