Calm Leadership Ministry

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The Moses model or Moses principle (sometimes called the “Moses-Aaron” leadership style) is a church leadership structure based on the example of Moses’ leadership in the Old Testament. The Moses model could be considered a pastor-rule or elder-rule style of church polity, but it is definitely not congregational rule. The Moses model is usually associated with the Calvary Chapel denomination.

In the theocracy that God established in the Old Testament, Moses was in charge. He listened to God and relayed God’s messages to the people under him. Moses explains his role in Exodus 18:15–16: “The people come to me to seek God’s will. Whenever they have a dispute, it is brought to me, and I decide between the parties and inform them of God’s decrees and instructions.” Moses was the spokesman for God, the teacher of the Law, and the intercessor between the children of Israel and God. The Moses model of church leadership says that pastors should be like Moses in that they speak for God, teach the Word, and intercede on behalf of their people. The pastor listens to Jesus and leads the church accordingly.

The Moses model also calls for a board of elders in the church. Because the work of judging the fledgling Hebrew nation was so time-consuming, Moses’ father-in-law, Jethro, gave him some advice, which Moses followed: “[Moses] chose capable men from all Israel and made them leaders of the people. . . . They served as judges for the people at all times” (Exodus 18:25–26). The Moses model of church leadership says that a board of elders should support the pastor in prayer and in taking on some of the work of the ministry. The pastor, Moses-style, delegates some authority to the leaders he chooses to be under him.

There is nothing inherently wrong with the Moses model. Sometimes the Moses model is criticized because of a perceived lack of accountability. The thought is that the Moses model too easily allows pastors to abuse their authority—after all, if they are “like Moses,” then they can lay down the law, and everyone else must toe the line. The board of elders becomes nothing more than “yes” men approving whatever the pastor decrees from his perch on Sinai, and the congregation has no say at all in anything. This criticism may have some merit in some churches, but if it is used as a sweeping condemnation of all churches following the Moses model, it is unjust. A prideful person in any role in any type of church government can be tempted to abuse his or her power.

A more valid concern is that the Moses model attempts to apply an Old Testament system of civil government to a New Testament system of church government. Certainly, a study of Moses’ life can provide wisdom for leaders today, and there’s much we can learn from his example. But we should be careful about going too far in structuring churches after laws or histories falling under the Old Covenant.

The New Testament gives clear direction for the pastors or elders of a church: “Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away” (1 Peter 5:2–4). Jesus is the Chief Shepherd, and pastors are the under-shepherds who follow the Lord’s example of eager servant leadership.

WHAT IS SERVANT LEADERSHIP?
Servant leadership is best defined by Jesus Himself: “Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:26–28). In the Christian realm, all leadership should be servant leadership.

A common misconception among those who want to exercise a leadership role over others is that it comes with glory, power, and positions of honor. In fact, such a mistaken belief was the occasion for Jesus’ words in the above passage. James and John had just asked Jesus to place them at His side when He assumed His throne in the kingdom to come. The other disciples became indignant at the arrogance of their request (Mark 10:41). And, as an object lesson, Jesus modeled the true servant style of leadership. He, the Lord incarnate, bent down and washed their feet, teaching them the true measure of leading by first serving others (John 13:12–17).

The word servant in Matthew 20:27 means “slave.” Not every servant was a slave, but every slave was a servant. It is sad commentary in the church today that we have many celebrities but very few servants. There are many who want to “exercise authority” (Matthew 20:25), but few who want to take the towel and basin and wash feet. Paul reminds us that our attitude is to be like Christ’s in that we consider others better than ourselves and do nothing out of vanity or selfishness. Rather, we look out for the interests of others (Philippians 2:3–4). In this sense, then, every Christian is a servant.

The focal point of servant leadership within the church is “to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up” (Ephesians 4:12). This means, with Christ being the head of the church, the entire church body is served in the act of providing leadership. It’s not just the church leaders who become acutely aware of their place at the foot of the cross but all those within the body of Christ. We all mutually submit ourselves to Jesus just as He was in submission to the Father. From a biblical perspective, servant leadership frees the church of the abuse of power and coercion and promotes mutual respect and love for one another.

A servant leader seeks to invest himself in the lives of his people so that, as a whole, the church community is challenged to grow to be more like Christ. This is demonstrated in the leader’s willingness to give of himself to meet the needs, but not necessarily the wants, of his people. Like a good parent, the true servant leader knows the difference between the needs of his spiritual children and their selfish wants and desires.

The bottom line to the application of servant leadership is that we don’t emulate the examples of the world; our example is Jesus, who came as a servant. Therefore, our mission is to serve one another, to give of ourselves. Christ came to give His life. We are to give of our lives not only in service to Him but to our fellow man, including those in the church and outside it (Mark 12:31).