In a real sense, leadership in industry is different from leadership in Christ's church. Writer M. Scott Peck once asked me, "Why don't you businessmen take over the church?"
"Because we can't lead a spiritual church successfully," I said. "Secular principles that are not anointed by the Holy Spirit are not applicable to the church. In fact, they can pollute it by bypassing the Spirit."
Some principles can be transferred when they are spiritedly ordained, and over the years I have been associated with some fine leaders in industry as well as in Christian work. My book, Leading With Integrity, grew out of my sense that today in the institutional church we've become almost too dependent on human leadership principles. We know a great deal about effective organization through extensive research.
My concern is that in the church we may be trying to do God's work in man's way.
I investigated the question, "As we go about our work, what are we responsible for, and what do we depend on God for?" One principle I've learned is that God will not do for me what I can do for myself, but he will not let me do for myself what only He can do. God has given me intelligence and created my opportunities—I have a responsibility to use my gifts fully. If I'm not willing to do that, God has no obligation to add His blessing to what I do. On the other hand, when I try to accomplish by human means what can be done only by spiritual means, I embezzle God's authority.
For example, no amount of carefully planned evangelistic campaigns will win souls to Christ. Only the Holy Spirit wins a soul. Nevertheless, that doesn't let us off the hook. We still have to employ the highest and most dedicated talent in seeking the lost. But winning a soul, we cannot do. We can collect numbers and add names to the membership rolls, but we cannot add names to the Lamb's Book of Life. God alone can inscribe those.
If we are to do God's work God's way, we must start with character. I am interested in principles that leaders can use to examine their character and the character of those whom they lead. Christian leaders need to examine themselves, so that with the apostle Paul they can say, "Follow me as I follow Christ."
Unfortunately we are not as conscious of our character flaws as we are of our inadequacies in the areas of knowledge and experience. In my sixty years in business, nobody has said, "I have a flawed character." It is much easier to admit a lack of skill than to admit to a character weakness. Yet from 75 to 80 percent of the failures I've seen have been character failures.
The church must be involved in character building, helping men and women to grow into the maturity of Christ. Leaders are responsible for modeling and encouraging character and integrity. Dr. Howard Rome, head of psychiatry at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, gave me a book in which he wrote: "Few men have the imagination to grasp the truth of reality." In my writing and through www.breakfastwithfred.com I want not only your imagination but your faith to grasp the truth and reality of our potential and to be awakened to the truth of Christlikeness in us.
I was interviewing a prospective corporate president, and at the close of the interview I asked him, "What's your ultimate aim?" He grew quiet. I sensed he was deciding to tell me the truth.
"My ultimate aim," he said, "is that when I face the Lord, he will say, Well done, thou good and faithful servant." There is no finer ambition. May you lead well and continue as a good, faithful servant of our Lord.
