The Cross: Greatness Through Serving
“Wow! You have the nerve to propose a job in which you will work yourself out of a job?” my friend jokingly asked me. I laughed and responded, “That’s exactly my goal!” I had just finished giving my counterproposal to the medical director at the hospital. This coming Saturday, I will present this counterproposal to the entire hospital board of directors. Rather than becoming the chief of nursing or a supervisor, I want to come alongside nurses to encourage, coach, and inspire growth. I desire to see the results that Robert Greenleaf suggests in his work The Servant as Leader: that those I serve will become “healthier, wiser, freer, more autonomous, more likely themselves to become servants.”[1] My hope is to empower others so that my role becomes unnecessary. This vision may seem counterintuitive, especially in my host culture, but it comes from a deep Western Christian influence. It resonates with the paradigm shift of power that is central to Tom Holland’s book, Dominion: How the Christian Revolution Remade the World.
Holland’s work asserts that Christianity continues to have a profound influence on the Western world. In an interview with John Anderson, Holland’s thesis was described as “provocative,” stating that, “we from the West are all Christians deep down because no other belief has shaken us so deeply.”[2] During the interview, Holland explains that the Cross, the symbol of Christianity, represented torture and dominance in Roman times.[3] Yet Christians embraced the Cross as an emblem of humility and redemption.
That reversal of power, where weakness can become strength, and suffering can lead to glory, has reshaped the world and is foundational to the Western mindset. Others, like Tim Keller, have highlighted how Holland’s insights are reflected in Western culture, including forgiveness, the separation of church and state, justice, and peace.[4] As the Cross has transformed Western society, the denial of the Cross also has a profound impact on societies.
Islam denies Jesus’ death on the Cross. According to the Qur’an (4:157-158), he was not killed or crucified but instead saved from death by Allah. By denying the Cross, Islam removes the theological grounding that Christianity offers for weakness as redemptive or suffering as transformative. In a culture shaped by honor and shame, the idea of a prophet suffering public humiliation on a cross is unthinkable. In contrast, Christianity proclaims that in that very shame lies the path to glory.
The implications of these contrasting foundations extend beyond theology and into global politics. According to Holland, the Muslim conquest was no small contender as it sought to expand its territory.[5] According to Nations Online statistics, Islam is now the predominant religion of over fifty nations. More than thirty of those countries have a Muslim majority of over ninety percent of their population.[6] This global spread highlights why the disparity in thinking between the West and Islam remains relevant today.
The purpose of this blog is not to go deep into the Islamic beliefs that have profoundly influenced the non-Western world; however, the contrast is worth briefly noting. This clash of values surfaces not only in theology and s
ociety but in global politics. Dominion highlights the contrast between Western Christian nations and Islamic nations, as seen in their membership in the United Nations. Muslim countries had to agree to positions that have historically stood in tension with classical Islamic teaching: “equality between men and women; equality between Muslims and non-Muslims; a ban on slavery; a ban on offensive warfare.”[7] These issues, considered to have “no place in Islam,” continue to be contentious in my host country, an Islamic Republic. Slavery, while criminalized since 2007, is still active. Inequality between men and women, different ethnic groups, and people of different skin colors is a daily issue. Sharia law exists where religious freedom does not.
And so, I find myself caught between these worlds, asking, how does one bridge such vast cultural and belief systems, particularly from the status of a white Western Christian female? Is it possible to lead those from a hierarchical Islamic context using servant leadership, a concept stemming from a Western Christian mindset? These are questions I continue to ask myself. The answers to these will directly affect my potential new job position, my doctoral project, and my influence as a Christian in a Muslim society.
The answer goes back to what Western Culture stems from—the Cross. Here is where the King of Kings took on the form of a Servant and chose to be tortured and crucified on that Cross. His sacrifice declared that truth and redemption could be found in the humility of the Servant King. His example influences how we think about leadership, growth, and the purpose of our work. As I pursue a position of leadership, serving those I lead, the goal is not to achieve tremendous success or effect change, although that would be a welcome result. It is for those that I encounter to know how deeply seen, loved, and valued they are by the One who chose the Cross to change their World.
[1] Robert K. Greenleaf, The Servant as Leader, Kindle ed. (Greenleaf Center for Servant Leadership, 1973).
[2] The Making Of The Western Mind: Tom Holland, directed by John Anderson Media, 2022, 1:05:00, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NUUkY164jhc, at 1:35.
[3] The Making Of The Western Mind: Tom Holland, at 20:00.
[4] Timothy Keller, “Tom Holland’s Dominion: A Review,” Gospel in Life, Fall 2020, https://gospelinlife.com/article/tom-hollands-dominion-a-review/.
[5] Tom Holland, Dominion: How the Christian Revolution Remade the World, Kindle ed (Basic Books, 2019), 197.
[6] “Islamic World: Countries with a Cultural Islamic Population,” Nations Online Project, 2025, https://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/muslim-countries.htm.
[7] Holland, Dominion, 510.
About the Author
Kari
Kari is a passionate follower of Jesus. Her journey with Him currently has her living in the Sahara in North Africa. With over a decade of experience as a family nurse practitioner and living cross-culturally, she enjoys being a champion for others. She combines her cross-cultural experience, her health care profession, and her skills in coaching to encourage holistic health and growth. She desires to see each person she encounters walk in fullness of joy, fulfilling their God-designed purpose. “Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.” Romans 12:12 ESV13 responses to “The Cross: Greatness Through Serving”
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Wow Kari! What a post. You have so eloquently connected your story with Holland’s arguments. Could you say more about how you see this cruceform paradigm playing out in your initial steps in this proposal? What does this look like in practice?
Thank you, Ryan. One of my priorities in this proposal is to help bring dignity to those lower on the hospital payroll. For example, the cleaning staff is working 24 hours on/24 hours off. This is not only against the work law but is inhumane. In addressing this issue, I also want to value the leadership’s position and be culturally sensitive to their perspective. Another initial step is to listen–to the leadership, to the staff, to those they want me to lead. I want them to feel seen, heard, and valued.
Kari. You’re amazing. Thanks for all you are doing. How do you practice servant leadership in a context where cultural expectations of hierarchy may resist it.
Thanks, Glyn! It is hard to practice servant leadership in a hierarchical context, but people follow the example of those who lead in practice. For myself, I’ve learned the value of literally serving — helping with the “dirty” tasks and being available to take action in areas that those in the hierarchy will not. I also strive to show respect to those in authority, even if I do not agree with their use of power.
Kari, thanks for a great post. Often people from other countries perceive the negative aspects of the west to be associated with Christianity.
How you help people understand Kingdom is different from the negative aspects of Western culture in your context?
Graham, It is true. Others associate the West with being Christian, just as they assume Catholic, Protestant, and Evangelical are all synonymous. My response to this goes directly to Jesus, the King I follow. Traditions and behaviors are fallible because sinful humans have influenced them. I choose to take my beliefs, behaviors, and actions from Jesus, the sinless one (which is agreed upon by Islam). I have found people resonate with this.
Hi, Kari, thank you for your post and the examples of leadership you have demonstrated. I also wish my country has this kind of heritage. My country is mostly affected by our traditions and cultures that were passed down. Even though Christianity is predominantly spread in my country, it is always affected by this kind of ‘add-ons’ from our cultures or traditions.
Your counterproposal has demonstrated to us how your leadership is affected by cross, thank you for the great example. Would this example convey the same message regardless of the setting? Thank you agian, Kari.
Thank you, Noel. I believe the answer to your question is yes, servant leadership can convey the same message regarldess of the setting if it is Spirit-led. Jesus is our ultimate example of sacrificial love and seeing people for who He created them to be.
Kari,
I understand the context you are in and the challenges with navigating a different worldview. Do you find that the hospital culture is a bit more Western than the rest of the societal culture? Does the very fact that it is a hospital lend itself towards a more Western worldview?
Hi Adam, Yes, in my context, the hospital culture is a tiny step closer to the Western way of thinking, primarily because it is part of the “Western Medicine” system. Most physicians are trained outside the country in more Western-focused contexts. However, a strong local culture remains in the hospitals, as most nursing staff are trained locally.
Hey Kari,
I find it striking that secular ideas of human rights are often built on foundations shaped by Christianity, and some in your host country view the West as an enemy. That doesn’t surprise me, because so much ultimately comes down to who Jesus is—that’s often where the deepest tensions arise. In the midst of that, I wonder: what gives you encouragement, and how do you stay fortified when it feels like society’s beliefs and ways of life are moving in the opposite direction of your own?
Elysse, you also understand the pull between vastly different belief systems. What fortifies me is my personal walk with God and with others who share my beliefs, like you. I also try to daily look for glimmers of hope, no matter how small, and intentionally name things I am thankful for. This helps me focus on the One whom I serve, rather than the forces around me.
I know your teammate is the very first line on your ‘Things I’m Grateful For’ list—bolded, underlined, and highlighted in neon yellow.