The Heart of Servant and Abusive Leadership

Are you truly serving the people or just using them?

There are many views today about exactly what constitutes “servant” and “abusive” leadership. Let us look at the heart of each.

The Essence of Servant Leadership

Servant leaders are not called so because they serve their constituents breakfast in bed every morning.

In spite of popular misconceptions, servant leadership does not mean that the leader “sweeps the floor” all the time. This distinction is clear from Jesus’ life and ministry:

• Jesus’ disciples performed the water baptisms (John 4:1-2).

• The disciples organized the crowds (Mark 3:9).

• Jesus told the servants to fetch the water that would be turned into wine (John 2:7-8).

• Jesus slept in the boat while the disciples rowed (Matthew 8:23-24).

• Jesus broke the bread and the disciples distributed it to the multitudes (Matthew 14:19).

• Jesus sent Peter fishing for the tax money (Matthew 17:27).

• Jesus sent His disciples to find the donkey (Luke 19:29-35).

• Jesus sent the disciples to prepare for the Passover (Matthew 26:17-19).

• When Jesus washed His disciples’ feet in John 13, it was clearly an exceptional, unprecedented event (John 13:7-8).

Of course, Jesus was not above performing the literal role of the servant:

• He spent considerable time and energy personally teaching, healing the sick and casting out demons.

• He prepared breakfast for His disciples, after His resurrection (John 21:9-13).

• He did wash their feet, albeit only once (John 13:7-8).

But the essence of servant leadership is not in performing the literal role of a servant.

The essence of servant leadership is seeking what is best for the people in the purposes of God, and not oneself.

This is described many times in the New Testament:

For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45)

… just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved. (1 Corinthians 10:33)

But I call God to witness against me – it was to spare you that I refrained from coming again to Corinth. Not that we lord it over your faith, but we work with you for your joy, for you stand firm in your faith. (2 Corinthians 1:23-24)

For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. (2 Corinthians 4:5)

For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God. (2 Corinthians 4:15)

Here for the third time I am ready to come to you. And I will not be a burden, for I seek not what is yours but you. For children are not obligated to save up for their parents, but parents for their children. I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls. If I love you more, am I to be loved less? (2 Corinthians 12:14-15)

Did I take advantage of you through any of those whom I sent to you? I urged Titus to go, and sent the brother with him. Did Titus take advantage of you? Did we not act in the same spirit? Did we not take the same steps? (2 Corinthians 12:17-18)

Have you been thinking all along that we have been defending ourselves to you? It is in the sight of God that we have been speaking in Christ, and all for your upbuilding, beloved. (2 Corinthians 12:19)

It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart; for whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the Gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me. God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus. (Philippians 1:7-8)

Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again. (Philippians 1:25-26)

Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. (Philippians 2:17)

For now we live, if you are standing fast in the Lord. (1 Thessalonians 3:8)

So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. (1 Peter 5:1-4)

The Essence of Abusive Leadership

Similarly, abusive leaders are not called so because they beat the people or yell at them or call them names – although that would certainly be “abusive”!

But the essence of abusiveness in leadership is using the people for the leader’s own interests – no matter how “nice” he is to them.

“Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy, and say to them, even to the shepherds, Thus says the Lord God: Ah, shepherds of Israel who have been feeding yourselves! Should not shepherds feed the sheep? You eat the fat, you clothe yourselves with the wool, you slaughter the fat ones, but you do not feed the sheep. The weak you have not strengthened, the sick you have not healed, the injured you have not bound up, the strayed you have not brought back, the lost you have not sought, and with force and harshness you have ruled them. So they were scattered, because there was no shepherd, and they became food for all the wild beasts. My sheep were scattered; they wandered over all the mountains and on every high hill. My sheep were scattered over all the face of the earth, with none to search or seek for them. “Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: As I live, declares the Lord God, surely because My sheep have become a prey, and My sheep have become food for all the wild beasts, since there was no shepherd, and because My shepherds have not searched for My sheep, but the shepherds have fed themselves, and have not fed My sheep … (Ezekiel 34:2-8)

Thus says the Lord concerning the prophets who lead My people astray, who cry “Peace” when they have something to eat, but declare war against him who puts nothing into their mouths. (Micah 3:5)

Its heads give judgment for a bribe; its priests teach for a price; its prophets practice divination for money; yet they lean on the Lord and say, “Is not the Lord in the midst of us? No disaster shall come upon us.” (Micah 3:11)

He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. (John 10:12-13)

I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish every one with tears. (Acts 20:29-31)

For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive. (Romans 16:18)

For you bear it if someone makes slaves of you, or devours you, or takes advantage of you, or puts on airs, or strikes you in the face. (2 Corinthians 11:20)

The former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment. (Philippians 1:17)

For I have no one like [Timothy], who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare. For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. (Philippians 2:20-21)

And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep. (2 Peter 2:3)

Thus, an abusive leader may actually be quite nice toward the people but be using them for his own agenda.

A pastor of a small church who is only using that church as a stepping-stone to “greater things,” is, by definition, an abusive leader. He is only using the people to serve his own interests. He has no long-term commitment to what is best for the people he leads.

A leader who is only interested in money and his own influence is, by definition, an abusive leader. He is using the people for his own wealth and promotion.

A leader who tells the people, “Your role is to help me achieve my vision!” is, by definition, an abusive leader. The true servant leader equips the people to function properly and fulfill their purpose in God (Ephesians 4:11-13)!

In contrast, the true servant may, at times, be tough toward the people he leads. Many times, Jesus rebuked His disciples. He was not always “nice” to them. However, it was always in their best interests!

Two Questions

Whom would you rather follow: A leader with great giftings or a big vision but who you sense is only interested in you if you are committed to him, and who is only using you for his own purposes? Or, a leader who is genuinely committed to your best interests?

Which would you rather be: A big-talking, weak, self-centered leader? Or, a genuinely strong servant leader?

For I have no one like [Timothy], who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare. For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. (Philippians 2:20-21)

For more on the heart of servant and abusive leadership, please see Abusive Leaders: SpiritBuilt Leadership 6 by Malcolm Webber.