During my undergrad studies at Liberty University my mind was impounded with a phrase by the late Jerry Falwell that I will forever carry with me..
Almost every Wednesday, when the Reverend Falwell preached at convocation, he would poignantly ask each student, “What will your lasting legacy be?” Of course, as a student who was concerned about his upcoming humanities test, and how he was going to afford dinner that night, the phrase was at the time, the least of my concerns. Yet, for someone who was not the wisest spokesperson for the worst of times, Falwell clearly understood the power of repetition, specifically repeating convictions that he so desired to be transferred to the upcoming generation of Christians. His repetition worked and made an impact on how I see the world.
Consistently, my mind has brought me back to Falwell’s sermons and I have often found myself asking, how will the choices I make today affect my life’s legacy?
Almost twenty years out of college now, with plenty of times where I had to discover lessons the hard way, I have learned that one’s lasting legacy boils down to daily intentional decisions. I have seen this firsthand in my family and I witnessed it play out over the course of fourteen years at Sunrise.
I have seen Christian leaders lead with courage. Sadly, I have also worked with Christian leaders who lost their way.
I believe I can offer a unique perspective on how Christian leaders lose their way. Rarely does a leader fall overnight. More often, the drift happens gradually, through a series of small and compounding choices. I desire that all Christian leaders finish well. I want to as well! What follows are the pitfalls that I have personally witnessed.
Isolation
A Christian leader will lose their way when they isolate themselves from internal or external voices of reason. Isolation is almost always detrimental for a leader. Unfortunately, it is very easy for a leader to separate themselves from others due to false feelings that proclaim that no one would ever understand their current situation. Isolation is also closely tied with feelings of pride. When others ask to meet with their leaders to express their concerns, no matter how lovingly or honest they come across, they are quickly turned down, due to the leader’s sense of pride that they know what is best.
Lack of Accountability
A Christian leader will lose their way when they appoint individuals with opposite worldviews to crucial decision making positions. Accountability is the best protector for a Christian, who is in a leadership role. A Christian leader who only surrounds themselves with individuals with varying worldviews will not only feel the pressure to succumb to these views, but will also ultimately end up believing them.
The Apostle Paul gives the Christian leader sound advice when he states;
“do not be deceived: bad Company ruins good morals”. – 1st Corinthians 15:33
There is wisdom in Godly counsel and the truth of Scripture should be the Christian leader’s greatest source of accountability.
Psalm 1:1-6 states;
“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous”
A Christian leader who sits with ungodly counsel with no Godly source of accountability, will be soon be a Christian leader who will lose their way.
Agenda’s Become Personal
A Christian leader will lose their way when they allow a personal agenda to become the motivating factor in their decisions. It is common for leaders to have agendas; after all, agendas are the guiding force to getting things done. However, personal agendas overlook the betterment of the resources entrusted to the leader. Personal agendas can also be fueled by sinful motives such as bitterness, pride, vanity, etc…
Success Supersedes Values
A Christian leader will lose their way when success supersedes values. It is true, success is a great goal, and it is a viable factor on how well one is doing in their current role as a leader. Yet, there are many who succeed by doing the wrong thing. Sadly, Success by doing the right thing is almost always harder than achieving success by doing the wrong thing. A leader who sacrifices their values for success is a leader who has lost their way.
Truth Get’s Lost in Doing Good
Lastly, a Christian leader will lose their way when the mission of doing good trumps the mission of doing what is true. Everyone can agree that the mission of Sunrise is good. It is good to care for hurting children, but to elevate this act of religion above Jesus himself, who in John 14:6 refers to Himself as the truth, is a terrible act of idolatry. The president of Sunrise posed a question to hundreds of pastors across the state of Kentucky, what is the greatest good? I answer this question boldly, as someone who has worked the last eight years with hurting children, the greatest good for hurting children is to be taught the truth of Jesus Christ in word and indeed. This is the only source of comfort and when and how we share this message to others will be the only legacy that matters.
As someone who has been directly affected by a leader who has lost their way, I ask all Christian leaders to stand firm on the Truth of Scripture, to safe guard their hearts, surround themselves with individuals of Godly character and to protect themselves from false idols. And as the late Dr Falwell would conclude with so many of his convocations; may you finish the race strong and may you be greeted into heaven with the lasting legacy that no man can give, but only one uttered from the very mouth of our Savior, Jesus Christ, well done, good and faithful servant.
