For our Founding Fathers, leadership meant putting their lives on the line …

Even though the “Christian industrial complex” thrives off of fostering an addiction to “leadership,” we have — in the church, anyway — profoundly missed an understanding of real leadership.

It’s easy to get the concept of leadership as pertaining to business; a key problem the church faces is so many “church leaders” bring into the church business leadership principles and models instead of biblical ones.

In business, leadership will draw more from position and focus on success, but biblical leadership is about being a servant and making real, personal sacrifices to serve those they’re responsible for leading.

America’s Founding Fathers had an understanding of leadership that compelled them to put their lives on the line for what they were leading others into. As servants of the people, they made great personal sacrifices to bring into reality this idea of a new nation. Resource documented some of the personal sacrifices our Founding Fathers made in the pursuit of America’s independence:

Fifty-six men signed the Declaration of Independence. Their conviction resulted in untold sufferings for themselves and their families. Of the fifty-six, five were captured by the British and tortured before they died. Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned. Two lost their sons in the Revolutionary Army. Another had two sons captured. Nine of the fifty-six fought and died from wounds or hardships of the war.

Carter Braxton of Virginia, a wealthy planter and trader, saw his ships sunk by the British navy. He sold his home and properties to pay his debts and died in poverty.

At the battle of Yorktown, the British general Cornwallis had taken over Thomas Nelson’s home for his headquarters. Nelson told General George Washington to open fire on the Nelson home. The home was destroyed and Nelson died bankrupt.

John Hart was driven from his wife’s bedside as she was dying. Their thirteen children fled for their lives. His fields and mill were destroyed. For over a year, he lived in forests and caves, returning home only to find his wife dead and his children vanished. A few weeks later, he died from exhaustion.

As we celebrate Independence Day this year, and recall the sacrifices our Founding Fathers were willing to make, let us use their example to examine our own willingness to serve and sacrifice on behalf of others, to God’s glory.

Scotty