How Should Christians in Power Serve Others?

Russell Moore begins the conversation by pointing to Scripture when Jesus washes Simon Peter’s feet. Moore asks Mika Edmondson what he thinks we can learn from Jesus about power and authority as it relates to serving one another inside and outside the church.

Edmondson answers by saying that authority in the church is not exercised in the same way as authority outside of the church. He says that one of the conspicuous ways in which we are to function is not lording it over one another like the Gentiles do, but looking to Jesus’s example. Jesus shows us this by actually taking the place, not just of a servant, but the lowest servant in that social setting.

Edmondson says that leadership must be a kind of servant leadership, a leadership that puts others' interests before our own, a leadership that's willing to associate with the lowly and the downtrodden, and a leadership that's willing to sacrifice for the good of others.

Moore points out that Jesus leads, but not toward his own interests. Instead, he leads toward Peter's in this moment of washing his feet. Moore says that this act shows how we are to lead—by serving.