Listen to the Boss

An article in Sunshine Magazine shows the difference between a leader and a boss using a comparison made by a successful owner of large department stores. He claims that . . .

The boss drives his men — the leader coaches them.
The boss depends upon authority — the leader on good will.
The boss inspires fear — the leader inspires enthusiasm.
The boss says “I” — the leader, “we.”
The boss fixes the blame for the breakdown — the leader fixes the breakdown.
The boss knows how it is done — the leader shows how.
The boss says “Go” — the leader says “Let’s go!”

As I read this list, I’m thinking of the leadership style of Jesus Christ. He certainly coaches His disciples and is with them in every task and project. As the branch must abide in the vine, we also cannot do anything apart from Him. He also inspires us, fixes the messes we make, and shows us how to do what He asks. He is right there, no matter what He wants me to do.

Yet as my leader, Jesus must also have authority as well as ability. What good is a leader who cannot be or do anything that He asks of his followers? What good is a leader who cannot have any influence to bring the work done to a successful end? I could not follow Him if He had no clout, but of course He does have clout. He said:

“All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.” (Matthew 28:18)

His authority covers everything that affects me. While He was on earth, He demonstrated authority over the weather, sickness and death, and all spiritual entities. He had the authority to forgive sins and judge all men. While He submitted to events, the Bible says that He now is sovereign over all. At the end of His time here, He also proved that He had the authority to lay down His life and take it up again. He is in charge of the world and all that happens in it. I may not understand what He is doing all the time, but I do know that He is the Boss.

Authority is important. While the world works toward “equality for all” this concept so easily backfires into anarchy. From youth who say, “Who are you to tell me what to do?” to adults who pay little attention to road signs and speed limits, anyone can observe the effects when people have little or no respect for authority. We need leaders, and we need to be able to recognize our leaders and follow them.

Authority is also important in the church. While we are all members of the body of Christ and “each member is as important as the others,” Jesus also gives authority to some who are leaders in the church. This has many important implications. One is that leadership provides a system of accountability that authorizes discipline when church members fall into sin and refuse to get out of it. The Bible says:

Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you. (Hebrews 13:17)

If Christians find themselves in spiritual trouble because they have fallen into sin, they might go to a psychologist or counselor rather than their pastor. There, they may get good advice (unfortunately, not always), but an independent counselor cannot claim any spiritual authority over them or hold them accountable to obey biblical principles. The relationship is more clinical than personal so even if their counselor was another Christian, there is less likelihood that person would exhort a sinful client to confess and repent.

Christians are told to be accountable to those in authority over them and those who are spiritual are told to restore those overtaken in sin (Galatians 6). These are examples of the value of authority.

As for the practical part of this, I need leadership; running my own life gets me into trouble. Whether it is Jesus Himself, or someone He has authorized to take charge, I need someone to say “stop it” or “start it” and someone to show me how and cheer me on.

Just as the department store owner says, I need the “we” aspect of Jesus’ leadership. Whether I’m trying to keep my life straight, or am trying to obey His commands, I need my leaders.

I also need Jesus, and I am so glad that He is right here with me. The verse from Matthew, in its context, continues; after Jesus says He has all authority and gives His followers the command to make disciples, He finishes with, “and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”