Buried Secrets

Recent reports of another spiritual leader’s failure are troubling; his attempts to bury his secrets only multiplied his sins with hypocrisy. I am concerned for his immature followers who may struggle to trust God when the man posing as His representative isn’t trustworthy. Integrity is essential for leaders of all kinds, but especially for us as Christians; we must be the same people both publicly and privately.

You may not call yourself a spiritual leader, but you move others closer to or further from God —your children, your co-workers, your neighbors, your friends, or an entire church. How you walk teaches them either that the church is full of hypocrites or that it includes real people with real struggles who honestly face their sins and shortcomings and choose to grow more like Jesus by God’s grace.

   

I am not so naïve to think that we live out Christ’s example perfectly. I certainly haven’t! Leaders aren’t faultless, but we should be transparent. Taking responsibility for who we really are allows God and our followers to give us the grace to change.

When we match our walk with our talk, we create trust and less likelihood that those who watch us will put us on pedestals, which can be deadly to us and to them.

We must face God and man honestly. God calls us to confess our sins to one another so that we can be healed (James 5:16). We are accountable to other believers; we are to live in community, not alone, because we need each other. Secrets don’t stay buried; we are wise to put them in the open.

How do you find accountability? To whom do you confess your sins? With whom are you transparent? Are you real enough that those whom you lead can confess their sins to you? Let us hear from you.