In a week of real uncertainty in the UK, one of the most extraordinary elements has been the absence of leadership. It's been characterised by supposed leaders stepping away rather than stepping up. Across the political divides, we've seen people resigning, disappearing, or calling for others to step down.
The Prime Minister has resigned. The campaign which won the EU referendum has failed to deliver any sort of plan. The shadow cabinet has quit en masse – and called for their leader to do likewise. Even the England football manager feebly waved the white flag before facing the media properly.
In a definitive moment for our country and the world, leadership has been conspicuous by its absence. We're not talking about people taking charge, setting a bold vision and regathering their troops; the conversation has all been about giving up, standing aside, and stepping back from the big decisions. Right now it feels like we don't have any leaders left. With both of the UK's major political parties currently rifling through their cupboards in a search for new chiefs, it's a worrying trend.
So it's a good point to ask: what does real, quality leadership look like? Or perhaps, what is it that we're really looking for in our leaders?
I don't believe that what we're really looking for is people who wield power, throw their weight around, or force things to happen. Instead, more now than ever, I think we're looking for people who exhibit real character. People who demonstrate strength of mind when all around are losing theirs; hearts that are committed to their cause and believe a better future is possible.
It's perhaps unsurprising that as a Christian, the best template I can find for leadership is Jesus. That should make some sense even to the non-believer; here's a man who grew a global movement from 12 people to two billion; who knew how to get the best out of his senior staff team; who gave some of history's greatest speeches and repeatedly took the headlines with instantly quotable soundbites. Yet while we'd all love Jesus' gifts as a CEO or party leader, there's something else which marks him out which is somewhat more possible to emulate.
The centre of Jesus' leadership was his character. It's what attracted people to him; it's why followers gave up everything to stick with him. It's the practice which backed up his preaching; it's the aspirational heart of the man that we can all relate to. Each of us probably want to be a bit more like Jesus, regardless of our faith or politics; and when we stop to think about it, we all want leaders like him too.
Jesus was a phenomenal example of integrity, the leadership characteristic by which all are eventually judged. He was exactly who he said he was, and he never once betrayed that. Standing before Pharisees and chief priests he might easily have played down his more blasphemous-sounding statements, but he didn't; instead telling them "before Abraham was, I am" (John 8:58). In the same way, we would love our leaders to be people whose words and actions measure up; we want leaders in our churches, our communities and our nations who really are who they say they are.
Jesus also displayed incredible courage – the ability to do what's right even at tremendous personal cost. He was the man who flipped the tables in the temple because it was the right thing to do, even though it meant drawing dangerous attention to himself. He's the figure in the Garden of Gethsemane who so humanly asks God if there's any other way, yet doesn't run from his agonising destiny but instead walks toward it. Surely all of us desire such a trait in our leaders – the ability to put your own pride or even career on the line for the sake of doing what's right?
It was also said of Jesus that he spoke "as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law" (Mark 1:22). When Jesus spoke, people listened because he knew what he was talking about and had been given a true mandate to lead. In an age of flimsy political soundbites and childish point-scoring, we long for leaders who have this kind of authority about them.
Fourthly, Jesus demonstrated incredible humility. He didn't lord his Lordship over people; instead he served the poor and told his followers to do likewise. The washing of the disciples' feet in John 13 is not only one of the most prophetic images in the Bible; it's also a posture that we can replicate ourselves, both literally and figuratively. Jesus was a leader who submitted to the needs of others, and constantly sought to serve and put them first. This kind of true humility is sadly lacking in a 'platform' culture (in the church as much as in politics), but we're instinctively drawn to those who genuinely exhibit it.
Finally Jesus cast a vision of hope. Of light in the darkness, of freedom from sin, of eternity in paradise. Jesus' visionary nature helped his followers, and then millions and billions of others, to lift their eyes above present struggles to see a world that could yet be. Now more than ever, the world needs leaders who can follow his example in doing the same, not focussing solely on our problems, but also on the world we could create together on the other side of them.
As Christians, this is the example of leadership that we look to, now more than ever. This is the God we serve, the King we follow; the model we seek to emulate. But this template, based on character rather than skills, is exactly what the world is crying out for in its leaders as we face up to uncertain times. We should pray that in every area of our culture, we see leaders emerge who display these kinds of Christ-like characteristics, and if we get the opportunity, we should vote for them.
Martin Saunders is a Contributing Editor for Christian Today and the Deputy CEO of Youthscape. You can follow him on Twitter: @martinsaunders
