Leadership Under the Lordship of Christ
Many people quote Abraham Kuyper’s famous words—“There is not a square inch in the whole domain of our human existence over which Christ, who is Sovereign over all, does not cry: ‘Mine!’”—as a rallying cry for cultural engagement. It sounds big, bold, and outward-facing. But before it is a statement about the world, it is a statement about us.
And that’s especially important for leaders.
Leadership has a way of making us believe certain areas of our lives still belong exclusively to us—our decisions, our schedules, our influence, our ambitions. We may confess Christ as Lord in theory, yet function as owners in practice. Kuyper’s insight challenges that gap. If Christ claims every square inch, then He claims every part of our leadership as well.
Not just the visible moments. Not just the spiritual ones. All of it.
When Christ’s lordship moves from a theological idea to a leadership reality, everything changes. Here’s how.
1. Christ’s Lordship Turns Ownership Into Stewardship
Leadership language today is filled with the idea of ownership. We’re told to own the vision, own the results, own the team. But Scripture tells a different story. We don’t own anything—not even our leadership. We simply manage what belongs to God.
From the beginning, God entrusted creation to humanity—not to possess, but to steward. Leadership follows the same pattern. It isn’t about expanding our personal territory; it’s about faithfully caring for what already belongs to Christ.
Paul reminds us that all things were created by Christ and for Christ (Colossians 1:16). That means our leadership isn’t ultimately about our success or reputation. It’s about our faithfulness. That’s why Paul urges us to work “as for the Lord and not for men” (Colossians 3:23).
At the end of the day, leaders don’t answer primarily to boards, teams, or metrics. We answer to Christ for how we handled what He placed in our hands.
2. Christ’s Lordship Reorders the Motives Behind Our Leadership
If Christ rules every square inch, then He also rules every motive. Leadership under His authority cannot be driven by fear, ego, or the hunger for approval. Those motives always shrink whatever they touch.
When leadership flows from the gospel, something shifts internally. We stop trying to prove ourselves. We stop protecting our image. We lead from security instead of insecurity—because our identity is rooted in Christ, not in outcomes.
Kuyper’s statement reminds us that Christ is not an advisor we consult occasionally; He is the Lord we submit to completely. That means leadership isn’t just about how we lead, but why we lead.
People are more perceptive than we think. They can sense whether a leader is genuinely serving them or quietly using them. They know the difference between being valued and being leveraged. And only one of those builds trust.
In leadership, posture matters more than position. People will forgive mistakes, but they rarely follow leaders whose motives are self-centered. Christ-centered leadership always moves outward—toward service, sacrifice, and care for others.
3. Christ’s Lordship Gives Meaning to Ordinary Leadership Work
“Every square inch” doesn’t only apply to the big moments—the speeches, the achievements, the visible wins. It includes the ordinary and unseen: routine meetings, quiet conversations, administrative details, difficult decisions made with integrity, prayers offered when no one else is watching.
Under Christ’s lordship, nothing is insignificant—because nothing is outside His claim.
Christian leadership is never just about efficiency or productivity. It’s participation in God’s ongoing work of renewal. Even the most routine task becomes meaningful when it’s done with faithfulness and purpose.
When leaders see their daily responsibilities through this lens, the mundane is transformed. Ordinary work becomes kingdom work. And Paul assures us that labor done in the Lord is never wasted (1 Corinthians 15:58).
Final Thought
So lead where you are. Lead with humility. Lead with courage. Lead with a heart continually surrendered to Christ’s authority.
If Christ is Lord of all, then even your smallest act of obedience matters. Every faithful decision becomes a seed of His kingdom. And here’s the remarkable truth: when leaders submit their leadership to Christ, the spaces they influence—homes, teams, organizations—begin to reflect the kingdom He already claims.
That’s the power of leadership under lordship.