What we do as leaders begins with who we are, even in policy making. If we don’t have Christ-like hearts, it’s going to be difficult to fulfill our God-given roles — that of being a shepherd, guide, servant, steward, and example. Attitudes and motivations in policy making driven by ego and selfish concerns don’t go hand-in-hand with these biblical leadership roles.
How Biblical Leadership Roles Positively Affect Policy Making
Here’s an overview of leadership roles that positively affect policy making based on God’s instructions to leaders in 1 Peter 5:2-4.
Shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness; nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. (1 Pet. 5:2-4, NASB)
Future posts will look more in depth at how these roles relate.
1) Be a shepherd.
God wants leaders to “shepherd the flock of God among you” (1 Pet. 5:2). When we shepherd people, they’re our top priority, not our rules and regulations. Sure, we may need to tend to the pasture by putting safety measures and the like in place, but it’s with the intent of protecting the sheep. We’re not mere administrators or rule enforcers. Make a careful assessment of your priorities. Do people sense that next to loving God, they are your priority?
2) Be a guide.
We’ve been given the responsibility of “exercising oversight” (1 Pet. 5:2). The remainder of the verse suggests that we do that more as a guide, not a dictator. And so, any policies we develop look after the welfare of the sheep and lead them to the Chief Shepherd as the ultimate One they follow, the One to whom we will all give an account. Looking at your leadership style, would you be considered more of a facilitator or enforcer?
3) Be a servant.
Leaders mustn’t use policies as a way of “lording it over” (1 Pet. 5:3) people. Rather, we selflessly and eagerly serve, using policies as mere tools to a greater good. Reflect on how even the enforcement of policies can be used as a means of serving people. How can we better communicate that intent?
4) Be a steward.
Notice that the “flock of God among you” has been “allotted to your charge” (1 Pet. 5:2). When “the Chief Shepherd appears” (1 Pet. 5:3), He will hold us accountable for more than the policies we developed and enforced. God has entrusted His people to our care as our top priority. May we hear “Well done good and faithful servant” for how we served the flock.
5) Be an example.
We best serve by “proving to be examples to the flock” (1 Pet. 5:2). We point people to the Chief Shepherd by our own attitudes, actions, and words, more than through the policies we develop. Think of ways even the wording of policies can reflect this objective.
For More on These Topics:
All Posts about Policy Making:
- Policy Making Objectives
- Policy Making Parameters
- Policy Making & the Big Picture
- Policy Making & Freedom in Christ
- Policies with No Hidden Agendas
- Policies Reflecting Both Grace & Truth
- Church Policies & the Next Generation
- Don’t Let Policies Take on a Life of Their Own
- Spiritual Gifts in Determining Policies
- Spiritual Gifts for Writing Policies
- Spiritual Gifts Suited for Implementing Policies
- Turning to God or to Church Policies?
- God’s Your Defender, Not Your Church Policies
- Policies Shaped by the Gospel
- Policies Reflecting the Gospel
- Policies Shaped by Grace
- Policy-Making Safeguarded by Grace
- Why Policies When We Have God’s Word?
- Power to Maintain the Proper Focus in Policymaking
- Policies Reflecting the Resurrection
- Church Policies Done in the Name of the Lord Jesus
- Leadership Qualities that Positively Affect Policy Making
- Biblical Leadership Roles Positively Affect Policy Making
- Shepherding and Policy Making