THE IMAGE AND GLORY OF GOD: MEN IN LEADERSHIP

__________________

A Paper

Presented to

Dr. Chris Shirley

Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

__________________

In Partial Fulfillment

of the requirements for ADUED 4259

__________________

by

Nathan Johnson

February 13, 2010

 THE IMAGE AND GLORY OF GOD: MEN IN LEADERSHIP

The stereotypes and caricatures of masculinity in contemporary society and

western culture are diverse and they present a mosaic of personalities, expectations, and

roles for men. From the ultra-modern makeup-adorned ‘guido’ of New England and the

California coast to the calloused-hand and leather-faced roughnecks on the oilfields in

Oklahoma, it seems as though men come in all shapes, dispositions, sizes, and

convictions. Any attempted universal physical, emotional, or mental characteristic is

easily negated by multiple exceptions to that rule, making any study of men a robust and

frustrating endeavor to say the least – not unlike nailing Jell-O to drywall.

While the business world, the fashion realm, the entertainment industry, and

any other major societal division offer a cacophony of opinions on both masculinity and

the role of men in their respective domains, the one source that has not wavered in its

opinion of men, their identity, and their purpose in this world is God – namely in his

written self-revelation, the Bible. The biblical perspective on masculinity has been met

with much opposition, has endured much controversy, and has faded from popularity, but

it remains unbroken an undefeated.1

Scripture is clear that men are ‘the image and glory of God’2 created primarily

to lead, produce, initiate, cultivate, and subdue Creation out of obedience and reverence

for God. From the opening chapters of Genesis, we see that God created human males to

bear his image by being leaders. Therefore, this particular treatise will first examine the
1
John Wall, “Fatherhood, Childism, and the Creation of Society.” Journal of the
American Academy of Religion, vol. 75 no 1 (March, 2007) 53-55.
2
1 Corinthians 11:7; All Scripture references are from the English Standard Version.
leadership mandate placed upon men by God and then explore the primary domains of

that leadership: the home, the church, and the greater community including social

spheres and the workplace. Each of these subsequent sections will address the relevant

and pertinent biblical passages, a ‘perfect world’ scenario where those biblical principles

are applied, how church leadership can equip men to pursue that standard, and finally my

own experiences and personal reflections with regards to the respective domain.

Men as Leaders

Historically men have had leading roles in almost every human enterprise, save

for childbearing.3 With the advent of postmodern thought and women’s liberation

movements, men’s role as leader has been called into question in almost every platform.

Therefore in order to appropriately contend for an understanding of men we must

examine the role of men as leader and what exactly that entails – praise be to God that we

have a precious resource in Scripture from which to glean our understanding of

masculinity.4

Biblical Foundations

In the opening chapters of Genesis God creates the entire universe, including

humanity. His first human created is Adam, a man.5 In the ensuing verses God goes on

to reveal to us that his man existing without a ‘suitable helper’ is not good, and therefore

he creates a woman from Adam’s rib.6 So from this second chapter of Genesis we see

that God has created both men and women to uniquely and equally bear his image. We

can also see that God has made man responsible for his wife in both the order of creation,
3
James Dobson, Straight Talk to Men, Sisters, OR: Multnomah (1991), 30.
4
Stu Weber, Tender Warrior, Colorado Springs, CO: Multnomah (1999), 42.
5
Genesis 2:7
6
Genesis 2:16-25
and the fact that she is a ‘helper’ rather than the primary actor.7 At this point it is

important to note that these distinctions and roles were given before the fall of man – they

are not a result of sin or God’s curse, but rather are an integral element of his creation and

purpose for humanity. Following this understanding of man as leader, we also see in the

third chapter of Genesis that Adam is held responsible for Eve’s sin (a point to which will

be further addressed below).8 Rather than directly addressing Eve for her initial

disobedience, God calls out to the man and he answers.9 From this first example from the

first two humans in its opening pages, Scripture testifies that men are responsible for both

leading and protecting women and have a place as leader in the created order.10 Thus

their primary identity is as a leader.

Not only did God appoint men to lead his old creation, but he also sent his only

son Christ Jesus in the form of a man to redeem the old and also usher in the new

creation.11 Jesus was a human man who lived, worked, ministered, gathered disciples,

performed miracles, died, was buried and resurrected, and who now sits at the right hand

of God.12 God chose to send a Son, not a daughter, to lead his new creation. He also sent

a man who gathered and led twelve other men as disciples – there were no women in

Jesus’ immediate circle of leadership (though they were certainly involved in Jesus’

ministry).13 These disciples eventually went on to build the Church and lead the
7
John Piper and Wayne Grudem, Recovering Biblical Manhood and Womanhood,
Wheaton, IL: Crossway (2006), 95-112.
8
Genesis 3:1-13
9
Genesis 3:9 – “But the Lord God called out to the man and said to him ‘Where are
you?’” (emphasis added)
10
Andreas J. Kostenberger, God, Marriage, and Family, Wheaton, IL, Crossway (2004)
32-37.
11
2 Corinthians 5:17,
12
Matthew 1:18, 10:1, 27:53, 28:6; Mark 1:34, 6:3, 15:37; Luke 3:23, 7:21, 23:46; John
19:30, 19:38; 20:27; Hebrews 1:3
13
Mark 15:41
proclamation of the gospel throughout the world. Therefore, following God’s design in

both the old and new creations, we can see that men are to be leaders – to bear

responsibility, to direct and influence others, and to have authority over them. It is

specifically this example of Christ that men are to mirror in both church leadership and in

family leadership – both as loving, self-sacrificing leader husbands and as faithful

shepherds leading congregations. Both of these examples are discussed in greater detail

below, leading us to now explore what appropriate and correct leadership looks like.

Leadership in Practice

Ideally, in a world without sin God created man to work and to cultivate the

earth.14 Therefore, the best understanding of male leadership in the Bible comes first

from God’s example as Creator and Adam’s example as cultivator. To be sure, millennia

have passed since that ideal and along with this world we too have been marred by

generations of sin and wickedness and subjected to groaning and longing to return to that

time.15 This is not to say that we should not labor to return to that time or forsake the

principles that were established in Eden – quite the contrary, actually. When men take up

the reins of leadership they fulfill their God-ordained role as leaders which ushers in a

plethora of benefits, both in their own lives and in the lives of those they lead.16

By taking responsibility as leaders men take on the weight of leadership, which

both focuses their attentions toward a specific objective and gives them a purpose in their

life.17 So, in the various domains of influence in which men are to lead, when the right

men lead from pure hearts and godly motivations their sphere of influence enjoys a focus
14
Genesis 2:15
15
Romans 8:19-23
16
Dobson, 34
17
David Murrow, Why Men Hate Going to Church, Nashville, TN: Nelson (2005), 158-
60.
or direction for the activities and people involved.18 In contrast, where there is no

direction or a lack of focus those who follow tend to grow bitter, disenchanted, or lazy

and sin tends to fester, bringing further discord and grieving the Lord. Similarly, when

men step up to lead and provide vision for those under their responsibility, they flourish

and follow well. It is no surprise that many are so skeptical and wary of authority when

so few men lead in an appropriate way.

Examples of poor leadership abound and abuses of authority sadly are

commonplace. It seems as though there is almost an expectation of disappointment in

leaders, especially those who purport to be Christians. This, however, must not be met

with a white flag of surrender, but rather should serve as a rallying cry for those men who

both fear the Lord and have no fear of men to make them cower.

Thus, the standard set before us of Christ leading his disciples and laying down

his life for the sake of many must not be taken lightly or misinterpreted. The call to

follow Christ is for men a call to leadership, which is in turn a call to lay aside personal

preference and self-serving ambition for the sake of the gospel and for the sake of many

others.

Equipping Men to be Leaders

In order to see this ideal work its way out into reality we must utilize the most

valuable tool at our disposal – Scripture itself. Nothing else, save the Holy Spirit who

inspired the text can pierce the heart, convict of sin, correct false perceptions, encourage

to godliness, and give vision for holy masculine leadership like the Word of God.19 To

correctly divide and apply the Bible to everyday life is a crucial task for all who would

18
Piper and Grudem, 38-39.
19
Hebrews 4:12; 2 Timothy 3:16
claim the name of Christ, much less those who would endeavor to lead others to follow

him. Therefore, Scripture must be at the center of training men who aspire to lead

themselves, their families, in their churches, and in the wider community.

Secondary to the central role of Scripture but still immensely important in

equipping men to be leaders is correctly modeling leadership principles. If a man has an

understanding from Scripture of what leadership is and entails, yet has no practical

example of those principles or is done a great disservice at the hands of poor or

inappropriate leadership, he will easily become disenchanted or worse fall into the same

lackluster habits and practices. Therefore it is key that godly men submit themselves to

Scripture and then inasmuch as they are able to live in light of that example, follow it

closely.

Following in this same line of thinking and narrowing the process of equipping

and training men to lead, it is not enough that men only see good leadership modeled

from afar – they must be up close and personal with it in order to truly be shaped as a

leader. Thus, discipleship and mentoring become crucial elements of developing

leadership because of the personalization of the broad-strokes biblical principles, the

conveyance of wisdom that only comes with experience, and dynamic didactic instruction

as opposed to removed observation.

Finally, in order to produce leaders, men must not be taught and given

principles to follow without also giving an environment in which to put those learned

skills into action. Therefore, a tiered leadership structure should be implemented by any

who wish to see men develop in their leadership skills and attributes. Smaller and less

intimidating responsibilities help give men the confidence they need and the safer chance
to learn from their mistakes. As men become more proven leaders and take on more

responsibilities, they also have the opportunity to train and sharpen other leaders. Thus

men get a chance to both see other leaders in action and learn from them, and also live

out what they have learned.

Personal Reflection

As for my own personal experiences with leadership, God has been most

gracious to give me the conviction, the confidence (for the most part), the skills, and the

opportunity to lead. My time in college at Texas A&M University gave me an immense

foundation on which God has graciously built for the past several years. I have had the

privilege of leading small groups, a large fraternity, and leadership teams in addition to

my current responsibilities as one of four pastors at my church. Those experiences have

helped shape my self-perception and my understanding of men, both for the good and the

bad. It seems to me that men come in many different forms from a wide variety of

backgrounds, and carry with them an immense amount of baggage, whether blatantly

evident or completely unnoticed. Despite the flaws and the hardships, the frustrations

and the challenges, I believe that men who pursue Christ with a passionate resolve are

those who make the best leaders. Only in following with the examples of God the Father

and his Son Christ Jesus can a man truly lay aside what so easily entangles many others

(pride, selfishness, lust, despair, etc.) and fulfill his role as a God-fearing, Christ-exalting

leader of others.20

I believe that God has gifted me with an ability to discern and see clearly

decisions, which contributes to my boldness and confidence in leading. This is a two-

20
Brandon O’Brien, “A Jesus for Real Men” Christianity Today vol. 52, no 4.
April, 2008, 52.
edged sword, however, and lends me to pride, delusions of self-sufficiency, and running

over others rather than truly leading them. As yet the best antidote to those dangers is to

dwell on and follow the example and sacrifice of Christ for his people, for it is only in

him that I am whole and who I need to be in order to serve him for his glory.

Leading at Home

There is no closer or more personal leadership role for a man than in his home.

The two primary relationships in the home for a man are between he and his wife, and he

and his children. As in the previous discussion a man must take his cues for these

relationships from both God the Father and Christ the Bridegroom if he is in any way to

understand his role as a leader and live out the calling on his life.

Biblical Foundations

Seemingly countless times in Scripture God tells us of his love for us as a

Father and for his Church as a Bridegroom. This is immensely informative for how we

understand our human institutions, and it serves to give us both model and purpose as we

strive to emulate those heavenly realities. Throughout the Bible beginning in Genesis

and ending in Revelation we see that husbands are the ones who lead in the marital

relationship. Again, following from the creative order, Adam was created first and was

held responsible for his wife’s well-being as well as her sin.21 This is expressly not in an

overbearing or demeaning way analogous to a master over his slaves, but rather as a

gentle servant husband working for the joy and good of his wife so that she may more

joyfully submit to his leadership and contribute to marital unity. While hinted at in

regulations for husbands to provide for and honor their wives in Exodus,22 this concept
21
Genesis 2:15-24, 3:6
22
Exodus 21:10
and its impetus are described in much greater detail in the Pauline epistles in the New

Testament. In these letters God tells us that the design for husbands leading in their

marriages is to mirror Christ’s relationship with his bride, the Church.23 To bolster this

point, women are also instructed to submit to their husbands’ leadership out of reverence

for God.24 When this happens in light of the beautiful biblical example laid out in

Scripture, marriages are worshipful, happy, and fruitful – which leads into the next sphere

of a man’s leadership in his home.25

Men are not only commanded to be godly husbands, but are also given a

mandate and example by God to be Christ-exalting servant fathers who shepherd their

children to follow the Lord in their lives. Therefore, a man is the leader of his household

and as such is accountable to God for the way he leads those whom God has given him to

lead. A father must see his primary purpose as spiritual leader in the household to

disciple his children to become fellow worshipers of God.26 In this way a man is the

pastor by proxy, and mirrors the character of God the Father in his home.27 He is to lead

his wife as the head of the home and in doing so oversee the development and growth

(physically, mentally, spiritually, emotionally, etc.) of his children, discipline, provide

for, and set the standard for spiritual leadership for them.28 This he is also to do without

frustrating or maliciously provoking his children to anger.29 In doing this properly a man

rightly responds to God’s call on his life to mirror the gospel in his home.30
23
Ephesians 5:25
24
Ephesians 5:24
25
26
Dobson, 88
27
Mark Driscoll, Pastor Dad, Crossway (2008), 23-4.
28
Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Proverbs 4:1-5, 22:6; Hebrews 12:6-10; 2 Corinthians 12:14; 1
Timothy 5:8; Ephesians 5:29; Piper and Grudem, 41
29
Ephesians 6:4; Colossians 3:21
30
Dobson, 108
Leadership in Practice

Men who endeavor to lead their homes in pursuit of the biblical ideal must

follow the example of Christ both while he lived in his earthly body and while he

currently ministers on the Church’s behalf in heaven.31 In emulating his example, then,

husbands must serve in a sacrificial way in order to benefit and nourish his wife in a

gentle, understanding way, showing her honor, giving her affection, intimacy, and love.32

Many other biblical examples including Elkanah, Hosea, Mary’s husband Joseph, and

Boaz all show human examples for men to follow.33 Godly fathers are also in the

forefront with Abraham, Jacob, Joshua, and Job among many others. The best

illustration of the ideal home enjoying the numerous benefits of proper male headship is

found in Ephesians 5 where men are leading their wives in such a way as to inspire and

encourage joyful submission, which in turn bolsters their leadership, glorifies God who

makes such a union possible, and results in children who are brought up in a Christ-

exalting household.34 To be sure, each marriage is unique and every home has its own

particular nuances, but as a whole Scripture stands true in this particular realm.

Equipping Men to be Leaders

God has seen fit to give us multiple examples of good husbands in a wide

variety of contexts to both inspire and challenge us to lead our families. It follows, then,

that churches should lead their men to study and emulate such leaders and offer support

to those who struggle under the weight of that responsibility. Premarital counseling,
31
Kostenberger, 109-114
32
Colossians 3:19; 1 Peter 3:7; 1 Corinthians 7:3-5; 1 Corinthians 11:8-9; 2 Timothy
2:11-15
33
Kostenberger, 55-9
34
Don Browning, “Good Christian Men: How Faith Shapes Fathers,” Christian
Century, vol.122, no 1, January 2005, 18.
parenting seminars, mentoring and discipleship relationships, marriage and parenting

seminars, topical Bible studies, and accountability relationships all contribute to a culture

of equipping men to lead in their homes. This must not be the end goal, however,

because it falls far short of what God would have us do for the kingdom. The home is a

unique picture of the gospel, and in order to both understand and utilize this crucial

perspective for the good of the church and the glory of God, churches must preach, teach,

model, discuss, and celebrate this tirelessly. To call men to lead their home is one thing;

to encourage, equip, support, inspire, and fuel them to do so is something else altogether

– it is biblical.

Personal Reflection

I personally am neither a father nor a husband in the physical sense. However,

as a single man I do believe that I have the capacity to both anticipate and pursue those

callings on my life in such a way as to conduct my life in such a way as though I were

already married and to lead myself in such a way as to prepare for fatherhood at some

point down the line. So in a way, as I write letters to my as yet unmet wife and pray for

her and my children, I am preparing to be a father and husband for the glory of God. Up

until a couple of years ago I only wanted a wife and wanted to have kids so that I could

fit in, could have responsibility, and answer that deep and precious calling on my life.

God has been gracious since that time to reveal that pride and change my perspective to

where I now no longer want a wife, but rather desire to be my wife’s husband. Similarly,

I no longer want to have children to play with, but long to emulate the character and role

of God in my children’s lives in such a way as to lead and disciple them to follow the
Lord. While it seems like such a small semantic shift, the ramifications for my life have

been immense, broad-sweeping, and long-term.

Leading in the Church

One of the more controversial issues in the Church today is who gets to

participate in leadership – specifically along gender lines. Such a crucial discussion of

ecclesiological influence and involvement must begin with and be driven by Scripture if

it is in any way to reflect God’s design and purposes for Christ’s Bride. As will be seen,

men must be at the forefront of Church leadership in following with God’s created order

and the design of the Church and family structures.

Biblical Foundations

From its earliest roots in Judaism to the universe-impacting life and ministry of

Christ himself, the Church has enjoyed male leadership. Indeed all of Christ’s disciples

who were the pillars of the early church were all men.35 Though this is a point of much

contention in implying that it is inappropriate for women to fill leadership roles in the

Church, the popular argument that it was based on culture and pragmatism rather than a

true biblical example and practice falls far short when measured with the pages of

Scripture.36 Not only does the apostle Paul instruct that women are to be reverent and

quiet in the church while men are speaking, he bases his argument off of the created

order, not social mores.37 Were one to look past this discussion and move on to say that

women are also eligible to fill the role of pastor or elder of a church, they would be hard-

pressed to justify the previously discussed role of men as spiritual leaders in their homes

35
Matthew 10:1-4
36
Piper and Grudem, 155-60
37
2 Corinthians 14:33-35; 1 Timothy 2:11-14
and in the Church, as well as the complete lack of permission for females in the two

instances of qualifications for the highest level of church leadership.38 Therefore it is

clear from Scripture that men are to follow the examples laid out by God the Father and

Christ his Son, and the apostles in reserving Church leadership for men only. To be sure,

this is not a wholesale prohibition against women serving in the church, but rather an

understanding that women holding authority over men are neither wise nor biblically

supported.39

Leadership in Practice

A cursory glance at news articles or internet searches belies the fact that church

leadership – particularly men – is far from perfect. Embezzling, sexual sin, laziness, lust

for power, and many others plague those men who fill pulpits and lead congregations.

Though this is far from ideal and is the source of much pain, resentment, distrust, and

fear in people inside and outside of churches (and rightfully so), the source of these

problems is sin and human nature, not masculinity. Therefore, despite these weaknesses

and failings, men must continue to submit themselves to the headship of Christ and lead

out of their dependence on the Holy Spirit, not their own self-sufficiency. When men

faithfully follow in this way, churches will have an example of how Christ leads his Bride

and sacrifices himself for her in the way a pastor works tirelessly to pray for, feed, and

shepherd his flock. Similarly, the way that Christ nourishes and supports his Bride

should be reflected in the way a pastor devotes himself to the teaching and preaching of

God’s Word so that others may learn, be fed, and be ministered to. When pastors

respond to this high and desperate calling, this sets an example for the other men in the

38
1 Timothy 3:2-7; Titus 1:5-9; Piper and Grudem, 233-47
39
1 Corinthians 14:33-35
church to lead their families and it provides women in the church with a leader they can

and should joyfully submit to.40 Therefore, when men of God lead their churches well, it

provides a foundation for the unity based on the common bond of Christ described in the

last three chapters of Ephesians.

Equipping Men to be Leaders

The first step in seeing this ideal become a reality is for pastors to have a deep

understanding of the fact that they are not the one in charge of their church – rather, Jesus

Christ is the head of their church. Therefore, leading as one under authority both mirrors

Christ’s relationship with God the Father and instills humility in leadership.41 A second

crucial step in equipping men to lead in the church is to alter the perception that men are

only there to take up space and drink coffee. Pastors absolutely must expect their men to

participate, lead, pastor their homes, and do more than serve on the greeting team and

occasionally attend a prayer breakfast.42 This is not only the pastor modeling, but also the

pastor calling for good men to step up and lead, making the church aware of opportunities

for men to participate in building the Kingdom of God.43 Also, setting examples of men

to follow and emulate, teaching, rebuking, correcting, and encouraging men leads to

shaping them as leaders in their own homes. This leadership in the home gives men the

support, experience, and confidence to serve in the church as one who has his home in

order.44 Other ways to bolster men as leaders in the church are to cultivate a culture of

40
Murrow, 156-7
41
Weber, 88-9
42
Murrow, 161-2
43
Murrow, 163
44
Kostenberger, 262-4
celebrating masculinity with retreats, special events, social gatherings, and service tasks

that incorporate the particular skill sets and talents that men possess.45

Personal Reflection

My understanding of masculine leadership in the church comes mostly from

Scripture and then some from personal experience and observation. As seen above, men

should follow the created order and the examples seen in Scripture and lead in the

Church. To date, I have only been a member of congregations who hold to a male-only

pastoral structure although I have sat under a woman’s preaching at one point and have

an extended family member who is a female head pastor. My first reaction to these

situations is not to chastise or rebuke, but rather to ask, “Where are the men?” In no way

do I consider myself a sexist or chauvinist, but I do hold to a complimentarian view

(which I believe to be a biblical understanding as well) of human gender roles.46

As mentioned above I currently serve in my church as a pastor and home group

leader. Men hold the vast majority of our leadership positions (save for the children’s

and women’s ministry leaders who are incidentally pastors’ wives), and we enjoy at

CityView a culture of attracting and cultivating strong masculine leaders. I am

encouraged by what I see at our church and in several other organizations and networks

with which I am affiliated, but I am also saddened by churches and organizations that do

not have the benefit of solid leading men. In my opinion the time has never been more

crucial to both inspire and equip men to lead in the Church; save for the grace of God it

cannot continue unless men respond to the mandate on their lives and step up to meet the

challenges of leadership (which is, in itself, a grace from God).

45
Murrow, 207-8
46
Piper and Grudem, 52-3
 Leading at Work and in the Community

After discussing the role of men in private and religious environments, we now

turn the discussion on masculine leadership in the secular and public world. From

politics to corporate business offices and from Parent-Teacher Association meetings to

the front-line command bunkers on the battlefield, how are we to understand the

leadership role of men in these various contexts? Surely the Bible has a powerful voice

for those who acknowledge God’s sovereignty and authority, but there are many who

blatantly reject the idea of God altogether. In these circumstances though the discussion

parameters and participants change, biblical principles must be contextualized to fit the

conversation in question, which leads to a robust discussion to say the least.

Biblical Foundations

As discussed in the sections above, following bibilical examples and mandates,

men are to be leaders as seen in the creative order, in biblical example. Therefore it

follows that if a man (particularly a Christian man) is to be a leader in the primary

domains of his life (his home and church), then there is neither precedent nor reason for

his wife to usurp that authority and leadership in the broader social context in the

community. Similarly, if the church is to exemplify the manifold wisdom of God47 to the

world and men are the leaders in the church, it stands to reason that the same wisdom can

and should be seen in men leading in the workplace and social community. For men to

provide for their families and fulfill their role as protector and leader, they must take up

the leadership positions and stand at the forefront of these domains as they serve and

glorify God with their masculinity.

47
Ephesians 3:10
Leadership in Practice

When men do step up, take responsibility and initiative and lead properly in

the workplace, as mentioned above, they inspire others to follow and cultivate unity

among those they lead. Men who lead well focus those they are responsible on specific

objectives, projects, and purposes in such a way as to increase efficiency and satisfaction

in the workplace, and work ethic increases.48 Given the direction, decision-making skills,

‘fill the earth and subdue it’ mentality (as inspired by God)49 of men, it stands to reason

that productivity and accomplishments would flourish while discord, disunity, and

indecision tend to fade away. In the broader sense of community, men who lead well

take the pressure off of their wives or female friends to bear the weight and

responsibilities of leadership, freeing them up to serve, enjoy their experience, and be

relatively free of concern. While there are very distinct differences between men and

women – especially perceptions in the workplace and in social contexts, this does not in

any way mean that men are better than women or vice versa. Rather, the uniqueness of

each gender lends them to particular skill sets and aptitudes – some (particularly those

associated with men) being better suited for leading than others.

Equipping Men to be Leaders

Many of the aforementioned leadership development principles for men in

general and for men leading in the church and home directly apply to the workplace and

community as well. Proper training and vision-casting for men to be leaders who inspire,

encourage, lead with integrity and clear-cut standards is absolutely essential. In this way,

men can look to Jesus as a leader of men and women, of large groups and of small
48
Barry H. Corey, “Soft Patriarchs, New Men: How Christianity Shapes Fathers
and Husbands,” Journal of Family Ministry 19 no 4 (Winter, 2005) 59-61.
49
Genesis 1:28
groups, and in rural areas and in bustling urban centers. Properly emulating the character

and example of Christ, then, as in virtually all pursuits, is the standard and goal for men

who lead and those who would equip them to do so.

Personal Reflection

My own experience leading in the secular world, though limited, has been

immensely helpful in understanding how those outside of Christian circles understand

male leadership among many other things. In every instance that I can recall male

leaders have contributed to a lack of anxiety in employees, a general sense of efficiency,

and a lack of interpersonal conflict and workplace drama. On the contrary when

following a woman’s leadership in any capacity there has always seemed to be more

tension, drama, frustration, gossip, and lack of confidence among those who follow.

While this evidence is anecdotal at best, I do believe that it is representative of the

statistics that I have been privy to, and it seems to lend itself to supporting the

complimentarian understanding of gender roles. That having been said, in no way do I

believe women to be inferior or lesser in dignity, purpose, value, or manner – I fully

celebrate the uniqueness and special giftings that God has seen fit to bestow upon the

sexes for his glory. Therefore, with men being better suited for leadership in general and

women being more naturally inclined to follow, I believe that it is more beneficial for

men to lead in the secular world and the community rather than women, though I would

not oppose or criticize a woman for pursuing and filling those roles.

Concluding Thoughts
 God has given us an immensely crucial resource in men who lead well.

Throughout history, effective leaders are both celebrated and demonized but the one

undeniable truth is that they are remembered in history books and have drastically

changed the shape of the world we live in. From the college student who has relatively

little responsibility and impact on the world to the corporate CEO or national leader with

colossal global influence, men are called to bear the image of God by leading, bearing

responsibility, initiating, inspiring, and protecting those over whom God has given them

responsibility. The primary foundation men must operate from in order to properly

respond to this high and weighty calling is a relationship with Christ, being driven by the

Holy Spirit and guided by the sovereign hand of God. From this relationship, then, men

must lead as Christ Jesus did – as one under authority from heaven. In this way and in

this way only can men truly fulfill God’s mandate on males from creation to lead

effectively yet humbly, and boldly yet in a way that honors their God and not themselves.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Books

Dobson, James. Straight Talk to Men. Sisters, OR: Multnomah, 1991.

Driscoll, Mark. Pastor Dad. Wheaton, IL: Crossway (Re:Lit), 2008.

Kostenberger, Andreas J. God, Marriage, and Family: Rebuilding the Biblical

Foundation. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2004.

Murrow, David. Why Men Hate Going to Church. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson,
2005.

Piper, John and Wayne Grudem. Recovering Biblical Manhood and Womanhood: A
Response to Evangelical Feminism. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2006.

Weber, Stu. Tender Warrior. Sisters, OR: Multnomah, 1999.

 Articles

Browning, Don. “Good Christian Men: How Faith Shapes Fathers.” Christian Century,
vol.122, no 1, January 2005. 18-21.

Corey, Barry H. “Soft Patriarchs, New Men: How Christianity Shapes Fathers and
Husbands.” Journal of Family Ministry 19 no 4. Winter, 2005. 59-61.

O’Brien, Brandon. “A Jesus for Real Men.” Christianity Today vol. 52, no 4. April,
2008. 48-52.

Wall, John. “Fatherhood, Childism, and the Creation of Society.” Journal of the
American Academy of Religion, vol. 75 no 1. March, 2007. 52-76.