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Leadership Ministry: Critique
Standards for Evaluating Success
Leaders need to measure themselves against the right criteria. Evaluate against God's standards, not worldly or carnal definitions of success.
Worldly and Carnal |
God's Standards to |
Scripture for Critiquing | ||||
Performance
| Strategic purposefulness the greatest purpose being to love (Matt. 22:36-40) | Matt. 9:13; 12:7; Mk. 12:33 | ||||
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Politics
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Speaking the truth in love integrity (Eph. 4:14-15) |
Phil. 2:3-4; 1 Thess. 2:5 | ||||
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Popularity
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Selflessness rather than drawing people to yourself, you point them to the Lord who is the Chief Shepherd, the King of kings, the Lord of lords |
1 Thess. 2:6 | ||||
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Possession
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Stewardship realization that you are merely managing God's resources, coaching His people, being a facilitator |
Eph. 4:15; Matt. 25:14-30 | ||||
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Power
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Shared leadership empower others, delegate responsibility, model the way to do things (1 Tim. 4:12) |
Matt. 20:25-28 | ||||
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Professionalism
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Secure in the Lord successful through God's power and wisdom |
1 Cor. 1:20-31 | ||||
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Prominence
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Servanthood humility, submission, and sacrifice(Phil. 2:5-8) |
Matt. 18:1-4; 20:25-28 | ||||
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Because of the type of leader they are, different leaders will tend to ask themselves different questions when critiquing their leadership success. If not careful, the questions they ask could take them into a more worldly or carnal measurement.
Evaluation by Visionary Leaders:
Tend to Ask: Did people come on board?
Caution: could take them into a need for prominence (position, influence) or politics to make it happen
Alternative Question: Did it advance the cause of Christ?
This question shows the recognition that it is His church, not the leader's. The leader is a steward. This question places importance on God's agenda and cause. The leader is a servant. This question cares about God's ways and means. The leader knows the importance of speaking the truth in love.
Evaluation by Administrative Leaders:
Tend to Ask: Did it work?
Caution: could cause them to take performance too far using only a pragmatic objective and failing to acknowledge the spiritual dimension
Alternative Question: Did it conform to the Lord and His ways, resultantly bringing glory to Him?
This question acknowledges that the end does not justify the means and that doing for the sake of doing is meaningless. The leader strategically purposes what and how tasks are accomplished.
Evaluation by Shepherding Leaders:
Tend to Ask: How do people feel about it?
Caution: could grow into a people-pleasing mentality and a need for popularity
Alternate Question: Did people change and mature, becoming more Christ-like?
This question stresses that God's desires for people are more important than how they feel about the leader. The leader becomes selfless, like John the Baptist who said "He must become greater; I must become less" (Jn. 3:30).
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