Reflections on Kenotic Leadership
January/Jan/2012 Filed in: Leadership,
Theology
Some Reflections on Kenotic Leadership
Inspired by reflecting on the example of my Leader (and Lord)
Ed Stuckey, January 30, 2012
I have a deep conviction that leadership matters. Well-led companies are more likely to succeed than those that are poorly led; well-led sports teams are more likely to win, and well-led political jurisdictions are more likely to be happy places in which to live. Given that my heart and life are into local churches, I am also convinced that well-led churches are more likely to be effective in fulfilling their calling. But, what sort of leadership? And how is it best measured?
If we can simply assume that Jesus Christ was an exemplary Leader, we can hear some fresh implications of what the apostle Paul urged in Philippians 2:5: In your relationships with one another, have the same attitude of mind Christ Jesus had. The reference to having the same attitude of mind as Christ (“let this mind be in you”) speaks about a settled direction and focus of life. It reminds us that effective leadership is grounded in a radical, wilful, faith-based choice. Even a well-intentioned leader will never drift into a Christ-like mindset. What is involved?
6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; Within the mystery of His divine mind, there was, as it were, a moment of decision for the Son of God. It is the moment Paul selects as illustrating the mindset essential for Christ-like leading. The Son of God determined not to use His place of privilege and possession of all things for His own benefit. It was the decisive moment in redemptive history, vital to His fulfillment of His own purposes, crucial for our salvation, and the definitive pattern for leadership within His church. Our version of this moment is radically choosing not to use our position, privileges or even the people on our team for our own advantage, but for the sake of others – Why? So that those in our circle may have opportunity to become all that the One who designed them, and His Son who died for them, has provided for them to be. Here is our pattern for effective leading: 7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.
The verb rendered “made himself nothing” is kenóo, traditionally translated “to empty.” This may cause confusion because in our logic, when we picture pouring out, we assume whatever is emptying is becoming depleted. But, in God’s economy, that doesn’t apply – either for the source or the receptacles. Instead, this is the emptying that fills. Though we read the words, “made himself nothing” we ought never assume this is about becoming less. Even for Christ, entering into human flesh did not make Him less, but more. For Jesus to empty Himself into our humanity was not reduction, but enhancement. This is the One of whom the Father said, Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him and he will bring justice to the nations. (Isa 42:1) In “pouring out His life,” the Messianic Servant was fulfilling God’s divine mission on this planet. Our fulfilling the divine mission calls for nothing less, but it is important to see why.
In this grand “kenosis / emptying” of deity into humanity in which the Son of God became Son of Man He shows us who we are, and how to fulfill our God-ordained mission and realize our God-enabled destiny as those created in His image. He showed us that the grandest purpose of true humanity is not self-seeking, but others-serving, so they too can experience their own God-designed destiny.
Spiritual leadership is about bringing people together to realize this God-designed purpose in the body of Christ. The most Christ-like version of this may be designated “kenotic leadership;” it begins with the radical choice never to use our position, privileges, or even the people on our team for our own advantage, but for the sake of seeing all within our influence become everything God created them to be. Kenotic leadership is a life poured out productively, into other people, equipping them to do the same for other. Just as for Christ Himself, a kenotic leader does not become less, but more, not reduced, but reproduced, not curtailed, but completed. This is because when things are functioning perfectly (which they never quite do in this fallen world, but that’s another article) a kenotic leader is filled with Christ, not self. Those full of themselves have nothing substantive to empty into others, and must draw their energy to function from the affirmation and adulation of others. When the energies of people are simply drawn back into serving the leader, then the divine intention is disrupted.
Only kenotic leadership allows God’s life and power to flow freely into the people served. Since serving is not just for the Messianic Servant, but rather our true humanity, the function of human spiritual leadership is to so empty ourselves into others that they can fulfill the divine image and realize their Christ-like identity. Only kenotic leaders have the divine resources to see this happen. A life poured out productively is nothing less than what God intended for our humanity to be, and provides for us to do. It is our restored original design and anticipated future destiny, brought into this present fallen depravity. As spiritual leaders we get to have a part in helping others live out the divine image, and their own true humanity.
Inspired by reflecting on the example of my Leader (and Lord)
Ed Stuckey, January 30, 2012
I have a deep conviction that leadership matters. Well-led companies are more likely to succeed than those that are poorly led; well-led sports teams are more likely to win, and well-led political jurisdictions are more likely to be happy places in which to live. Given that my heart and life are into local churches, I am also convinced that well-led churches are more likely to be effective in fulfilling their calling. But, what sort of leadership? And how is it best measured?
If we can simply assume that Jesus Christ was an exemplary Leader, we can hear some fresh implications of what the apostle Paul urged in Philippians 2:5: In your relationships with one another, have the same attitude of mind Christ Jesus had. The reference to having the same attitude of mind as Christ (“let this mind be in you”) speaks about a settled direction and focus of life. It reminds us that effective leadership is grounded in a radical, wilful, faith-based choice. Even a well-intentioned leader will never drift into a Christ-like mindset. What is involved?
6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; Within the mystery of His divine mind, there was, as it were, a moment of decision for the Son of God. It is the moment Paul selects as illustrating the mindset essential for Christ-like leading. The Son of God determined not to use His place of privilege and possession of all things for His own benefit. It was the decisive moment in redemptive history, vital to His fulfillment of His own purposes, crucial for our salvation, and the definitive pattern for leadership within His church. Our version of this moment is radically choosing not to use our position, privileges or even the people on our team for our own advantage, but for the sake of others – Why? So that those in our circle may have opportunity to become all that the One who designed them, and His Son who died for them, has provided for them to be. Here is our pattern for effective leading: 7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.
The verb rendered “made himself nothing” is kenóo, traditionally translated “to empty.” This may cause confusion because in our logic, when we picture pouring out, we assume whatever is emptying is becoming depleted. But, in God’s economy, that doesn’t apply – either for the source or the receptacles. Instead, this is the emptying that fills. Though we read the words, “made himself nothing” we ought never assume this is about becoming less. Even for Christ, entering into human flesh did not make Him less, but more. For Jesus to empty Himself into our humanity was not reduction, but enhancement. This is the One of whom the Father said, Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him and he will bring justice to the nations. (Isa 42:1) In “pouring out His life,” the Messianic Servant was fulfilling God’s divine mission on this planet. Our fulfilling the divine mission calls for nothing less, but it is important to see why.
In this grand “kenosis / emptying” of deity into humanity in which the Son of God became Son of Man He shows us who we are, and how to fulfill our God-ordained mission and realize our God-enabled destiny as those created in His image. He showed us that the grandest purpose of true humanity is not self-seeking, but others-serving, so they too can experience their own God-designed destiny.
Spiritual leadership is about bringing people together to realize this God-designed purpose in the body of Christ. The most Christ-like version of this may be designated “kenotic leadership;” it begins with the radical choice never to use our position, privileges, or even the people on our team for our own advantage, but for the sake of seeing all within our influence become everything God created them to be. Kenotic leadership is a life poured out productively, into other people, equipping them to do the same for other. Just as for Christ Himself, a kenotic leader does not become less, but more, not reduced, but reproduced, not curtailed, but completed. This is because when things are functioning perfectly (which they never quite do in this fallen world, but that’s another article) a kenotic leader is filled with Christ, not self. Those full of themselves have nothing substantive to empty into others, and must draw their energy to function from the affirmation and adulation of others. When the energies of people are simply drawn back into serving the leader, then the divine intention is disrupted.
Only kenotic leadership allows God’s life and power to flow freely into the people served. Since serving is not just for the Messianic Servant, but rather our true humanity, the function of human spiritual leadership is to so empty ourselves into others that they can fulfill the divine image and realize their Christ-like identity. Only kenotic leaders have the divine resources to see this happen. A life poured out productively is nothing less than what God intended for our humanity to be, and provides for us to do. It is our restored original design and anticipated future destiny, brought into this present fallen depravity. As spiritual leaders we get to have a part in helping others live out the divine image, and their own true humanity.