Note:  This is a transcript of a speech made before over 100 ministry leaders at the American Leadership Conference, held July, 2000, in Indianapolis, Indiana

Before I begin addressing the segment for this session called Leadership and Character, I would like to encourage you to consider the information on Corporation Sole available to you today. I believe you will find it give us information that is pertinent and explains some concepts that are critical to many ministry leaders. Amen.

With all due respect to every human effort which has brought us scientific and technological advances thus improving and enhancing our way of life, some things in life need not be improved upon!  The life and ministry of Jesus Christ is one such thing that is best left as the standard. His dynamic and profound spiritual impact on the world needs to be explicitly adhered to without our modernization and enhancement.  That which is pure needs to be imitated in pursuit of its essence and effect.  Jesus shares this very concept with his disciples in the Great Commission found in Matthew 28:18-20.  “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, all power is given unto me in heaven and earth.  Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you.”  He is saying ‘teach what I taught and don’t change a thing'.  Why not?  Because leadership and character is built into his process of making disciples.  We have evolved into such clever and enlightened people of faith that we’ve lost the Lord’s pure pattern along the way.  It is no wonder that He commanded certain things of us because we have become so creative and we think things are optional and lose their essence.  I submit to you today that we as spiritual leaders who are contemplating partnering with the government through faith-based initiatives, charitable choices or incorporating through a 501 (c)(3) desperately need to locate the Lord’s road to Christian character and true ministry or we may end up on a collision course with chaos.

Jesus’ model of leadership is clearly stated in Matthew 20:28 when he says, “Even as the Son of Man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister and to give his life a ransom for many.”  How awesome is our Savior, exhibiting character through his serving others?!  Jesus was unconcerned about his social status, financial solvency, political prestige or any other self-centered issue.  His desire was to “give his life”  joyfully, unselfishly and completely for our deliverance!  He described his gift as a “ransom.”  He was focused to obtain our release from the devil and sin by paying the stipulated price, which was innocent blood.  Thank God the ransom was paid! 

But how do we view our ministries?  Is it just a loathsome burden, stealing our best energy and time while never quite compensating us for the effort?  This is not the leadership or character of Jesus Christ!  When someone is held hostage there is a price offered by the captors to be paid to purchase the hostage’s freedom.  The people considering the price have to see the hostage as worth the cost of their freedom.  We, as ministers, have to regain the appreciation for the people that the Lord has already shed His blood for that he has sent us to rescue.  If we are struggling with whether to deposit the ransom in our account or pay the price for someone else’s freedom then we have not yet matured to the level of character that would respond to a faith-based initiative with the right heart.

Jesus shares a short parable in Matthew, Chapter 21, and verse 28-31 in which he speaks to the issues of character and motive.  “But what think ye?  A certain man had two sons: and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work today in my vineyard.  He answered and said, I will not; but afterward he repented, and went.  And he came to the second, and said likewise.  And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not.  Whether of the twain did the will of his father?  They said unto him, The first.  And Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, that the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.”  This parable introduces us to a father in need of help from his children – his sons.  The first son responds with a hearty “no”, yet later complies.  If a minister is that adamant about not serving, can their service be given without negative over-tones seeping through?  A bad attitude is not necessarily cured by proper activity!  The second son offers a different response than the first.  The father received a ‘yes’ but it produced the actions of a ‘no’.  Is a ‘con-game yes’ any better than a rude ‘no’?  My question is: which one was sensitive to the Father’s need?  Neither!  They were both sensitive to their own welfare.  What is our heavenly father in need of from us today?  He desires us to duplicate the ministry of His ONLY begotten son, Jesus!  These two sons in the parable have a few things in common: 1).  They are boldly living in the comfort solely provided by their father, 2). Both were unfamiliar with exerting real effort to benefit others, 3).  They were unaware that their father’s provision deserved a response of obedience; 4). They were totally saturated with self and blessed into a carnal coma.  We need to examine our motives today and make sure the character of Christ is clearly seen in our leadership.  The right relationship with the Father and His son by the Holy Ghost will guarantee proper distribution of His bounty with our right attitude and actions towards all people.

In conclusion, ministry by it’s very nature will cause your passions to drive your preaching and your outreach to reflect your infilling.  May we earnestly examine our selves and purge our hearts from idle carnal enticements so that the Lord of Glory can use us to proclaim:  the ransom has been paid, devil, let my people go.  Every captive must go free in Jesus’ name.  Amen.c