The One Essential Mission Of Every Exemplary Christian

Keith KettenringBible Insights, Christian Living, Ministry Leaders, The Uncommon Journey

Today I want to connect godliness to leadership. If you have any influence on others, you are a leader. If you are a leader, you want to be the best leader you can be. If you are a Christian leader, you want to influence others towards God. You want not only to influence people by your words. You want to influence them with your life.  Simply put, you want to be a godly example.

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Who is a Leader? 

Notice my definition of a leader – anyone who influences another. Influencers are spouses, parents, grandparents, supervisors, group, church, or civic leaders, writers, podcasters, department heads, teachers, or friends. Almost everyone walking this earth is influencing someone. Since you’re reading this you’re probably a leader.

If you want to influence others towards God by word and example then you long for godliness – to be like God. Your influence on others flows out of your journey towards godliness.

Connecting Godliness and Leadership

The Apostle Paul connects godliness to leadership. The topic of godliness is found most frequently in the letters of the Apostle Paul to his son in the faith Timothy, a leader. For Timothy to have a faithful ministry in doctrine, worship, conduct, and pastoral care, he must live into “the mystery of godliness.” To be an exemplary leader, Timothy must become a godly Christian.

In 1 Timothy, the Apostle writes:

  • Pray “that we may led a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way” (2.2)
  • Great is the mystery of godliness (3.16)
  • Train yourself for godliness (4.7)
  • Godliness is of value in every way (4.8)
  • Teach…what accords with godliness (6.2-3)
  • There is great gain in godliness with contentment (6.6)
  • Pursue…godliness (6.11)

Godliness is a Way of Life

Godliness is not a concept but a way of life. It is not a thing, it is a way of living. If it’s merely a concept or thing, you can get away with merely thinking about it. If its a way of living, then you are challenged to learn to live it. The reason most Christians are not intentionally journeying towards godliness is because they’ve been taught that godliness is an idea which can then be accepted or rejected. They have not been taught that godliness – living more and more like God – is actually a description of the Christian life. It doesn’t really matter what you know or even say about godliness. It matters most how you’re living it.

It’s like physical “fitness.” Lots of people want to be fit, talk about being fit, quote what others say about being fit, and can even give you reasons to be fit. But are they fit or at least becoming more fit than they are now? Being or becoming physically fit is a lifestyle not merely an idea.

If you influence others, you are a leader. As a Christian leader, you are to become more like God. As you become more like God your influence of others toward God increases in effectiveness.

In my next post, I’ll begin discussing the joy of training yourself for godliness that you, as a leader, can welcome and value.

So, where are you in your journey to godliness? Thinking about it? Talking about it? Quoting verses about it? Pursuing it? Training yourself in it? Share the experience of your journey to godliness below.

Dr. K