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LEADERS AND DANGERS.
This booklet is written for people who share any part of the task of leading in a church, in a Christian organisation or team. You may be a pastor, assistant pastor or leader of one aspect of the work, director or team leader in a mission - whatever your role, there are certain dangers to guard against. Wives, husbands and family of leaders also need to read it.
Other Grow & Go booklets - with special relevance to leaders include, “Spiritual Warfare” “Churches Grow Teams Go” “God is not Petty” “Human Relationships” and “God and Mammon.”
Leaders are Human - and subject to every kind of human weakness and temptation, just as much as anyone else. The devil, however, has a special interest in tempting those who are known publicly as Christ’s people. Temptations will be pressed harder. Jesus was tempted.
It is not only the devil who will press leaders hard. People do it too - sometimes deliberately, wanting to damage God’s reputation - sometimes unintentionally, even meaning well.
It is therefore important for leaders to have an understanding friend who will share with them, not just the task but the problems, the failures, the emotional pressures, the stresses.
Who do you confide in when you feel bad about the work, when you have sinned, blundered or had a narrow escape? Who encourages you? Leaders also need special spiritual protection. Who prays for you?
Stay Tuned in to Heaven.
The most powerful safeguard for any leader is the same as for any other Christian - a close relationship with the Lord all the time. Live in the knowledge of His presence. Be open to hear His voice. Be sensitive to what He feels.
Jesus chose the twelve first that they might be with Him - then for training and service. Friendship with Christ is at the root of a disciple’s life. If ever you feel this has been lost, make its recovery the first priority - in your own prayers and in the prayers you ask of others.
The Servant Heart.
“Well done, good and faithful servant,” - to hear our Lord Himself say that to us, must be the supreme glory, the ultimate honour, the greatest possible joy a human heart can know.
He will never say “Well done good and faithful - leader - preacher - bishop - ruler” only “servant”. To gain His reward our leadership - preaching - bishopric - rulership - or whatever we have done, must have been done as humble service.
One of the worst disasters which can befall a leader is to lose the servant heart - to expect to be allowed to rule but not to serve.
An old parable tells of two Archangels sent from Heaven, one to govern an empire, the other to sweep the road, and each was equally content because both were doing God’s will.
The Snare of Success.
Jesus never mentioned success, only faithfulness.
Desire for success (or perhaps for the public acclaim which goes with it) may drive a Christian leader into overworking himself, overdriving his team and neglecting his family.
The world judges leaders by their results, but God looks at our hearts. Love for Christ and for His people will lead His servants to dedicated service, including hard work, tender care and faithful teaching - but not to self-condemnation if results are not achieved; not to unworthy means of producing results; not to self-satisfaction if results appear good; not to damaging comparisons between different leaders based on their performance.
Money, Sex and Power.
These are temptations for everyone, but leaders are vulnerable because they are trusted - trusted with money - trusted in human relationships - trusted with authority. Every leader, therefore, needs to settle firmly as a personal resolution and as an absolute commitment to their Lord, a strong “I WILL NOT’.
I WILL NOT betray my trust - I will not misuse money trusted to me, I will not be unfaithful in any relationship, I will not use my position as leader to impose my own will.
See the Grow & Go booklets - “Human Relationships.”
and “God and Mammon - The Christian Disciple and Money.”
Use of Authority.
Some leaders are afraid to make decisions or give instructions. Others demand to have their own way. These are opposite dangers. On one hand if a team is not willing to follow its leader loyally, it will never achieve anything. On the other hand, if a leader persistently ignores the needs and ideas of the followers, relationships will suffer and the leader will lose respect.
Excess of enthusiasm or just sheer busyness can cause a leader to ignore and over-ride others. When this happens it can usually be corrected with a brief apology and explanation.
What is more serious is when a leader firmly believes he is doing right by imposing his own will, especially if this affects a follower’s personal life or family. Not even God imposes His will or always gets His own way.
“Return not Evil for Evil.”
Anyone in a position of leadership will be unfairly criticised and blamed for what goes wrong. It happens to politicians. It happens to football managers. It happens to leaders in the church. It is the world we live in.
What church leaders need to realise is that it is not the criticism which matters most, but our reaction to it. We may sometimes reply to it with quiet reasoning, though even that can be misunderstood. If we try to return anger for anger, complaint for complaint, disrespect for disrespect, people will stop listening to us.
Jesus, “when He was reviled, reviled not again.” That comment about Him was made by Peter who had been closest to Him and able to observe His daily behaviour.
“Abstain from all appearance of evil.”
Misunderstandings and false accusations will happen - but there is no need to make them more probable. Some precautions are needed to protect one’s reputation.
Financial dealings and the handling of money should never be in secret. Someone other than the leader should be able to check what is done. It is not enough for the leader to be honest, he should be able to prove he has been honest. The easiest way is for someone else to be treasurer and the leader and the treasurer to check each other.
If it is necessary for a man to spend more than a few minutes with a child, a young person, or a woman, it is important to stay in a public place or have someone else present.
Generally it is secrecy which results in false rumours; so keep everything as public as possible, or if a matter is confidential share it only trusted colleagues who will keep confidence - but share it with someone.
Time.
Leaders are busy people. Apart from the actual workload, there can be a stream of people wanting to speak to the leader, each with real concerns which matter to them but which can fill up the leader’s day.
It is necessary to allow certain times when one is accessible to others, but to restrict those times. At other times the leader must be free to spend time with his family, time with friends and time alone with God.
Exhaustion.
If a leader becomes exhausted he is likely to make wrong decisions or harm relationships. Just as a driver must not drive when exhausted because he might endanger lives; so a leader must take time to rest.
Family.
Children need time with their parents, husbands and wives need time with each other. A home life needs to be normal. It will not be perfect. Leader’s families are human and have faults.
Some leaders are constantly afraid that if their children’s behaviour is not perfect, there will be criticism. This can lead to over-strictness which in time can provoke the children to rebel. Children should be taught good behaviour of course - but not a special stricter standard for leader’s children.
Competition.
Servants of Christ are not in competition with each other.
The Kingdom and the Power and the Glory are His, not ours. It is our privilege to rejoice in each others’ successes, to help and encourage each other without grudging.
Members of different church groups or mission organisations may sometimes advise each other but not criticise or oppose. Division dishonours the Lord.
Christ told us to love our enemies. How much more should we love those who are our fellow-servants of Christ, serving Him perhaps in a way which is different from ours, but seeking to build His church and live under His control.
Handing Over.
Moses handed over leadership to Joshua, David to Solomon, Elijah to Elisha. So far as earthly leadership was concerned, Jesus handed over to Peter. The leadership of the church in Jerusalem passed from Peter to James the Lord’s brother.
No one leads for ever. Sometimes the role of leader is for a very short time only, sometimes several years but nearly always there comes a time to hand over. The leader who tries to stay too long will be hurt. The leader who steps down graciously may well find that the Lord has another vital role for him.
“He shall reign for ever and ever” is only said of Christ. Our greatest honour is to cast our crowns before Him. He must increase and we must decrease.