The Three Paths of Leadership: Anointed, Elected and Appointed

"The Three Paths of Leadership: Anointed, Elected, and Appointed"

Leadership is a desired position among people, usually because of the many perks it offers. However, these perks and privileges typically match the requirements that leadership demands. Someone can be anointed to lead by divine election, elected through democratic processes, or appointed by either an anointed or an elected leader.

Anointed Leadership

The Israelites had a distinct system of leadership from their time in Egypt. One of the key differences between the Egyptians and the Israelites was their approach to leadership. While the Egyptians followed a monarchical system, the Israelites were led by God, with prophets serving as His spokespersons.

From Moses, whose prophetic calling was confirmed by the burning bush that didn’t burn up, to Samuel, who initially mistook God’s voice for that of a man, Israel maintained this divine style of leadership. Over time, however, the Israelites became dissatisfied with this system and longed for the monarchical style of leadership seen in other nations. God honored this desire, and Saul—who fit the physical, mental, and familial requirements the Israelites admired in foreign kings—was chosen.

To affirm this choice, God transformed Saul's humble heart into the courageous one needed to lead Israel, His chosen nation. Saul became the first anointed king of Israel. However, the human elements involved in his coronation resulted in his reign reflecting these influences. Many of Saul's decisions, driven by his own desires, conflicted with God’s will, leading to a turbulent reign that ultimately ended with him falling on his own sword—his personal desires triumphed over God’s.

During Saul’s reign, the turbulence of his spirit created a leadership vacuum. Jesse's sons had the physical attributes that fit Saul’s selection criteria, which is why Samuel initially turned to Jesse in search of the next king. However, choosing someone similar to Saul would have led to similar or worse outcomes. God intervened, taking full control of the process and choosing David, who wasn’t even on Jesse’s or Samuel’s radar.

David was anointed by Samuel, and unlike Saul, his heart needed no transformation—it was already aligned with God's will, indicating that God had preordained him from birth. As king, David faced many challenges, but he overcame them all. His heart was full of repentance, encouragement, wisdom, psalms, and joy.

Absalom, David’s son, was the most handsome man in all of Israel. His hair weighed a lot when he cut it, and his stamina and energy were unmatched. He often attended to royal matters at the city gates, handling issues that only his father, David, would have typically addressed. Absalom solved many problems, and his confidence grew to the point where he believed he would be the next king.

Though Absalom possessed all the physical qualities needed for kingship, he fell short in two key areas: he wasn’t anointed or chosen by God, and his heart was driven by personal ambition. Absalom might have succeeded in a gentile nation, but God was already involved in Israel. Physical attributes, stamina, or even military prowess were not enough. Saul, despite being anointed, was undone by his conflicting desires—at one moment hunting God's enemies, and at another, being the hunted enemy himself.

In today’s secular world, anointed leadership is typically restricted to religious contexts, where God's authority is supreme. However, an anointed leader can still make appointments based on divine guidance. There is a caveat to these appointments: the anointed leader shares responsibility for the actions of those they appoint.

Elected Leadership

Democratic leadership emerged from the desire for people to make their own choices. In monarchies, people trusted their king's decisions to lead to the best outcomes for them. Yet, just as the Israelites grew dissatisfied with their successful but perceived antiquated system, so too does human nature crave change. It is common to believe that the grass is greener on the other side, even when history consistently disputes this belief.

Democratic leaders are often chosen based on the prevailing issues of the day. If the primary concern is a lack of joy, people will elect a leader who promises to bring laughter, even if that candidate is deficient in other areas. Most democratic decisions are made based on surface-level attributes, and the leader who can most effectively appeal to the majority’s desires typically stands the best chance. The leader's heart may not weigh heavily in the decision. If the leader can lower taxes, raise incomes, keep families safe, provide quality education, and ensure good jobs for future generations, they will likely win the vote. People's desires are relatively simple, regardless of the level of development.

Appointed Leadership

Appointed leaders are neither anointed by God nor elected by the people. Instead, they come into office through the appointment of a leader who recognizes their talents and skills and values the contributions they can bring to governance. Their performance is evaluated by the person who appointed them.

Conclusion

All leaders, whether anointed, elected, or appointed, are subject to human fallibility. Anointed leaders must submit to God's supreme authority to succeed. Allowing personal desires to overrule divine will can have severe consequences. Anointed leadership is a path that must be followed to its conclusion, as anointed leaders answer only to God and themselves; no other human has the reach to correct their flaws.

Elected and appointed leaders, on the other hand, often possess significant intellectual abilities. The modern world's systems are a testament to their capacities. Since humans are made in God's likeness, we can safely assume God is not opposed to these leadership styles. After all, God desires heaven on earth, and many elected and appointed leaders have insights into this vision, replicating aspects of it on earth. Constant elections and reappointments allow society to adjust to its leaders' imperfections.

God gives each nation what it is willing and able to bear. A David comes with many battles, a Solomon brings supernatural wisdom, and a Roman Empire fosters a rich human culture. Every form of leadership fits the era in which it operates. One can only wonder how David’s leadership would fare in the 21st century, with its artificial intelligence, metaverses, and digital tools replacing swords and shields.