BIBLICAL EVALUATION OF LEADERSHIP THEORIES AND PRACTICES IN ITERATURE A SOLA SCRIPTURE-THEMATIC SYNTHESIS

Abstract

Traditional leadership theories lack significant Biblical evidence that leadership is a gift from God. Consequently, the theories do not factorize stewardship, accountability, integrity, and justice into their conjectures. This study evaluated leadership theories and practices through the lens of sola scriptura. This was to identify any biblical justification for traditional leadership theories. The methodology covers the study design, data sources, data  collection procedures, and analysis techniques. The design of this study is qualitative; it is based on themes from traditional leadership theories and from the Bible within a sola scriptura framework. This design provides a platform to interpret textual data and themes. The primary data source for the study is the Bible. The secondary source is from leadership literature. Relevant Bible texts related to leadership were selected. This specification is necessary to include only themes that are comparable to the secondary data. The sources of the secondary data are themes derived from the leadership theories included. The data for the study were elicited through a documentary search of leadership literature, identification of relevant Bible texts, and finally, the presentation of consonant themes from the theories and the Bible. The identified textual data sources were used for analysis. Findings reveal that selfdependence will lead to naturalism, self-confidence, and sufficiency. Based on Sola Scriptura, leadership has authority. However, its power is under the control of  compassion and love. Hence, tyrannical leadership and authoritarianism are anti-Bible doctrines of humility, responsibility, and free will. Traditional Leadership theories were framed in secular contexts, which can be mediated by biblical principles to deconstruct them. The methodological implication was that the relevant leadership themes became direct derivatives of the Bible. In practice, leadership can apply Bible values in the workplace.