I’ve opted for the ‘WYSIWYG’ approach with this headline, nothing fancy so here we go. Here are all eight.

Truth

This one is really important and is the basis for Christian ministry. It’s not sufficient, as in, it’s not the only thing that matters but it does matter. A Christian leader is to speak the word of God to the people of God (and pair that with 1 Peter 4:11 for some extra weightiness). First & foremost, I think that means to preach Christ who is supremely God’s word to us but to do with reference to the whole counsel of God. Secondly, I think that means that before we offer social or political commentary we are to help understand the Biblical story and because there are many Christian leaders who feel free to go beyond the text guessing where they think it must be pointing, we are to help people understand the texts themselves. Helping people having confidence in Scripture as our final authority for life and godliness is a vital task. Truth matters.

Faith

We are to be thoughtfully reflective over the way our leaders practice their faith. We are to listen to the way that they pray, the way that they talk about Jesus, the way that they trust God, the way that they let the truth they have told us shape their own lives. And as far as we see that we we would be wise to copy it. Paul says, ‘Imitate me as I imitate Christ’ (1 Cor 11:1) and this principle is here in Hebrews 13. In an uncertain world how do our leaders show us the way forward by the way that they follow Christ, how they show us that Christ is the way, the truth and the life.

Life

In a similar vein we should also pay careful consideration to the way our leaders live and the fruit that their lives display. What are their marriages like? Worth copying or not? How are they as parents? Worth copying or not? How are they as friends? Worth having as a friend or not? How do they handle themselves under pressure, when stressed? Worth learning from or not? Do they have a handle on their business, their money, their relationships, their life? Would you, in other words, in any way want to be like them?

Sound

This is clearly connected to the first criteria of truth but not always. I’ve met people who when asked to explain the gospel can do it in just the way I would and sometimes even better than me. But those same people believe every conspiracy theory under the sun. Every weird and strange thing then yep they also believe those too. And they do not know how weird that is.

As Vinoth Ramachandra has said,

It is impossible, of course, to argue with conspiracy theorists and those who move only within their limited circles and see every issue in black-or-white terms. The latter include militant atheists as well as the militantly religious, the highly educated as well as the non-literate. One can only argue with those who believe in argument, reason with those who respect reason. But there are plenty of such men and women across the political and moral/religious divides in all nations. They may well be the “silent majority”; but, if so, their silence and neglect of genuine dialogue among themselves have ushered extremists on to the centre of the political stage.

Bridging the Divides

As I have argued before (here, here & lots here) one of the most important discipleship questions is ‘who do you trust to tell you the truth about the world?’ Who do you think will tell you ‘how it really is’? We no longer live in a world of common facts & we need leaders who are not held captive to weird teachings.

Encourage

The key thing here is not that they encourage but how they encourage you. Grace is the tool that they use to strengthen you. Not advice, not commands, not rules, but the grace of God. Because of the grace of God we are encouraged through difficulty, to rejoice in trial, to find hope in the valley of shadows, so leader speak about grace & strengthen the hearts of your people.

Watchful

This is a tricky one these days. The last thing anyone wants is some spiritual micro-manager. We have groups in Stockholm (I refuse to call them churches) but they are controlling. For them keeping watch means enforcing a level of accountability that is cult-like. No thank you. Yet the ditch on the other side of the road are churches that never challenge or confront. Either they are scared, or they don’t care, or they’re not paying attention. None of those options are great.

The most typical response I’ve encountered is that people just stop coming. They don’t want you to keep watch because they’d rather do their own thing. So they just quietly leave. However, I appreciate people who care enough about me to to help me see if I’m in danger. It’s not comfortable. It definitely isn’t enjoyable but it’s really important. Those moments can lead to breakthrough if you press into them properly.

Integrity

We need leaders of integrity, who act honourably. Who do the right thing in the right way. With enough transparency, humility to be constantly adjusting themselves into the path of righteousness. I’m looking for people who handle disputes well, who handle challenge well, who handle themselves at all times with integrity.

Trustworthy

And if they do all these things with a clear conscience before God then I think they will have proved themselves trustworthy. Trust is a big deal, hard fought and easily lost and we need to understand the changing dynamics of how people trust people. In a world where the church is in a crisis of trust, trustworthy leaders are a gift. There are more of them than we think but not as many as we need. So when you find one, thank God for them and give them your support.