Retired Whitworth professor challenges leadership myths in new book on servanthood
News Story by Morgen White | FāVS News
Retired Whitworth University professor Gordon Jackson, a self-described aspiring “grace-filled evangelical,” has published his 21st book “I’ll Be Your Server,” exploring biblical lessons on servanthood.
In the devotional, Jackson examines 35 biblical servants, including Jesus. Although not all the people in the book model behaviors that one might admire, all are great examples of servitude. Jackson also points out that their human experiences may be easier to relate to.
“All of these examples have something to teach us, whether it’s positive or negative. So I wanted to relate these biblical examples of servanthood to real people like you and me so that we could learn from them rather than just have abstract principles,” Jackson said.
He thinks it’s absurd to tell youth that they can be anything they want as long as they put in the effort. He says it sets goals for them that may be unlikely to obtain — leaving many unfulfilled when they don’t.
“We have the same kind of thinking when we tell people that they’re all leaders, and they’re all going to do these wonderful things,” Jackson said.
In part one of the book, Jackson highlights a survey where the majority of college students, especially men, see themselves as above average in their leadership ability. He then goes on to compare the amount of times “servant(s)” or “leader(s)” is used in the Bible (New International Version), noting that “servant(s)” was used over three times more.
Washing feet an act of humility
Jackson included this in his book because he finds there is a need for Christians to focus on the example of Jesus and emphasize the servant role he modeled.
“I mentioned about so many young men seeing themselves as having great leadership potential. Well, surely many of them do, but I think a more mature Christian approach is to say, wait a minute, what is God calling me to do? He’s calling me to serve,” he said.
In the first profile, Jackson uses the story of Adrian Vlok, who went from evil acts while a cabinet minister in the apartheid South African government to meaningful acts of service, including that of foot washing those he targeted.
“That act of foot washing of the man he had tried to kill, or had his minions try to kill him, and then meeting him in person, it was obvious that he was a transformed man,” Jackson said.
Vlok who said he had a born again Christian experience after the fall of apartheid was the only apartheid government minister to do so.
In the book Jackson wrote, “His acts of foot washing vividly demonstrated the humility, and authentic repentance, that characterized the genuine Christian faith he came to only late in life.”
He goes on to add that in contrast, Jesus did not come to faith later in life. Instead Jesus served His father, God, and all of humanity by “also serving us in the ultimate way: by dying on the cross.” Jackson’s inclusion of Vlok’s story highlights the complexity of human behavior that may seem more relatable to a reader.
What does it mean to be a Christian?
Jackson grew up in a nominal Christian home, and like many who were raised in religious households, he never truly thought about what it meant to be a Christian. Around the age of 12 he went to a Youth for Christ rally.
“I was confronted with the reality that I had never thought this through. And what did it mean to be a Christian? What did it mean to say, I’m going to commit my life to Jesus. I accept that he died for me. I accept that he needed to because I am a sinner. This is the way of the way back to God, and not even realizing as a little 12-year-old that I was even alienated from God. So that initial phase in my faith was steeped with lots and lots of reading,” Jackson said.
His faith was cemented during this time growing up in Cape Town, South Africa. While his buddies were surfing, or sunbathing, Jackson was in his room reading books by C.S. Lewis.
Jackson worked as a professor for 32 years at Whitworth University, a private Christian liberal arts college in Spokane before retiring in 2015.
His faithful editor and friend
During this time he met Lisa McLean.
McLean started attending Whitworth in 1990. She knew she wanted to be a newspaper reporter so she decided to major in communication.
Jackson was the only journalism professor on the staff directory, and therefore also became McLean’s advisor.
When she first met him, McLean remembers being intimidated.
“Because of his English accent and his dry sense of humor and his use of huge words. Plus he always used to tease me because he’d say, ‘Lisa, how are you?’ And I would say, ‘I’m good,’ like most teenagers then, and he was like, ‘No, you’re well,’” McLean said.
As McLean got to know Jackson better she found herself confiding in him.
“I remember going to him crying in his office, like a stressed out college student saying, I don’t know what God’s will is for me. He was just so tender. And just said, you know, when I’m faced with this, this is how I view God’s will. I proceed, and I trust that God’s going to redirect me if that’s not the case. And here’s a book. And he handed me a book that was about distinguishing God’s will,” McLean said.
McLean became good friends with Jackson and his wife over the years. Readers can also find her name on page 120 of his new book.
“Gordon emailed me and said, ‘Hey, I have this manuscript I’ve written. Would you be willing to read it and give me some feedback?’ I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, sure. What an honor. I would love to do that.’ And so that was how it began,” McLean said.
Jackson ‘a servant of the Lord’
McLean has reviewed and advised Jackson on approximately 10 of his books.
Jackson admires McLean’s ability to be an editor.
“I almost always run my books by her in draft form. Lisa is probably one of the best all around journalists I worked with. There were others who were better reporters, others who were better managers, but she had a package that just made her an all around excellent editor,” Jackson said.
But their relationship has gone further than work. Jackson attended McLean’s wedding, and her daughter’s wedding as well.
In Jackson’s retirement, he and his wife Sue have gone on to continue serving people through their work volunteering at the Vanessa Behan Nursery, where they play and read with children or hold babies. The Nursery, named after a young girl who died from abuse, brought local business people together to offer a space for parents to bring their children in the face of a crisis.
McLean admires this feature of the Jackson’s.
“I hope to retire also, and that it’s not just about me, that you’re still serving even after you’re done in your workplace, that God still has more for you. Now in the way that Gordon Jackson shares his beliefs, through his novels and through his devotionals. I just think it’s very fitting for who he is. He’s definitely a servant of the Lord, and I appreciate him for that,” McLean said.
