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Leadership books sometimes make a distinction between formal leadership and informal leadership. Formal leadership refers to a situation in which a person has a title or position that grants that person authority over others, while informal leadership refers to a situation in which someone exhibits the qualities of a leader and is recognized as such by others, even without a formal title or position.
The formal dynamics of authority and submission grow out of the fifth commandment. Our parents are the first authorities we encounter, but theologians have recognized that the commandment extends beyond the family and into other contexts. The Westminster Larger Catechism states: “By father and mother, in the fifth commandment, are meant, not only natural parents, but all superiors in age and gifts; and especially such as, by God’s ordinance, are over us in place of authority, whether in family, church, or commonwealth” (Q&A 124; see Rom. 13:1–7; Eph. 6:1; Heb. 13:17). The spheres of family, church, and state are the fundamental contexts wherein God has established formal dynamics of authority and submission.
The Bible speaks extensively about formal leadership in the context of officers of the church. God has given these officers—elders and deacons—as gifts to His people, and He has established His church in such a way that these officers exercise authority over the flock, who are called to submit to those over them (Eph. 4:11–12; Heb. 13:17).
But there is also informal leadership, and leaders in the church should strive to exhibit this as well. Scripture calls God’s shepherds to be the kind of people whom people want to follow. In listing the qualifications for elders, Paul speaks primarily of their character (1 Tim. 3:1–7; Titus 1:5–9). Elders are to exhibit good and praiseworthy character, to be respected by members of the church and by outsiders alike. They are to rule with gentleness, to not be domineering but to provide a positive example to those under their care (1 Peter 5:3).
While the members of the church are called to obey those in authority over them, elders must not demand submission. Instead, they must shepherd with love and patience, correcting and exhorting according to the teaching of the Word of God (2 Tim. 4:2).
People don’t follow leaders only because they have a title before their name or degrees after their name. They follow leaders because of their character. In whatever positions of authority we find ourselves, let us strive to cultivate that character. Let us seek humility, listen more than we speak, consider when we may be wrong, and be steadfast and courageous. In this way, we glorify the God who has placed us where we are and set an example for those under us.