Christian Leaders of the Future: Transformed by Grace

I remember using the Encyclopedia Britannica to write my school reports. Now we can just prompt ChatGPT. I thought I was mobile with a beeper, all I had to do was find a payphone to call you back on your landline. Now, not only do we carry phones with reliable service, but the phones also have access to the internet, text messaging, GPS, social media, audio books, music, movies, photos, with professional cameras, and more memory and processing power than super computers that filled a whole room. What a time to be alive!

We are living in the next Industrial Revolution, Industry 4.0. This facilitates an unprecedented rate of change and need for innovation, limiting the effectiveness of the previous command and control leadership practices. This unique time in history comes with new opportunities and risks, calling for a new kind of leadership, one that empowers others in this emerging dispersed network. Industry 4.0 companies need to create a work culture that allows others to work with fewer constraints and more collaboration. In this increasing chaos, I believe Christian leaders have a unique opportunity to become the type of leaders the world needs for this new era. This type of leader is a servant and empowering leader, which I call an E3 Leader. E3 represents Equipping, Empowering, and Encouraging. Technology advancement combined with E3 (Equip, Empower, Encourage) leadership provides hope for a better tomorrow but what enables the transformation to become an E3 leader? I see common personal barriers that limit the ability to truly serve and love others, such as the desire for approval, validation, control, and security. These barriers must be removed to learn to put others before us and unleash their potential.

At the same time this disruption is leading to division and dehumanization of others in ways that threaten the ability to lead diverse teams. As this new network emerges and power is being dispersed, many people now live in echo chambers of news, social media, political parties, etc. that destroy empathy and connection. This isolation supports the “Cancel Culture,” where those who don’t align with a portion of the network are cut off entirely from participation; they are cancelled. How can Christians lead diverse teams and build meaningful relationships in this environment? To start, we must reject any dehumanization of others based on the Imago Dei, the belief that all people are made in the image of God and have infinite worth. We can engage humbly as we understand all world views require faith and engage graciously as we know the depths of our sin.

Let’s look at some practical steps to help Christian leaders be transformed into E3 leaders through the renewing of our minds. A reminder before we discuss the framework, while our justification is instantaneous when accepting Christ, our sanctification takes time. The Renewing framework is designed to help us be intentional on our journey. I encourage you to take the time to work through and define your framework as a Christian leader.

·         Identity – Christian leaders should be rooted in the gospel. That we are fully known, loved, and accepted apart from our merit because of Christ’s work on our behalf. We are permanently adopted children of the King and have everything we need. So, we are free to give and serve.

·         Purpose – Christian leaders should identify your individual calling, based on your strengths and experiences, in alignment with our shared purpose to love God and serve others.

·         Values – Christian leaders should define your values and the type of people you want to become, rather than be conformed to secular values.

·         Mindsets – Christian leaders should be intentional in how they interpret, process, and respond to what is happening around us through a biblical worldview.

·         Habits – Christian leaders should choose the types of habits they want to cultivate that support who we are in Christ and who we want to become.

Christian leaders, Jesus didn’t come to be our example, He came to be our substitute. This leadership transformation is not about salvation. It’s about living in freedom, loving others we are leading because we have been loved. It’s being intentional in defining the type of leader you want to be and asking the Holy Spirit to lead you on the journey. We are in a unique time in history and have the power available to enable us to make an impact to help businesses and people, regardless of their beliefs. Christ elevated others and provided true justice. Servant leadership is unnatural, risky, and costly. It doesn’t guarantee success. And if we genuinely love and serve others, we open ourselves to getting hurt. But as Christ demonstrated, the risk is worth it. So, we should feel empowered to heed His call to follow in His footsteps trusting He has our future in his hands.

My hope is Christian leaders rise in this moment in history to demonstrate the power of the gospel to a world in need of E3 (Equip, Empower, Encourage) leaders. I challenge us to anchor our identity in Christ, walk in our purpose, live our values, choose our worldview, and be intentional with our habits to become the type of leaders that can be productive and attractive to the world around us for the glory of God.