I have often heard Church leaders use corporate America’s model of leadership, the pyramid model, to guide their praxis. I believe this, albeit wildly successful, isn’t in line with Jesus’ model. In fact, I believe it is in direct conflict with His servant leader style as shown in John 13 when He washed His disciples’ feet.
The pyramid model places leaders at the top which even as an illustration places everyone else under them. No where in the Gospels or the whole New Testament is this found. Rather we have Philippians 2, John 13 as mentioned before, Mathew 23:11, Mark 10:31, and many passages from Paul about being a slave to Christ. None of these place a leader on top of anyone, these passages and more place leaders beneath others, which leads me to a different picture, one I believe Jesus points to and shows us throughout His life.
I believe Church Leadership needs to separate herself from Business Leadership by leaving the pyramid illustration for the vine. Pyramids themselves were a product of great ingenuity of man by the use of many slaves. It has and continues to lead businesses to great success, but for the Church I believe it an idol much like the one ring of power in J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the rings. Like Lady Galadriel said, “All shall love me and despair!”, it leads to great power and the building of large structures lasting millenniums, but was that ever His goal for us?
A vine was created by God employing no slaves. Using it as a model places leaders beneath all who follow them. This is found throughout the New Testament. It places leaders nearest the Source where its roots can grow deep in Him for nourishment. It requires the Church to release her hold on the idolatry of worldly success and it embraces fruitfulness and the harvest from a life lead in faithfulness.
This change would place the Church where no business will ever go, it would lead to the cross. That is where following God lead Jesus. Buildings will fall in time, but the salvation afforded us by Jesus will endure till the end. The vine model helps people to regard others as betters, lead to a more peaceful marriage, and has a different understanding of success- one that is dependent on intimacy with God.
I am not a successful Church or business leader/entrepreneur. I have never written a book or lead a seminar. I am a homebody who reads the Word, looks around, and thinks too much. I do pray I am seen as a success by my wife and kids, and by He who made me and continually unmakes me.
May the vine model lead you to depend more on Him, for much like Jesus, it flips the world’s understanding upside-down. (Flip the pyramid model over to reveal the vine and you’ll see what I mean).