Weekly Thought – October 15, 2024
Fred wrote a book titled Leading With Integrity. It was a relevant topic in 1999 and even more so in 2024. Its audience was the pastoral community, but the ideas apply to all leadership. This week’s piece is excerpted from his introduction. His thoughts remind us of his words, “Principles never change – just the illustrations.”
Leading With Integrity
In a real sense leadership in industry is different from leadership in Christ’s church. Writer M. Scott Peck once asked me, “Why don’t you businessmen take over the church?” “Because we can’t lead a spiritual church successfully,” I said. “Secular principles that are not anointed by the Holy Spirit are not applicable to the church. In fact, they can pollute it by bypassing the Spirit.”
Some principles can be transferred when they are spiritually ordained, and over the years I have been associated with some fine leaders in industry as well as in Christian work. This book, however, grew out of my sense that today in the institutional church we’ve become almost too dependent on human leadership principles. We know a great deal about effective organization through extensive research.
My concern is that in the church we may be trying to do God’s work in man’s way.
If we are to do God’s work in God’s way we must start with character. Christian leaders must examine themselves, so that with the apostle Paul they can say, “Follow me as I follow Christ.”
Unfortunately, we are not as conscious of our character flaws as we perceive lacks in areas of knowledge, skill, and experience. In my sixty years in business nobody has said, “ I have a flawed character.” It is much easier to admit a training or skill deficiency than to admit a character weakness. Yet, from 75 to 80 percent of the failures I have seen are rooted in a failed character.
The church must be involved in character building, helping men and women grow into the maturity of Christ. Leaders are responsible for modeling an encouraging character and integrity.
I was interviewing a prospective corporate president and at the end of the interview I asked him, “What’s your ultimate aim?” He grew quiet. I sensed he was deciding to tell me the truth. “My ultimate aim,” he said, “is that when I face the Lord, he will say, “Well done thou good and faithful servant.” There is no finer aim.
Growing in the reality of the Christ-life and being awakened to the truth of Christlikeness in us is a worthy aim.
This week think about: 1) How would I answer Fred’s question about my ultimate aim? 2) What do I do to make sure I am not “doing God’s work in man’s way?” 3) When have I experienced a character failure?
Words of Wisdom: “If we are to do God’s work in God’s way we must start with character.”
Wisdom from the Word: “Vindicate me, O Lord, for I have walked in my integrity, and I have trusted in the Lord without wavering.” (Psalm 26:1 NET Bible)