I think culturally in the church, we are in desperate need of a fundamental transformation of our view of leadership, our view of authority. We have created a generation of big personality, loud, domineering, sometimes bullying leaders. And I'm just impressed when Peter begins to define what a leader is in Christ's Church, his definition is the polar opposite of anything like that. Let me read for you (1 Peter 5:2-4).
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.
I don't know how much you know about the culture into which this is written, but 'shepherd' was not a prized occupation. Shepherds were lowly and it was an unremarkable, smelly, lowly job. A shepherd is a servant title. Remember, he doesn't call these people "kings of Christ's Church; he calls them "shepherds." And if you study the culture of a shepherd, it would be hard to find a more fundamentally other-centered title than "shepherd." Shepherd lives, breathes, exercises his gifts for the sake of the health of the sheep. And so, that's Peter's view of a leader.
And he lays out, first it means exercising oversight. This is not domineering, this is not controlling, but it's that huge responsibility to care for the souls of people-to guide, protect, feed, and nurture.
He says that you're to do that willingly. And I like how he puts, "as God would have you." See, God knows that humble leadership always starts with the heart. God's focus is on the heart. We know that from the qualifications of elder; it's those qualifications are character, character, character, character.
He says, "...not for sinful gain." Authority is not for you! The people, whom you lead, are not there to build your reputation, to build your power, to build your position, to build your economic position. And in that way, ministry is always this war between the kingdom of self and the kingdom of God.
He said, "...not domineering." How important that is. There is a Lord, there is a Chief Shepherd, and it's not me! He says rather than be domineering, be an example of the self-sacrificing, patient, gentle, gracious love of the Savior.
And then he says something that I just love. He says this life of sacrifice will be rewarded. Now think about this, I'm given a gift I couldn't have worked up myself, I'm given a calling I couldn't have deserved on my own, yet I'm rewarded for using that gift and that calling.
Authority for Peter is a life of servanthood. It's a life of suffering. It's a life of willing, joyful self-sacrifice. It's not domineering, it's not controlling, it's not self-centered. Elders are not the kings of Christ's Church; elders are the shepherds of Christ's Church. They're there to represent His work in the life of His people for whom He died!
