What in the world is a servant leader?

If you are old like me, you have been groomed on terms like servant leader for a long time.  It was the standard way to describe a good pastor.  He does not demand or expect but gives, serves, listens, and loves.  Not long ago I read someone else's take on this term.  It emboldened me to put in my own two cents worth.

Servant leadership is often a euphemism for something more feminine than masculine and fits in well with those who suggest that the best masculinity is the one that is feminine.  Baloney.  We have become so paranoid about domineering testosterone that every masculinity is toxic to some, perhaps many of us.  And the rest of us are silent before the critics.

Servant leaders are generally wimps, guided by fear instead of courage, who value feelings over truth.  Is that really what you want?  We cannot have justice with servant leadership nor can we have truth.  All we have left is feelings, desires, and preferences.  There is no leadership without conviction and truth.  There is no justice without some feelings being bruised.  Preferences have no absolute values, only relative.  I am over servant leaders who bleed their feelings all over you but have no strength, courage, and discipline. 

I suspect that what we really mean is sacrificial leadership -- not servant leadership.  The best and strongest leaders are those who sacrifice themselves in leadership.  Husbands and dads are good at this -- at least they used to be.  They gave up time and money and self for the sake of their wives, children, and families.  They lived in the realms of what they did for others more than what others should do for them.  This sacrificial leadership is what the Scriptures know.  Jesus was no servant leader.  He did not waver on what sin was or is, what evil was or is, or what the right thing was or is.  Jesus is not unequivocal but blunt in His sincerity and truth.  Jesus does not give up right because some folks might not understand it.  Just the opposite.  We have plenty of leaders who walk us around the table and give us all a chance to talk about what we feel or want.  What good does that do?  We need leaders in the home, church, and nation who have the wisdom, discernment, and courage to tell us what is right from what is wrong and what is truth from what is error.  We need men who will plant the flag and guard it with their lives.  Only then can the rest of us be saved.  The truth is that we are so fearful of offending that have nothing left to say except babble on about our feelings. I fear that the day is coming when the only thing our leaders can say is tolerance and this will be the Gospel of the new era.  It will also be the end of everything worth having.

Everyone is quick to remember how Jesus said, "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone" or "If no one is left to condemn you, neither do I."  But nobody remembers when He says "Go and sin no more."  We want servant leaders who will tell us we are okay just the way we are, that God loves us just the way we are, and that we don't have to change for anyone -- much less God.  Perhaps a servant leader can say this but not Jesus and neither can those who stand in the place of Jesus.  They dare not say such foolishness or the cross becomes merely an object lesson instead of the sacrificial love that dies to make alive.  I am over servant leadership and I pray everyone of you is too.  It is a sham designed to make weak what is strong to make weakness the greatest strength.  No, this is not an excuse to bully but it is surely a call to stand up and stand out as the people of Christ and those who lead them.