Leadership in Question
- May 27
- 3 min read
One of the disappointing trends in modern living today, is the rise in the failure of leadership. Almost every day, we learn of another leader who was not held accountable for their actions. Just recently, the Police Chief of Minneapolis, was fired due to some indiscretions. Repeatedly, we hear of our elected officials who take liberties they should not, and some are even responsible for the huge fraud scandals we see around the country.
Recently, I heard a pastor say that any leader who does not want to be questioned, is a leader who is doing unquestionable things. We talk about transparency in leadership all the time, yet nothing changes when it comes to behavior based upon greed, power, and control. There is an old saying in the Church that says, “If the heart doesn’t change, nothing will change.” Scripture teaches us that the heart is the center of our being … it is where the will of the person lies, and it is where morality either grows or it dies. The Message Bible tells us plainly what we are dealing with when we talk about the heart of man:
Jeremiah 17:9-10 The heart is hopelessly dark and deceitful, a puzzle that no one can figure out. But I, God, search the heart and examine the mind. I get to the heart of the human. I get to the root of things I treat them as they really are, not as they pretend to be.
Many of us are not surprised when leaders in the public sector fail to perform morally, but it still shocks us when a man of God makes mistakes that pulls him down. We know, of course, we all make mistakes, but there are some mistakes that should not happen to someone who preaches God’s Word, and knows how indiscretions will ruin a life of ministry. We are called to hate sin … not play with it. I always ask myself would I ever fail in a manner one who does not honor my commitment to Christ and fail morally … the answer is yes. The right time, the right situation, and the right prize that is temping me … it could happen.
Knowing our vulnerabilities, weaknesses, and the temptations that are most appealing to us, is the first line of defense against them. We start with being honest about our humanity, and it’s fallen nature. For example, if we are dieting, we don’t buy the foods we most likely crave and stock our cupboards with them. We avoid what is tempting to the eye and feeds our greed or lust. Honesty before God, confession before others, and a willingness to have God cleanse us of anything that would create a problem in me, are all ways to build a defense against that which is out to destroy us.
Psalm 139:23-24 Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
This is my go-to prayer for awareness, courage to confront and confess. The Holy Spirit is another one of our defenses against the temptation for failing our calling to Christ. Prayer is another great weapon against the evil that continues to plague our weaknesses. There are so many ways to avoid those things that will bring us down and destroy us. The Bible tells us to be alert, and don’t fall asleep in this day of anticipation of the great return of our Lord.
Challenging the Culture with Truth … Larry Kutzler