Where have all the leaders gone?” an American talk show host recently asked his guests. His question concerned the race for the office of president of the United States. From the discussion that followed, it became apparent that most people are confused about what makes a good leader.

The world is awash with billions of people, but what is missing are true leaders who can rise above the tide to improve the human condition.

Leaders operate from a vision that influences others either for good or bad. Truly great leaders have altered the course of history. Where are the leaders who can measure up to the challenges of the 21st century? Where are the George Washingtons, the Abraham Lincolns, and the Winston Churchills of our time?

George Washington

G. Washington
Consider the example of George Washington. Known as the father of the nation, he inspired his men to do the impossible when he led the tattered remains of his army to victory over the British on Christmas Eve in 1776.

Even though morale was low, and his army dwindled daily from desertions, Washington led his men across the ice-clogged Delaware River and defeated the unsuspecting Hessian soldiers at Trenton, New Jersey. By this bold action the new nation was inspired to fight on.

A God-given responsibility

Washington firmly believed that the dignity of office must be considered a responsibility from God. In his mind, the duties of the presidency had to be carried out with the highest honor. Like many other traditions he authored, Washington established the tradition of taking the oath of office with his hand on the Bible, appealing “so help me God” to faithfully uphold the laws of the United States and public trust.

Instead of garnering power to himself, he stepped aside to become the nation’s first retired chief executive. In his will he stipulated that his slaves were to be freed from bondage because he had come to believe slavery was contrary to God’s will.

Hitler antithesis of Washington

Adolf Hitler was perhaps the most dominant leader of the 20th century, and was the antithesis of Washington. Hitler rode a wave of German despair to manipulate his way into national leadership. With mesmerizing theatrics he pioneered the use of the new technological tools of radio, amplified sound and theatrical lighting to create a type of mass hypnosis.

A. Hitler
By cleverly manipulating the perceptions of the German people, he was able to seize the soul of a nation with the promise of a 1,000-year Reich. What he brought was an explicit policy of mass murder, warfare and bloodshed on a scale never seen before in history. In the end, Hitler destroyed not only his own nation, but much of Europe in carrying out his mad dreams.

What does a true leader do?

The contrast between George Washington and Adolf Hitler can help us understand the qualities that distinguishes what true leadership should be. A true leader will focus on what is best for the people he leads. Leaders must be willing to sacrifice themselves for a cause greater than themselves. They should provide a vision for the people and should articulate that vision.

True leaders are not dictators. They do not derive their power from commanding people to obey their will or using coercive methods to manipulate others.

Guidebook for true leadership

Over the course of their lives both George Washington and Abraham Lincoln faced many challenges and setbacks. They found both personal inspiration and a framework for successful leadership in the pages of the Bible.

W. Churchill
History abounds with accounts of notorious conquerors such as Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar, Constantine, Genghis Khan, Charlemagne and Napoleon Bonaparte. Volumes have been written about their exploits. Yet we often overlook another book that is the best book on leadership ever written. This book is none other than the Bible. It reveals the character of true leadership. A central focus of the Bible is its message that the entire world can be, and will be, transformed by the right kind of leadership.

It offers many examples of leaders who stood out in their generations. Noah was unique, the only “preacher of righteousness” of his day (2 Peter 2:5). He resisted evil in a world of total corruption, built an ark as a witness to a coming judgment and was a warning sign to the world for 120 years.

Joseph was an extremely capable young man who overcame adversity—including being sold into slavery and being falsely imprisoned on trumped-up charges, only to become second in command of Egypt.

The Bible describes the trials, triumphs, successes and failures of an astonishing array of leaders. Abraham, Moses and King David demonstrate standards of righteous leadership for all time. Wicked leaders are also given detailed profiles in the Bible’s histories. For example, Ahab debased his kingdom by instituting Baal worship—which included child sacrifice—under the incessant manipulation of his pagan wife Jezebel.

Jesus teaches leadership

Jesus’ concepts of leadership were revolutionary. They stood in stark contrast to the commonly held views of His time.
Jesus’ concepts of leadership were revolutionary. They stood in stark contrast to the commonly held views of His time when He said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave” (Matthew 20:25-27).

He condemned the ruling class as “blind guides” who “outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside... are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness” (Matthew 23:24, 28). He called the leaders hypocrites (verse 27), a Greek term for an actor whose true face was hidden behind a theatrical mask.

Guidelines for leaders

These biblical lessons were not lost on George Washington. For example, Washington said, “It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible.”

At Mount Vernon, the preserved country estate of George Washington, a statue stands in a secluded garden courtyard. Engraved on its pedestal is a quote from the book of Exodus.

“I will give thee counsel, and God shall be with thee... Thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens” (Exodus 18:19-21, King James Version).

“Able men”

Moses selected men and women of ability and expertise. Some systems of government promote people to position of rulership because of patronage rather than merit. This has always been a problem, even in the Western democracies.

Too often people are rewarded with power based more on who they know, rather than on their abilities. Inevitably their lack of comprehensive vision and inability to articulate that vision lead to mediocre results or failure.

“Such as fear God”

The second trait in Moses’ list is the fear of God. Human brilliance and ability must be tempered with a respect for the ultimate ruler of mankind, our Creator. Fear of God means the leader knows his or her place in the order of things and is willing to acknowledge the will of God for all people.

In his first inaugural address, George Washington spent a third of the speech expounding God’s providence and making “fervent supplications to that Almighty Being who rules the universe.”

“Men of truth”

Seeking the truth of God is the third leadership trait. Mature men and women of truth know how to realistically face the facts even about their own shortcomings, and to make corrections where necessary.

“Hating covetousness”

Leaders are to hate covetousness, which is the desire to take what does not belong to them or hold on to what is not theirs. Power and authority tend to have an intoxicating impact on leaders. Jesus told His followers that they must counteract this corrupting tendency by focusing on serving others, just as He did (Matthew 20:25-28).