nurturing servant leaders in religious education - Scholarly ...

or values" (p. 4). The need to serve others has long been a foundational value for
religions such as Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, and Buddhism. Love is often
equated with the manifestation of service. For instance, The Holy Bible explains that
the two greatest commandments are to,
love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy
mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it,
Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself (Matthew 22:37-39).
Scholars have often pointed to prominent examples of servant leadership teaching
found in early Christian history (Reinke, 2004; Blanchard & Hodges, 2003;
Thompson, 2002; Lee, 2002). The life of Jesus Christ provides, for many, the perfect
example of the servant-leader. Writings on the servant example of Christ represent a
sizeable portion of current servant leadership literature in the field today.
Scriptural evidence of Christ’s servant-leadership is found shortly after the record of
the Last Supper when, upon completion of the Passover meal he “laid aside his
garments; and took a towel and girded himself. After that he poureth water into a
bason, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them wherewith he was
girded” (John 13: 4-5). Upon seeing their Lord and Master performing a menial chore
reserved only for the lowest of servants, the disciples questioned Christ. The
following admonition came “ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well, for so I am.
If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one
another’s feet” (John 13: 13-14). It appears Christ’s position as a leader did not
exclude him, but rather compelled him, to take upon himself the mantle of servant.
With this declaration Christ projected that true leadership is not above any task,
however basic, that can bring true comfort to someone else. The leadership lesson
here appears to be not in the physical act of washing feet, but in the shift in mindset it
set in motion for the disciples at that time, and to those who have consequently taken
up the challenge to serve in like manner.
Looking at the teachings of Christ, there is found within ancient scripture a further
admonition to develop servant leadership,
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