Theological Theory of Leadership
  
Leadership is one of the most important skills a person can learn, and today there is no shortage of role models and theories concerning how to be a good leader. Church elders, business executives, military officers, and government officials can learn much from the legacies left by some of the great leaders of history. However, one great leader is often overlooked-the Creator Himself. In order to lead effectively, a leader must understand that God is a three-fold being: God the Son, who leads on the tactical level; God the Holy Spirit, who leads on the operational level; and God the Father, who is a strategic leader.

 
   

Tactical leadership is the entry level of leadership. Tactical commanders lead the way with their men. It is their duty to lead by example, thus they live and work on the same level as their subordinates. When an officer in a tactical position begins to take advantage of special privileges that are not also available to his men, he is out of line. Jesus, God the Son, was the perfect example of a tactical leader. He took on the body of a man in order to effectively lead His disciples. He lived with them, talked with them, and ate with them. Even though he was the only Son of God, He never enjoyed pleasures that were not also available to his disciples. By leading this way, He gave tactical leaders a tangible example to follow.

Operational leadership is the second level of command. While tactical commanders lead with their men, operational leaders lead in front of their men and are entitled to more privileges than tactical leaders. Even so, operational commanders must still maintain a visible relationship with their men. While operational leaders must maintain a battlefield presence, they also maintain their position as a leader and live at a higher standard than the average soldier. God the Holy Spirit is an operational leader. While the Holy Spirit is among men, He is not a man, but higher than men. Just as operational commanders on the battlefield provide the vital link between tactical commanders and strategic commanders, so the Holy Spirit provides the link between Christians and God the Father.

Strategic leadership is the highest and most influential position of leadership. Strategic leaders exercise complete control over their subordinates. Unlike either tactical or operational leaders, strategic leaders command from above their men and do not subject themselves to the rigors of the battlefield. Strategic commanders lead by delegation of authority. God the Father is the ultimate strategic leader. The Bible says that by His word, He created the Heavens and the Earth. The words of a strategic leader are powerful and in many cases shape the destiny of nations. With his words, a strategic leader can dictate victory or defeat-triumph or tragedy. It is only after extensively proving himself as a tactical and operational leader that a person is eligible to be entrusted with a strategic position.

History has proven that a leader’s ideology of God dictates the manner in which he leads. This fact has been further proven by the recent military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan where organized Muslim resistance quickly capitulated because of faulty leadership. The Muslim commanders in these regions lead by fear and oppression rather than by the principles found in the Bible. They lead in this way because that is how they see their god, Allah. The only way for a leader to lead effectively is to know and follow the principle found in God’s Word, the Bible.

 
   


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