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Five Characteristics of a Christian Leader


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In the Bible we see, over and over, that before God moved mightily, He always raised a man as a leader. No doubt that His hand was powerful and that God himself did all the heavy lifting and miraculous, nevertheless, from Noah on down, He moved through leaders. I want to introduce you to, what I considered, the five most powerful characteristics of a leader.

 

  1. A leader invests in his followers.
 
And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. Matthew 4:19 (KJV)
 
It is not about having people follow; it is about us investing in them. We should be passionately teaching our disciples and getting them ready to be effective leaders. A Godly leader can’t be arrogant or jealous; the key is that they invest in their people, that is why Jesus later stated in John 14:12,

 

12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. (KJV)
 
  1. A leader understands that he/she is not a god. A leader is a servant who understands that there is nobody better than another. Humility ought to be evident in the life of a leader. Jesus washed His disciples feet. He then made the following statement,
Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. John 13:16 (KJV)
 
  1. A leader is always pointing at Christ not at himself. After Jesus, the Samaritan woman is one of my greatest inspirations. She became an instant evangelist after her encounter with Christ. Then the people of Samaria that she won for Christ said in John 4:40-42,
40 So when the Samaritans were come unto him, they besought him that he would tarry with them: and he abode there two days.
41 And many more believed because of his own word;
42 And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world. (KJV)
 
  1. A leader leaves somebody in place when He is gone. Example, Moses to Joshua, Elijah to Elisha, David to Solomon, Jesus to the Disciples and others. I don’t think that people holding the same positions of leadership for years and years is Biblical; especially when they die and nobody has an idea of who will be in charge next. If leadership falls apart after the leader dies and move on to do other things, it may be an indicator of bad leadership to start with.
  2. A leader is confident in the validation he or she has in God. A leader knows who he/she is in God. Jesus washed the disciples feet with no problem because,
3 Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God;
4 He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself.
5 After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded. John 13:3-5 (NKJ)
 
One of the greatest problems we have in church leadership is an insecure pastor who is afraid that someone in the congregation will take his place. These kinds of leaders keep people bound. But a secure leader is not intimidated because they know who they are in Christ.

 

         All of these principles are perfectly applicable at Casiano’s Martial Arts. When students walk into my school, it may be that they are not a better martial artist than I am; however, they may have the potential to be a far better martial artist than me. My job is not to tear that student down, but to teach him/her all I know. I look at him/her as somebody that can impact his/her community in a far greater way than I. If that happens, then I have done my job.

4 responses to “Five Characteristics of a Christian Leader”

  1. Nelson Pacheco Avatar
    Nelson Pacheco

    Beloved,

    Thank you again for touching this very important subject. I have visited a small church in the town of New London, New Hampshire where I work. They are a very small group, maybe a dozen or so. They are very prophetic, very sound in the word and more importantly (to me) they truly care about worshiping GOD. Yet, I don’t feel they care about me. I had a small talk with the assistant pastor, about 3 weeks ago and last Sunday he came to me to tell me that they want me to be part of their leadership. I responded by saying to the brother that I will like for him or the pastor to sit down with me first just to talk about our lives, our families, our testimonies and perhaps our calling and so forth, because I don’t even know them at all yet. I have visited them so far only 4-5 times. Its been a week and a half after we talked but I have not heard from him at all. I remember my past experience and feel very skeptical to join a church where the emphasis once again is the work and not the loving, Godly and necessary formation of relationships first, where we learn how to love one another first, and how to care for one another first and how to minister to one another first and learn how to be responsible and honest with one one another first and invest “as you mentioned” in one another’s lives first, and pastor one another first with a theology that is simple, practical and effective. And do so before we feel we have the right to try to built a church in the community. Its seems to me that for the most part we are interested in bringing people to GOD but not so much in bringing GOD to people. We are interested in telling but not demonstrating. We are interested in spending but not investing. We want to preach but not to reach. We care about the follower but not the disciple. We truly need men/women in the church with a true parental concern. Men and Women who have the capacity to see a life in need of CHRIST, and in need of a spiritual father and/or mother, and in need of a friend, and a teacher, and a mentor…someone who truly cares.
    Why is it? that no one cares about me. Why is it? that they care about what I may can do or provide but not about Who am I or How I feel . Before I left Jacksonville I felt like someone with leprosy and now I feel so invisible; so distant. I have felt very lonely for a long time but now I feel very tired.
    A leader invest in his followers you said on your first point. I think it was Paul who said once “For the will of GOD is for the father to treasure for his son; and not the son for his father.
    I am sorry about my puertorican English.

    Your little Bro.
    Pacheco

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    1. angelcasiano Avatar
      angelcasiano

      Powerful word indeed Pacheco. I often say, that if we don’t bring this church experience into each other’s home, is not real. It is real when we eat together, when talk to each other, testify to each other, laugh, pray and Worship our King together. Brother, I have invited so many people to my home seeking that real thing, they come to my house, but very few invite me to their home. No eres leproso, ni invisible; eres un hombre poderoso de Dios y un gran amigo.

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  2. Nelson Pacheco Avatar
    Nelson Pacheco

    Thank you Beloved,
    I said to James once that the best church I ever had period! was meeting with You, Dennis and James those Saturday mornings at James house. Where we were so transparent and honest with one another. Always confessing our sins, our struggles, our weakness and so much more with each other. And then sharing the true CHRIST in us with each other as well, ministering, teaching, praying together and worshiping together our precious JESUS. That was church! That was true fellowship! That was experiencing true joy and GOD’s presence in a life’s changing fashion. I missed that so much my friend. And if I can have that consistently in my life; I’m sure I will be a better man in every way, able to deal with any challenge that comes my way. Please do the impossible I implore you to find a few good man who want that kind of intimacy and friendship and bring them over once in a while to open your heart with transparency and pure honesty, men that are trustworthy and brave, men who understand to come before GOD in complete brokenness; “For a broken spirit and a broken and contrite heart GOD will not despised” Psalm 51.
    Thank you again Beloved, for the privilege of being able to participate in your blog. I will never take it for granted. I love you with all my heart my precious friend!

    Sincerely,
    Pacheco

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    1. angelcasiano Avatar
      angelcasiano

      I will always treasure those moments also; they help me so much. I was the youngest in the Lord; what a blessing!

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