The Unseen Dangers of Ministry Leadership
A Warning to Leaders and Their Communities
Ministry leadership is a complex web of motivations, where even the noblest of intentions can be tainted by subtle idolatries. While every leader’s heart is being purified by sanctifying grace, it is not yet completely pure and beyond temptation. In fact, the most powerful and seductive idols are often the ones that are easily Christianized.
The Seduction of Power and Fame
A leader whose heart has been captured by other things doesn’t forsake ministry to pursue those other things; he uses ministry position, power, authority, and trust to get those things. This is a warning to every leadership community: ministry can be the vehicle for pursuing a whole host of idolatries. It’s a war, and we cannot approach it with the passivity of peacetime assumptions.
The Drift Toward False Gods
Sadly, noble ministry leaders can become ignoble, serving false gods like power, fame, material things, control, acclaim, money, or the world’s respect, while still doing ministry. This drift can take place over time, with subtle changes in heart, life, and ministry. It’s a warning to every leader: you are not immune to the temptation of idolatry.
The Role of the Leadership Community
Whenever there is a public fall of a well-known leader, the question arises: “Why didn’t the surrounding leadership community see it and address it before it got to this horrible place?” The answer lies in the fact that performance often trumps character. A leadership community may value ministry success over godly character and ambassadorial allegiance, accepting what they should not accept, remaining silent when they should speak, and being passive when they should act.
The Shift from Character to Performance
This shift often takes place gradually, as a leader’s gifts bear fruit in rich and exciting ways. Fellow leaders begin to close their eyes and shut their ears to warning signs, such as anger, attitude, or inappropriate behavior. They convince themselves that maybe wrong isn’t really that wrong, producing alternative perspectives and explanations that make wrong look less than wrong. Before long, they are defending the leader instead of dealing with wrongs with a commitment to ethical and character purity tempered by grace.
The Consequences of Inaction
If left unchecked, this leadership community begins to value the success of the ministry more than the soul of the leader. The castle he has built becomes more precious than his soul. It’s a warning to every leadership community: don’t let performance trump character. Don’t let the power and fame of a leader leave him unprotected and unpastored. Remember, every leader needs confronting and restorative grace.
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