Student Leadership 2
Before we dive deeply into our exploration of student leadership, we need to clear away some perceptions of leadership that may not be helpful.
We are surrounded by examples of leadership that have enormous effects upon our thinking and practice. Most political leaders now fall into the “presidential style” – one strong, decisive individual.
Most businesses are now known, and publicly defined, by their influential CEO.
Popular TV shows push the idea of strong and decisive individualism – Celebrity Apprentice is a good example.
Movies reinforce the solo strong person: Wonder Woman, James Bond, the Bourne series, Elsa/Anna from Frozen.
This is the modelling to which we, and our students, are constantly exposed; it significantly affects our understanding.
David Starling has written an excellent book focused on the First Letter to the Corinthians in which Paul is critical of secular leadership in the first century.
That leadership was based on the exercise of power, forceful styles of communication, as well as strong individualised, self-focused and self-congratulatory boasting; all of which still sounds familiar to us in the twenty-first century!
David Starling points out that the Corinthian understanding and practice of leadership involved:
“…the uncritical absorption and imitation of the mindset and power structures of the surrounding culture” and that these values were alien to the Gospel.[1]
He goes on to say that first century Corinth:
“…was a culture fixated on the aura of eminence and glory and status … a leadership position functioned and was understood as a badge of honour”[2]
Throughout the book we are led to see that:
“…the kind of leadership that magnifies God’s glory is a humble leadership; it’s a leadership that does not seek to impress and to be admired; that does not set out to dazzle people with its own wisdom or to gain advantage and position, but devotes itself to the good of others and is willing to be looked down on and criticised and despised. Leadership that is faithful to the word of the Cross is not about the pursuit and accumulation of glory.”[3]
So already we see distinct contrasts between a Biblical view and a secular view of leadership. For us, leadership will not be seen as a badge of office to be earned, or a promotion to a superior status, or a reward for the exercise of power. It will be something very different.
We need a major counter-culture shift in our thinking.
Blessings
Brian
[1] Starling, David (2014): “UnCorinthian Leadership” (Oregon, Cascade Books), pp. 12
[2] Ibid p. 15-16
[3] Ibid pp. 25