The phrase “servant leader” was created by Robert K. Greenleaf in his book, “The Servant Leader,” in 1970. He called a servant leader “a curious and meaningful paradox.” After a 38-year career with AT&T, he started his second career in 1964 — writing, consulting and teaching. He did not describe himself as a philosopher, theologian or professor, but as a businessman and a seeker. Founder of the Greenleaf Institute for Servant Leadership, he said his concept of servant leadership was influenced by the Judeo-Christian ethic. Greenleaf died in 1990.

Today the idea of servant leadership is still a topic of interest in business, industry, and, hopefully, the church. The greatest servant leader, after all, was Jesus Christ. In Matthew 20:25-28, Jesus said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. It is not so among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave; just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

Greenleaf’s model of servant leadership includes the idea that “good leaders must become good servants.” He saw a servant leader as someone who “shares power, puts the needs of others first, and helps people develop and perform as highly as possible.”

John the Baptist was a servant leader whose ministry was marked by strong convictions, clear communication, genuine humility and, most of all, God’s power. He said of Jesus in John 3:30, “He must increase but I must decrease.” In Matthew 3:11, he said he was not fit to remove the sandals from Jesus’ feet. God was the priority in his life. Was he an effective leader? In Matthew 11:11, Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptist.”

Servant leadership is not about simply getting things done, but doing what is right. Christians typically agree that leaders are visionaries, action-oriented, brave, goal-oriented, humble, committed, etc. However, leaders also face opposition. Effective leadership is not measured by the lack of conflict, but by a leader’s faithfulness to Christ. G. Campbell Morgan said, “If you have no opposition in the place you serve, you are serving in the wrong place.” Paul, the apostle, experienced opposition. He wrote in 1 Corinthians 16:9 that “a wide door for effective service has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.”

Encountering difficulty or opposition does not necessarily imply poor leadership, but relates directly to who or what the opposition is. First Peter 3:17 says, “It is better, if God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong.”

A real servant leader will enable others to also become servant leaders. We have many outstanding servant leaders in our denomination — but not enough. Religious politics can never replace integrity, and disingenuous leaders can never accomplish kingdom greatness. Servant leaders are great in God’s kingdom, a blessing to others, and sorely needed at this time in our history.