What’s Wrong with Leaders Today?

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Every week, it seems there is another religious leader revealed to have a hidden shadow life of immorality, a ruthless approach to power and control, or a narcissistic personality. Is it just that social media is affording more awareness for what has always been a rampant problem? Is it that a religious leader’s failings are of more interest to the press? There is, after all, an old line in journalism that says, “Dog bites man” is not news, but “Man bites dog” is. A person without faith having moral flaws is not news; a person of moral faith having flaws is.

But I sense that something else is afoot that is not being considered, and it has to do with the motivations for entering into leadership roles. Or perhaps, more to the point, the motivation for pursuing one. Three motivations, to my thinking, are fatally flawed and will, in the end… not end well.

The first motivation is ambition.

This person enters into a leadership role because they desire personal fame or fortune. If they weren’t on the “stage” of a church, they would be seeking some other stage. The goal is notoriety, recognition—they crave the crowd, the conferences, the books, and the interviews. Their leadership is more performance than passion. In truth, however, it’s not even leadership at all. It’s the use of an organization and well-meaning people for personal prestige. A sense of entitlement, of being “above the law,” sets in. An embrace of immorality often follows or, at the very least, egocentric behavior and greed. In almost every case, ambition as a motivation leads to narcissistic behavior and a personality-centered church.

A second motivation is ideology.

This is more subtle but becoming increasingly common. The person in pursuit of leadership likens themselves to a stealth warrior going behind enemy lines. The goal is to assert a specific theological agenda to such a degree that it becomes less theology and more ideology. They belong to a very specific theological tribe, and the goal is to see that tribe divide and conquer. Leadership is first conquest and then control. The true goal of theology is, of course, to more deeply know and understand God correctly and, through that, love Him and people more fully. When it becomes mere ideology, then it is an agenda to be pursued ecclesiastically. The goal is not to lead a church, but rather to have it reflect a particular set of (often) tertiary theological issues that reflect the tribe. If the ambitious leader leads to narcissistic behavior and a personality-centered church, the ideological leaders lead to abusive behavior and spiritual malpractice and a church built on control.

A third motivation is expediency.

Many pursue leadership in faith-based organizations not because they felt called or were following their giftings and passions, but instead because it was the job they found themselves able to get. Perhaps they had a degree in Bible or religious studies, perhaps even a seminary degree, but it was largely in search of what they were going to do with their life. They found themselves in a leadership role in a church and have become comfortable. Or more to the point, comfortably numb. In truth, they do not know what they want to do when they grow up. The expedient leader finds themselves uniquely open to sexual immorality, akin to David who, when he should have been off to war, stayed home and voyeuristically ventured to the rooftops. The leader has no sense of true north, which results in both their life – and the organization’s life – drifting over open water without an anchor.

So, what kind of leaders do we need?

If not driven by ambition, ideology, or expediency, what other drive is there?

Mission.

A leader who is taken by the mission cares little for themselves. Jim Collins calls them “Level 5” leaders as they care more for the organization than they do themselves. A “Level 5” leader is someone who “blends extreme personal humility with intense professional will.” They are often very strong leaders (Collins highlights Abraham Lincoln as a classic “Level 5” leader), but “their ambition is first and foremost for the institution, not themselves… for the company and concern for its success rather than for one’s own riches and personal renown.”

Their commitment to theology is a commitment to discipleship, and the discipleship is for the mission. They are deeply committed to historic Christian orthodoxy, but not for its own sake—they are committed to it as the truth that can save the world. And they would argue for making it as wide as possible – a “mere” Christianity – instead of incessantly narrowing it to exclude ever larger groups of fellow believers.

And the thought of engaging the mission out of expediency would be as ridiculous to them as grabbing a rifle and rushing to the front lines of a war front because there was nothing good streaming on Netflix. No one would engage the mission that is attacking the very gates of Hell out of anything less than calling, passion, commitment, and resolve.

I do not know of many fallen leaders who were marked by personal humility and missional resolve.

But as their stories become known, I do know of a number of fallen leaders who have been motivated by ambition, ideology, or expediency.

And that is what is wrong with leaders today.

James Emery White

Sources

Jim Collins, Good to Great.

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The views expressed in this commentary do not necessarily reflect those of CrosswalkHeadlines.

James Emery White is the founding and senior pastor of Mecklenburg Community Church in Charlotte, NC, and a former professor of theology and culture at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, where he also served as their fourth president. His latest book, Hybrid Church: Rethinking the Church for a Post-Christian Digital Age, is now available on Amazon or from your favorite bookseller. To enjoy a free subscription to the Church & Culture blog, visit churchandculture.org where you can view past blogs in our archive, read the latest church and culture news from around the world, and listen to the Church & Culture Podcast. Follow Dr. White on X, Facebook and Instagram at @JamesEmeryWhite.