One of the signs of toxic leadership is when the leader believes that his/her integrity is beyond scrutiny. In the church we see this all too often. In fact, the church is often a breeding ground for toxic leaders. I’m not just talking about false prophets, charlatans, and those guilty scandalous immorality. Sometimes the toxic leaders in our midst have a high moral standard, hold to doctrinal orthodoxy, and are sincere in their desire to faithfully serve Christ. The church is a fertile breeding ground for this type of toxic leadership because we tend to idolize leaders we respect and our respected leaders become too accustomed to our accolades. Also, we certainly don’t want to get the reputation of being a trouble-maker.
The great temptation for those of us who serve as leaders is pride and self-righteousness. We become prideful of our integrity, prideful of our orthodoxy, and prideful of the office in which we serve. The problem is that pride often leads to self deception. Self deception is nothing less that one of the many insidious facets of self-righteousness. The self-righteous leader resist accountability and tends to demonize anyone who questions their integrity or authority. An example of this type of toxic leadership was demonstrated in the Protestant controversy involving Martin Luther and Pope Leo X. Both men were convinced of their own “rightness” and each man seemed eager to demonize the other. Luther was happy to ridicule his Catholic opponents as dogs, pigs, goats, and demons.
Likewise, Leo X was eager to characterize Luther as a tool of Satan.
Certainly, Leo X and Martin Luther are not good models of Christian leadership! Both Leo and Luther were brilliant propagandist, but their leadership methods exacted a horrible toll on the Church’s witness for Christ. The Protestant controversy provoked centuries of warfare throughout Europe. One can only wonder how the history of Christianity, and the world, would have been different if Leo and Luther would have embraced “the more excellent way” of Christ (John 13:35; I Corinthians 12:31-13:13).
Leadership in the church is a gift of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:28; Romans 12:8) and must reflect the attitude of Christ (Philippians 2:5-11). Conflict cannot be avoided, even among those who have been sanctified in Christ. However, how leaders manage conflict will determine whether the church is a place of grace, or a battlefield of carnage. When speaking about reconciliation Jesus said, “Make friends quickly with your opponent…” (Matthew 5:25). Paul encouraged, “…conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ… in no way alarmed by your opponents” (Philippians 1:27-28). Writing to Pastor Titus, Paul said, “…in all things show yourself to be an example of good deeds, with purity in doctrine, dignified, sound in speech which is beyond reproach, so that the opponent will be put to shame, having nothing bad to say about us” (Titus 2:7-8).
One of the marks of integrity is the willingness to be held accountable; and to graciously answer the toughest questions posed by one’s greatest critics. Being anointed by God doesn’t mean being above scrutiny; but that when our lives, statements, and decisions are scrutinized, we are found to be above reproach. As leaders submit themselves to a serious process of accountability, their integrity will be preserved.
