The Benefit of Leading with Christian Values

value (noun)
/ˈvæljuː/

• how much something is worth in money or other goods for which it can be exchanged
• the quality of being useful or important
• beliefs about what is right and wrong and what is important in life (Oxford Learner’s Dictionary, n.d.)

S. Truett Cathy is someone who is known by his Christian values. In an article remembering him on what would have been his 100^th birthday, the founder of the popular fast food restaurant Chick-fil-A was recalled as someone who had a heart for service and who cared for others (Shirley, 2021). One of the ways he did this was by closing his restaurant on Sundays to give his employees a day of rest. He was known for investing in young people, and he started a college scholarship program to encourage his young restaurant workers to continue their education. S. Truett Cathy was someone who lived out his values in everyday life; in fact, he attributed his success to living by Christian principles (Lorinc, 2014).

What is the benefit of leading with Christian values—and what is the cost of leading without them? What sets Christian leaders apart from simply being “good” leaders? How does being held to a higher standard make Christian leaders unique?

Being a leader of any kind comes with both challenges and rewards. However, Christian leaders are tasked with guiding others spiritually and upholding biblical principles. They must be willing to put others’ needs before their own, just as Jesus did; they must follow His example in all things, even in the face of opposition.

As a Christian leader, “you need to remember that people are influenced by your example, actions, and faith. Your impact grows stronger because of your commitment to God and your love for others” (Tithe. ly, 2022). Your words and actions have implications not only for the here and now, but for generations to come and, ultimately, for eternity.

In 2 Corinthians, Paul discusses many ways that Christian leaders can have a positive influence on their communities. He writes in 2 Corinthians 2:17, “For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God’s word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ” (ESV). Christian leaders do not “just show up, preach, pray, and expect to get attention. Instead, they are leaders who take their faith seriously and lead their lives in a way that helps others to follow Jesus” (Tithe.ly, 2022).

Paul also reminds us that we are unable to lead without having the power of God within us:

Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. (2 Cor. 3:5–6, ESV)

In this issue of the Journal of Applied Christian Leadership, we will examine various Christian values and their application to Christian leadership. Our hope is that you will be inspired and encouraged as you read these articles—and find the value in leading with Christian values!

In our Biblical Reflection, author Teryl Baker examines how theory applies to the day-to-day life of a Christian leader. This article couples transformation theory with the Apostle Paul’s global responsibility, authentic leadership theory with King David’s virtues and vices, and servant leadership theory with the Samaritan’s goodness. Christian leadership that utilizes Biblical principles integrated with leadership theory honors God, provides credence to research, and positively impacts the lives of leaders, followers, and those worldwide. Finally, Baker suggests that Christian leaders must have a personal relationship with Jesus developed through everyday contemplative prayer—an essential factor exemplified by Christ for every believer.

Our Leadership Interview comes from Richard Kane, founder of the National Marriage Week initiative. In this interview, Kane discusses his early ambitions and how his conversion to Christianity shifted the focus of that drive. He also shares some of his experiences as he launched National Marriage Week and how his faith in God and the mission he had been given spurred him on. The interview closes with advice for leaders who feel “stuck” in specific boxes.

Jeff Gossmann brings us our first Feature Article in this issue and examines the general terminal and instrumental values of Christian leaders and the values of capitalism and capitalistic culture. Using the socio-rhetorical method, this article analyzes the Lukan Beatitudes found in Luke 6:20–26. Gossman also evaluates the Christian values of the Lukan Beatitudes in conversation with a capitalistic culture’s values. The research presented in this piece reveals that the rich should not necessarily be considered evil because of the economic opportunities that now exist in capitalistic cultures. It also suggests that Christians can lead in capitalistic cultures based on their shared value of human flourishing—with the critical caveat that Christian leaders must condemn wealth gained by corruption and use their resources to alleviate poverty.

Our second Feature Article comes from Alice Obare. In this article, Obare tackles the topic of worldviews and Christian leadership—an important subject as worldview can greatly influence social and organizational interactions, actions, and decision-making processes. She suggests that just because a leader identifies as a Christian does not necessarily mean that their leadership is Christian based; Christian leadership is only considered to be so when it is anchored on biblical faith. Faith must influence the leader’s actions and decisions on issues such as policy, organizational structure, or the development of programs and how they are implemented. The understanding of imago Dei and shalom can greatly impact one’s leadership by shaping their actions, behaviors, and decisions, ensuring they are God-driven and centered around human value and dignity to promote organizational and human flourishing.

Our first Leadership Lived submission is a case study of a dying church in Baltimore. Author Jane Thayer walks us through the history of Ellicott City Church (formerly Baltimore First Church), sharing the story of how one leader—Pastor Bill McClendon—made all the difference for this church, bringing life back into a dying congregation. Thayer shares the story of Ellicott City Church and examples of the initiatives they implemented, as well as McClendon’s leadership guide for church growth—a trifecta of vision, passion, and faith. This is an encouraging narrative you will not want to miss!

Our second Leadership Lived is another piece from Alice Obare. In this piece, Obare walks us through an account of the role of women in African Indigenous churches. Traditionally, women have held parallel roles with men. However, in recent years, women have found themselves limited in how far they can ascend in church leadership. Obare writes,

considering the important, indispensable role of women in the history of the Roho movement and African Indigenous churches as a whole, it is my hope and prayer that churches will . . . allow women not only at the decision-making table but also to have the independence to lead without supervision from male leaders.

In our Dialogue article, Michelle Russell shares an inspirational account of Good News Camp, a summer camp in Waynesboro, PA, that has employed a model that encourages former campers to become camp leaders as they grow. Although religious organizations often utilize teens as volunteers in their children’s ministries, research suggests it is not the norm to begin preparing teens while they are still child participants. However, Good News Camp breaks that trend, relying on hundreds of teenagers each summer to volunteer as leaders. The key to this process is to begin preparing young people to become leaders when they enter caåmp as young children. According to the director, this paradigm is achieved through the process of intentionality, because of the camp ethos, and through the use of a scaffolding approach to training.

This issue of the Journal of Applied Christian Leadership wraps up with six book reviews that highlight different Christian values, as well as dissertation notices.

Petr Činčala, PhD, is director of the Institute of Church Ministry at Andrews University, associate professor of World Mission, director of Natural Church Development (NCD) America, and executive editor of the Journal of Applied Christian Leadership.

References

Lorinc, J. (2014). Chick-fil-A founder credited his success to Christian principles. NPR. https://www.npr.org/2014/09/08/346879504/chick-fil-a-founder-credited-his-success-to-christian-principles

Oxford Learner’s Dictionary. (n.d.). Value. https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/us/definition/english/value_1?q=value

Shirley, C. (2021). Celebrating Truett on his 100th birthday. Chick-fil-A. https://www.chick-fil-a.com/stories/inside-chick-fil-acelebrating-truett-on-his-100th-birthday

Tithe.ly. (2022, June 7). What it means to be a Christian leader with Richard Stearns. https://get.tithe.ly/blog/what-it-means-to-be-a-christian-leader-with-richard-stearns

Image courtesy of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, https://www.ajc.com/news/truett-cathy-life-photos/nEFbkmaFr1PzCLcc3mgOnO/.