Scripture exposes signs of toxic “leadership,” often contrasting toxic shepherds with the Good Shepherd.
Sign #1: Toxic Lording Over; Toxic Control; Toxic Overpowering
Toxic leaders overpower others instead of empowering others. Toxic leaders lord it over others. Toxic leaders are bullies.
Luke 22:24-27: 24 A dispute also arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest. 25 Jesus said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. 26 But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves. 27 For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.
1 Peter 5:2-4: 2 Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; 3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.
Sign #2: Toxic Self-Serving
Toxic leaders demand to be served, rather than willingly serving others.
John 13:12-17: 12 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. 13 “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16 Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.”
Matthew 23:11-12: 11 The greatest among you will be your servant. 12 For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.
Sign #3: Toxic Self-Protection
Toxic leaders protect themselves rather than protecting others. Toxic leaders abandon others. Toxic leaders live a fear-based life, masked by bravado, but revealed when danger arises.
John 10:11-14: 11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. 13 The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. 14 “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me.”
Sign #4: Toxic Self-Promotion
Toxic leaders need to be the “hero.” Toxic leaders crave the spotlight and love the limelight. Toxic leaders do not empower and equip others for ministry. Toxic leaders hoard ministry (especially limelight ministry).
Ephesians 4:11-12: 11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.
Matthew 24:5-7: 5 “Everything they do is done for people to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long; 6 they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; 7 they love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and to be called ‘Rabbi’ by others.”
Sign #5: Toxic Non-Empathy
Toxic leaders are non-empathic. Toxic leaders are emotionally immature—lacking the willingness and/or the capacity to relate to and feel with the pain and needs of others. Toxic leaders are only deeply moved by their own pain, rather than being deeply moved by the pain of others.
Hebrews 4:15-16: 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. 16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
Romans 12:15: 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.
John 11:33-35: 33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. 34 “Where have you laid him?” he asked. “Come and see, Lord,” they replied. 35 Jesus wept.
1 Corinthians 12:26: 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.
Sign #6: Toxic Blindness, Toxic Non-Awareness, Toxic Defensiveness, Toxic Hypocritical Judgment
Toxic leaders are blind to their own faults. Toxic leaders live a life of chosen non-awareness of their own issues. Toxic leaders suppress and resist any exposure of sin or weakness. Toxic leaders point a microscope of judgment at others, but close their eyes to their own issues. Toxic leaders are defensive.
Matthew 7:3-5: 3 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”
Sign #7: Toxic Abuse
Toxic leaders only take care of themselves. Toxic leaders only meet their own needs. Toxic leaders ignore the weak, the sick, and the injured. Toxic leaders rule others harshly and brutally. Toxic leaders, instead of being shepherds, become the wolf that scatters and destroys the sheep. Toxic leaders leave those they leave without protection.
Ezekiel 34:1-10: The word of the Lord came to me: 2 “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Woe to you shepherds of Israel who only take care of yourselves! Should not shepherds take care of the flock? 3 You eat the curds, clothe yourselves with the wool and slaughter the choice animals, but you do not take care of the flock. 4 You have not strengthened the weak or healed the sick or bound up the injured. You have not brought back the strays or searched for the lost. You have ruled them harshly and brutally. 5 So they were scattered because there was no shepherd, and when they were scattered they became food for all the wild animals. 6 My sheep wandered over all the mountains and on every high hill. They were scattered over the whole earth, and no one searched or looked for them. 7 “‘Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: 8 As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, because my flock lacks a shepherd and so has been plundered and has become food for all the wild animals, and because my shepherds did not search for my flock but cared for themselves rather than for my flock, 9 therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: 10 This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am against the shepherds and will hold them accountable for my flock. I will remove them from tending the flock so that the shepherds can no longer feed themselves. I will rescue my flock from their mouths, and it will no longer be food for them.
Matthew 18:6-7: 6 “If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. 7 Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to stumble! Such things must come, but woe to the person through whom they come!”
Matthew 23:4: 4 They tie up heavy, cumbersome loads and put them on other people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.
