Leadership: Abroad and at home

Leadership abroad

I have been reading about a huge war and invasion, involving leaders in Iran and other Middle East regional leaders. Five cities were destroyed and thousands killed in a brutal war.

It happened though over 2,000 years ago and is probably one of the first recorded accounts of war in history – in Genesis 14.

As I was trying to understand the mystery of King Melchizedek, I was reminded how we all long for a good king/leader.

In Iran, since the establishment of the Islamic Republic, Christians have been longing for a better leader for over 50 years. Like the early church in the time of the brutal Emperor Nero, they have been faithfully affirming, despite severe persecution, that “the one in authority is God’s servant for your good.” (Rom. 13v4). Now though there is hope (at the time of writing) of a change being entrusted to the exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi.

The recently published desire of a group of Christians in Iran is “based on the example of Jesus Christ, who was a servant leader rather than a ruler, we believe that His Highness Reza Pahlavi, through his conduct, humility toward critics, and refusal to seek power for personal gain, has shown that his aim is service to Iran and its people, not domination … In our prayers, we always ask God for peace, protection, and blessings for him and his family. We pray that the Lord Jesus Christ will take his hand and, like Cyrus the Great, guide him, clear obstacles from his path, and smooth the road ahead (Isa.45).

Reading Genesis 14 and the pages of human history that have followed, the country of Iran and the Middle East has probably experienced the most conflict and changes of leaders than anywhere else in the world. Fellow Iranian believers must rely heavily upon those words from Daniel 2v20-22: “Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are His. He changes times and seasons; He deposes kings and raises up others. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with Him.”

Leadership in Britain

Closer to home, in the UK we could be heading for our seventh Prime Minister in a decade. This has only happened twice before in history – in the 1760s and the decade that followed the resignation of Lord Liverpool in 1827. What are the qualities of a good Prime Minister? Anthony Seldon in The Impossible Office listed seven necessary skills, centred on persuasion, oratory, energy, intellect, temperament, ruthlessness and opportunism.

However, he misses a Biblical understanding of leadership – servant-hearted and God-fearing, to “act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6v8). As Christians we recognise that apart from Christ no leaders are perfect, but we should seek Christ-like values.

We all like stories or films about good kings or emperors, from Lord of the Rings to Star Wars. The desire for the good leader is not just fiction though, and not just in places of conflict like Iran or mistrust like the UK. It’s in all of us – a desire in our lives for a good ruler.

Why? Because we were made by a King, under a King, for a King, through a King, and His name is Jesus Christ. King Melchizedek and later King David point to King Jesus the King of Kings, the King of Righteousness and Peace. He’s ruling right now and stands above all earthy rulers.

It's not just a political issue. It’s personal. Tim Keller wrote that if you don’t find the real King, you will find a false king which leads to destruction.

Whatever the quality of our current or future leaders, we are called to pray the same in Iran, UK or wherever – Your Kingdom come.

*Christian MPs and political figures contribute as believers not party politicians. en does not endorse any one particular party.