We believe . . . in one Lord Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God.
Nicene Creed
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.
Apostles’ Creed
As a teenager, I wore a fish badge on my school blazer.
It was an indicator of identity, a label of loyalty.
Inside the outline of the fish, my badge bore the Greek word ΙΧΘΥΣ (ichthus), meaning ‘fish’. It’s an acronym for a phrase translated as, ‘Jesus Christ God’s Son Saviour’ (i). This five-word statement of faith draws almost directly from the creeds, with one modification. Where ΙΧΘΥΣ has ‘Saviour’, the creeds lead with the statement that Jesus is our Lord.
There’s no contradiction between the titles ‘Saviour’ and ‘Lord’. Indeed, they must not be separated. Salvation is assured to those who believe and declare that ‘Jesus is Lord’ (Rom 10.9). The confession that Jesus is Lord is evidence of the Holy Spirit’s saving work (1 Cor 12.3). To become a Christian is to receive Christ Jesus as Lord; to continue as a Christian is to live consistently with this truth (Col 2.6).
Jesus Christ is the Lord who saves and the Saviour who is sovereign.
When we confess Christ as Lord and live accordingly, we bring our lives into line with reality. It’s worth remembering that the other titles for Jesus in the creeds are not there because we acknowledge him as such, but because his Father appointed him to these positions. For example, Jesus is the ‘Christ’, God’s anointed Messiah. He alone is qualified for this honour because he is ‘the only Son of the Father’. He is ‘of the same essence’ (Nicene Creed) and eternally co-existent with the Father. The title ‘Lord’, which the Old Testament ascribes to God, is also his by nature.
The confession ‘Jesus is Lord’ also acknowledges Jesus’ supreme authority. The title ‘Lord’ was claimed by Caesar in the Roman world, but Jesus is ‘Lord of Lords and King of Kings’ (Rev 17.14). He is enthroned ‘far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is invoked’ and ‘head over all things for the church’ (Eph 1.21-22).
When we confess that Jesus is Lord, what difference does that make to us as leaders?
I suggest three principles.
We lead as followers of Christ.
We lead by proclaiming Christ.
We lead as people accountable to Christ.
Christian leadership is from the Lord, through the Lord, and to the Lord . It begins with, proceeds with, and ends with him.
WE LEAD AS FOLLOWERS OF CHRIST
The Lord of the Church has given people to the Church who will lead in the Church. Christian leaders are called to set an example to God’s people (2 Thess 3.7; 1 Tim 5.12; Heb 13.7; 1 Peter 5.3). We can only do this by following the apostle Paul’s example which enables us to say, ‘Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ” (1 Cor 11:1). Imitating Christ means learning from him how to live (Matt 11.29) and, above all, how to love (John 13.15).
Leadership flows from followership.
The minister’s calling is to be an under-shepherd of Christ. That means shepherding people in the same way that the ‘Chief Shepherd’ shepherds us (1 Pet 2.25; 5.1-4). If we don’t receive his care, guidance, and correction, how can we care for, guide, and correct others? As he challenged Peter on the shores of Galilee, Jesus also calls us to follow him and to feed his sheep (John 21.15-19). If we are not following him, what food will we have to give his sheep? We cannot manufacture soul food. Like the disciples distributing the loaves and fish their Master multiplied, we can only receive soul food from its source. We feed others by breaking the Word of life and sharing it with them.
Christian leadership starts with following Jesus closely. Christian leaders must be people who know, love, and trust Christ.
WE LEAD BY PROCLAIMING CHRIST
This second principle flows naturally from the first.
If we are following Jesus, then we will desire to help others follow him too. We will resolutely point them beyond ourselves to the Lord. Our responsibility is to help people hear the voice of the Good Shepherd amidst all the other sounds that clamour for their attention so they can follow him (John 10.27). We lead in one direction—straight to the Lord.
If we want to lead to the Lord, everything we do as leaders should been founded on the principle that Jesus Christ is Lord. This principle should flow through our preaching and our pastoring. As the apostle Paul wrote, ‘What we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord’ (2 Cor 4.5a). Whether speaking to the congregation or the individual, our aim should be to help people understand the importance of acknowledging Jesus as Lord in every aspect of their lives, and in every circumstance. Our sermons and conversations should give glory to Jesus. Whenever we explain the meaning of the Scriptures—the big story— we should be clear that our own stories within that big story find meaning and purpose in the sovereignty of Christ as Lord.
Our focus on Jesus Christ as Lord will also shape our attitude to those we lead. As the apostle Paul wrote, ‘with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake’ (2 Cor 4.5b). The Church has only one Lord, and it isn’t you or me. Lording it over others is the antithesis of Christian leadership (Matt 20.25-28; 1 Pet 5.3).
We serve others for Christ’s sake. And we do so for his glory.
WE LEAD AS PEOPLE WHO ARE ACCOUNTABLE TO CHRIST
Leadership flows from Christ and it must point to Christ because it will answer to Christ.
Our leadership as under-shepherds will be assessed by the Chief Shepherd when he returns (1 Pet 5.4). The work of a minister is for a season only. We can assume there won’t be any need for under-shepherds in the fullness of the new creation. So, along with doctors, dentists, lawyers, judges, police officers, and parking attendants, ‘pastor’ belongs on the list of ‘jobs that won’t be in heaven’. We will continue eternally in ‘ministry’ in the broader sense of serving God, but in the narrower sense of ‘ministry of the Word’, that won’t be needed because the minister’s task of bringing people to maturity in Christ will be complete.
The responsibility of being a minister of the Word lasts only until the Lord returns for his people. That might sound like good news if you’re weary in the work. I hope it gives you a new sense of hope! There is an ending, and it is glorious. The church you have laboured in will be made as beautiful as a bride—the bride of Christ. The people you have loved will be made perfect in Christ’s likeness. But this truth should also cause us to reflect carefully on how we lead people. The Lord will ask for an account of how we have handled the responsibility he has entrusted to us. We will stand before the judgement seat of Christ (2 Cor 5.10). Leaders are called to ‘keep watch over [God’s people] as those who must give an account’ (Heb 13.17).
People will make all sorts of comments on your leadership, both positive and negative. It’s sensible to listen and learn. But there is one comment that supplants all others, and that’s the Lord’s assessment, his judgement. As I wrote in an earlier post, the fact that we will give an account to Christ should cause us to seek accountability from others right now.* Surely it is better to spot our failures before the final day. If we’re failing to see our blind spots, surely it is better to get back on track now.
Giving an account does mean that all that was unworthy in our ministry will be exposed and burnt up (1 Cor 3.10-15). But giving an account is also a positive thing. The Lord sees, knows, and values all our work for him, even if no one else does. Our labour in the Lord is not in vain, so don’t give up (1 Cor 15.58).
Therefore, creedal leaders . . . ‘We believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God’.
Because of these rich truths, let us follow our Lord closely, proclaim him boldly, and serve him faithfully in the knowledge that one day we will give him an account.
So, make this your confession today: ‘I believe in Jesus’.
(i) The Greek phrase is Ἰησοῦς Χριστός, Θεοῦ Υἱός, Σωτήρ (Iēsous Christos, Theou Huios, Sōtēr). ΙΧΘΥΣ has served as an identifying symbol for Christians since the second century AD.
*Our post from last week, ‘Rethinking Resolutions’ also talks about accountability.