Lin

“Lin, it’s true that words mean things. But it’s also true that the meaning of a word changes over time. So I don’t think changing the word would change the problem in the long run.”

but that is exactly what has been done. You can trace it throughout church history. the problem has been changed because fewer people see truth behind the words. Another example of this is ‘complimentarian’. Another word coined to say something that it isn’t at all!. Words mean things and are very important communication tools that direct people. Ask any ad exec or marketing person.

So, we get to the late 20th century with our business model church and Blanchard coins the term ‘servant-leadership’ to make authoritarian leaders more acceptable. Gengwell is right. It is an oxymoron.

I was in corporate training for 18 years and we did not need official studies for bad leadership examples. The problem is inherent. And it is everywhere. Seriously, it is the very rare individual who can gain influence over others or be given positional power…to be totally selfless, lack ego and not work to ‘maintain’ that power. I am talking about secular leadership so when you map the same leadership principles taught by most of the guru’s to the Body of Christ…it does not work scripturally.

The whole point is that it easily becomes a sin trap for the person (leader) who gains power and/or influence over others whether it be positional or influential.

I was very glad to see Jeff VanVonderen make this very point in one of his books. The authoritarian ‘leader’ is in a sin trap.