Leading With Integrity

 

I never took Matthew 23 personally. I assumed that Jesus’ scorching expose of the hypocritical Pharisees had to do with professional clergy, not an ordinary guy like me. That was until I found myself getting frustrated when I was discipling other believers—especially when they didn’t take my advice. Tom was one such free spirit. I’d engage in mental arguments with him as I drove to our weekly meeting. Even during my morning devotions, I’d try to meditate on Jesus, but my mind would drift into a debate with Tom. Realizing I could use some help in leading others, I determined to study every leadership passage in the New Testament. I soon came across Matthew 23—the passage I had previously written off as not applying to me.

To my chagrin, I found eight stinging accusations about poor leadership. And to my further chagrin, I found they did apply to me! I learned from further study that the Pharisees were not all "clergy"—many were also lay people. According to The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, the label Pharisees defined "a loose theological position, not a profession like a teacher." Most Pharisees, including the rabbis, worked in a trade. Now I knew Jesus’ words were meant for people like me . . . and you. People who teach Sunday school, disciple or mentor others, lead small groups, parent, and so on. We may not think of ourselves as leaders worthy of close moral scrutiny. But whatever our level of ministry responsibility, our integrity is too important to go unexamined. I invite you to rate yourself against Jesus’ guideposts for ministry integrity.

ISSUE 1: Does my behavior match my teaching?

The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. So you must obey them and do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach.

—Mt. 23:2–3

In Jesus’ day, synagogues had a stone seat at the front where the teacher sat. The Pharisees were recognized as teachers, qualified to sit in Moses’ seat, but they possessed a deep flaw: Their actions did not match their words. Even so, Jesus said, "Do all they tell you. Just don’t copy their behavior."
Are we subject to the same accusation? For example:
• I exhort others to have a daily quiet time—but do I?
• I challenge others to share their faith—but do I?
Do our followers respect our teaching but disrespect our lifestyle? A friend once told me, "I respect that leader’s abilities, but I don’t want to become like him." That’s sad.
Don’t present yourself as having it all together. Albert Schweitzer, legendary missionary doctor to Africa, said, "Example is not the main thing in influencing others . . . it is the only thing." To lead with integrity means we practice what we preach.

ISSUE 2: Do I lay heavy loads on my followers?

They tie up heavy loads and put them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.

—Mt. 23:4

I was a speaker at a weekend conference in the north woods of Wisconsin when a college student approached me. In a few minutes, I would ascend the platform to give my third and final talk—a stiff challenge to obey God.
The young woman’s countenance revealed frustration as she asked, "Why is it that every talk is a challenge? I need encouragement."
I had two talks prepared that morning. One was a "fluffy" message of hope, only partially prepared. The other was a challenging "barn burner." I didn’t think the hope talk was powerful enough, so I had left it in my room. 
That frustrated student was the Lord’s messenger. I hastily retrieved the partially prepared but encouraging message. Though the delivery was not great, I don’t have to tell you which message the Lord used most that weekend.
You can overchallenge people in small groups or in one-on-one discipling. We tend to feel compelled to end with a challenging sermonette. One of the guys I’m discipling calls that "pounding"! It’s easier to challenge than to genuinely encourage.
Jesus doesn’t say it’s never right to challenge those you lead. But when the Pharisees threw out a challenge, they did nothing to help their pupils carry the load. Now, after I give a heavy challenge, I offer help with the load. For example, if I challenge someone I’m discipling to have a daily quiet time, I give him a leaflet called 30 Days of Devotionals in Mark and show him how to get started.
When we serve the Lord with integrity, we make sure we are not putting undue burdens on those we are helping.

ISSUE 3: Am I trying to impress people?

Everything they do is done for men to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long.

—Mt. 23:5 (see also vv. 6–12)

The Jews were instructed in Num. 15:38–40 to make tassels for the corners of their clothing—not for decoration but to remind them "to obey all [God’s] commandments." Phylacteries were small leather boxes worn on the arm or forehead containing Old Testament texts.
To announce their holiness, the Pharisees lengthened their tassels and enlarged the leather boxes. The more showy, the more holy.
Even though I’ve never worn phylacteries, the longing to be noticed by others has been a struggle for me, especially when I was younger.
Once I was privileged to share a meal with a veteran missionary from Japan. Determined to demonstrate my great humility, I leapt from my chair to serve hot coffee to the table guests. Others offered to help, but I didn’t want anyone else to share my "humble" task. As I hurriedly returned from the coffee pot, my fingers strung awkwardly through three cups, I imagined what the missionary was thinking: What a humble young man—and so quick, too.
That’s when I accidentally poured steaming coffee down the back of the fiancee of my Bible study leader. She screamed. The others jumped to their feet and offered napkins. Chaos reigned for 20 seconds at table 12. The entire dining room was hushed. I had made my impression!
If the desire to impress others is our weakness, we may also spiritualize conversations: "The Lord told me to do this," or "This morning during my 90-minute prayer time . . ." The words
that follow may be deeply profound, but the heart’s motive is to show off.
People pleasers’ sacrificial acts of love are done not to serve others but to gain acceptance. How can you tell if you are people pleasing? How do you feel when you are not recognized? If you are resentful, chances are you were trying to impress somebody. We become leaders of integrity when we learn to serve without concern for recognition.

ISSUE 4: Do I delight when my pupils surpass me?

You shut the kingdom of heaven in men’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to.

—Mt. 23:13

Because of their legalistic outlook, the Pharisees held back kingdom seekers. They could not take people further than they had gone. Nor can we. But what is your response when the person you are discipling starts to "take off" spiritually to realms you have not yet reached? If we are not careful, we can be like the Pharisees, holding people back from spiritual growth because we don’t want them to surpass us.
During the Korean War, a young Marine named Charles was discipled by a group of Navigators. He was taught the basics of studying the Bible, memorizing Scripture, and sharing his faith. He showed great promise and was encouraged to blossom. What a shame it would have been if these Navigator servicemen had tried to limit "Chuck" Swindoll!
If those I lead grow only to my level, they are in big trouble! My goal is to launch them beyond me. Second Corinthians 1:24 says it well: "Not that we lord it over your faith, but we work with you for your joy." Don’t dominate the people you lead; don’t stifle them—help them experience joy!

ISSUE 5: Am I molding people in my image or Christ’s?

You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as you are.

—Mt. 23:15

In my early days of ministry, I was flattered when my little "gang" of followers quoted me. But I soon found I was giving my opinion more and the Bible’s less. I also caught myself using the Bible to proof-text my ideas.
In Jn. 17:3, Jesus said eternal life was to "know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent." This is where I went wrong with Tom. I was trying to mold him in my image, not the image of Christ. I wanted him to know my opinions, not the unsurpassable wisdom of Christ.
It is true that we are examples for our proteges. Paul boldly told the Philippians to "join with others in following my example" (Phil. 3:17). But they needed a different model from the false teachers who were badgering them. Paul was not trying to substitute for the Savior. What’s more, he was honest enough to tell the troublesome Corinthians whether his teaching was God’s command or his own opinion. "To the rest I say this (I, not the Lord) . . ." (1 Cor 7:12, emphasis mine). He did not equate his opinion with God’s will.
To avoid building people in your image, be dogmatic only when the Bible is dogmatic.
Don’t say, "Thus saith the Lord" when it is only your opinion. Nor should you give an opinion on every issue! Encourage people to dig into the Word for themselves.
Leaders of integrity direct their followers toward making Jesus Christ their model.

ISSUE 6: Am I majoring on the majors?

You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cummin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness.

—Mt. 23:23

Can you imagine sitting at your kitchen table culling out 10 percent of your tiny garden seeds? The Pharisees did. But they missed the bigger, hard-to-measure issues such as justice.
What about us? Are we meticulous in minor, measurable things but neglectful of important issues that are not so measurable? For example:
• You can develop masterful multicolor Bible studies—but your kids cringe under your anger at home.
• You can give a wonderful three-point testimony—but you secretly browse the "soft porn" channel on cable.
• You never miss a quiet time—but you underpay your employees.
I once confronted a leader in our college ministry about her poor relationship with her parents—who admittedly were highly opinionated and difficult to get along with. After much prayer, she finally agreed to take a Christmas trip with them. I was proud of her.
"How did it go?" I asked optimistically when she returned.
"Oh fine, I guess," she sighed. "I sat in the front seat organizing my memory verses. They didn’t talk to me much."
There is an appropriate time to focus on Scripture memory. But not at the expense of justice, mercy, and faithfulness. To lead with integrity means to place the highest value on issues of character and the heart, not on outward conformity and performance.

ISSUE 7: Am I keeping up appearances to cover indulgence?

You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self indulgence.

—Mt. 23:25 (see also vv. 26–28)

The word indulgence in Greek means "want of self-restraint."
If you and I cannot restrain ourselves in our private habits, those who look to us for leadership will soon look elsewhere. Good leaders are followed in public because they can lead themselves in private.
Are there any areas of secret indulgence in your life?
Do you:
• Frequently succumb to a passion for jelly donuts?
• Indulge in titillating TV (just to see what’s on)?
• Page through nasty magazines at the convenience store?
• Drift to the mall for shopping therapy?
Those areas in which I allow myself indulgences are the areas in which I am silent in ministry. The essence of integrity is to be on the inside what we appear to be on the outside. Secret indulgences undermine integrity.

ISSUE 8: Do I consider myself superior to others?

You say, "If we had lived in the days of our forefathers, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets."

—Mt. 23:30 (see also vv. 31–36)

The Pharisees had a bad case of spiritual pride—from which you and I are not immune. When we see poor leadership we sniff, "I would never do that." That’s spiritual pride. We are capable of any mistake Jimmy Swaggert has ever made! To say we are not is to misunderstand our depravity and telegraph our superior attitudes. 
A sense of superiority can blind us to the task at hand. Two hundred years ago a detachment of Revolutionary War soldiers were felling trees to construct a bridge. Their officer was urging them on, but progress was slow.
An unknown rider approached, studied the predicament, and then asked the officer why he was not laboring with the men. "Me, sir? Why I am a corporal!" he countered.
Immediately, the stranger dismounted and joined in the work until it was finished. Then he rode off as unobtrusively as he had come. The unknown rider? General George Washington.
A sense of superiority causes us to think more highly of ourselves than we ought—as did the young corporal who let General Washington do hard manual labor in his place. Do you observe those you lead from a lofty position of superiority, or do you walk alongside them, getting your hands dirty with them, gaining similar calluses from hard spiritual work? Integrity in leadership is inseparable from humility in leadership.

Keeping Accountable

Who checks the integrity of the ordinary man and woman involved in personal ministry? We are not under the same scrutiny as professional Christian leaders. Some of us may have a mentor or a support group, but many don’t. Even when we’re in an accountability group, it is easy to dodge being pinned down.
Ultimately, our integrity in personal ministry comes from daily honesty with Christ. Don’t depend on someone else to keep you ethical. Start now by praying regularly through Jesus’ checklist to the Pharisees. As you do, you will become a leader of integrity, and people will count it a privilege to follow you.

(By Scott Morton. Used with permission from Discipleship Journal through Elevate Singapore)

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