Three scriptures where Christian leaders fail to follow before they fall.
1. Let your gentleness be evident to all.
2. Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life
3. He called “some”
I’ve never met someone who wakes up one morning and says
“Today, I want to ruin my life, my reputation, my family, my relationships, my personal finances, my ministry, and tarnish the reputation of the church and of Jesus.”
Yet that is exactly what happened when a minister, pastor, preacher, or Christian leader falls. By a “fall,” I mean a moral failure that results in any of the outcomes listed above. History is unfortunately plagued with men and women who fit into this category. I don’t need to go into mud slinging here. Just add your list of names.
Before the fall though, there are failures.
Failures we all experience. Failure I see frequently in the mirror during my morning shave. Most of these failures are not a fall. Here are three scriptures that are not often taught in leadership circles that I believe could help protect us if we made them our aspiration as leaders.
1. Let your gentleness to known to all (Phil 4:5)
a. The world loves to lord it over one another. Power is indeed a magnet for men and women. But when a leader starts to become harder and more dogged, they are moving away from the Fruit of the Spirit. Gentleness, not doggedness, marks the life of a maturing leader. Look at the Apostle of Love, who began as a Son of Thunder. Will you be remembered for your accomplishments or for your character? Will you “make you mark on the world” or will you “mark lives?”
2. Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life. (1 Thes 4:11-12)
When was the last time you heard a sermon on this one? Like, never, right? The world is about more, bigger, better, stronger. You’ll hear worlds like success, dominion, power, more, more, more. Leaders who are moving towards Jesus may have a spotlight but they don’t seek it.
c. I am a performer, I know it. I enjoy the stage. There is a place for people like me in ministry. But we must be careful about our ambitions. An aspiration for a quiet life is a commandment of scripture. Our ambitions must be made to line up with scripture. God will not share his glory with anyone. Its not easy to live.
3. He called “some,” not all. (Ephesians 4:11)
No leader wants to hear that someone else is more capable, more gifted. But the reality is that Jesus told us that some would have 5 talents, another 3, another one, each according to his ability.
When a leader begins to believe that he/she the only one who can do their ministry, hear from God, or many other scenarios, then that leader is failing if they haven’t yet fallen.
The good news is that none of these are fatal. There is grace. I’m writing this more as a reminder to myself than any judgment on another ministry. May my life be more gentle, seasoned with grace, desiring the quiet life, and understanding that Jesus carries the world on his shoulders, I don’t have to.
What are your thoughts?