The Seduction of Leadership

It is not surprising to see leaders fall frequently and spectacularly. It is not simply that leaders have greater opportunities to sin; it is that the very nature of leadership will seduce all but the most careful into believing that they are little gods, that they make the rules, and that they can get away with anything. Surround these leaders with crowds of uncritically adoring supporters and you have the perfect storm: self-deception followed by self-destruction are, humanly speaking, almost unavoidable.

The above quote was sent to me by a good friend and comes from Carl Trueman's book, Minority Report. Leaders must always strive to be cognizant of the lascivious lure of leadership that opens so many doors. Leaders be ware, you must never allow your abilities to carry you where your character cannot sustain you. You must also avoid the temptation to allow your followers to carry you where your character cannot sustain you.

Even our Lord was tempted with this. His contemporaries, on at least one occassion, desired to make him their king. Jesus, however, knew that his kingdom was not of this world and his crown would be sustained through death, he would be exalted not on a throne, but on a cross. Christian leaders, are you prepared to be exalted on a cross if God is most glorified in that exaltation rather than the exaltation of public opinion?