One of the things that faith-centered leaders can overlook when we study how Jesus led is the fact that He lived in a highly religious culture. The Jewish society of Jesus’ time on earth was liturgical, and theologically literate. There was a great religious hierarchy in that day. In fact Jesus’ fiercest critics were religious leaders—nearly all of them chose to argue with and oppose Jesus. They were constantly testing Him with all manner of questions and scenarios. Jesus’ teaching was so revolutionary they simply couldn’t wrap their heads around it.
In today’s culture, we bicker, feud and fight with other Christ-followers. Arguments among God’s people are commonplace. And we argue spiritual matters with people outside the faith as well, most often associated with life purpose, or moral origins. The Christian must understand that he can never argue anyone into an understanding of God. 1 Peter 3:15 reminds us to “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.” Notice here the verse does not tell us to go and pick a fight, but rather to be prepared to speak in reply (defense), and there too with gentleness and respect. How foreign this is to much of the religious banter across social media and other public forums.
Occasionally an argument of belief is important, but most of the time these are spiritual tangents. These disagreements of minor importance will see us drift from our most urgent mission and purpose, instead finding ourselves off in a ditch fighting over nothing. Tangents in the workplace keep a leader from fulfilling his vocation. Tangents of faith keep a leader from living out his purpose. Consider how these spiritual tangents may cause you to stray from faith-centered leadership:
Meaningless explanation. It’s important to have a solid, biblical theological foundation on which to live and lead. God mandates for us is to grow in our knowledge of the Scriptures throughout our lives, both understanding what has been written and living it out daily. We should agree on major doctrines like the deity of Christ, which is essential to the Christian faith. However, there is room for various opinions on minor issues, like whether we should use electric guitars in worship, or how often we should commemorate the Lord’s Supper. Some Christians enjoy being entangled in endless arguments of minor spiritual relevance.
The Apostle Peter warns of this in 2 Peter 3, commenting on the teachings of Paul. Peter writes, “He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction. Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position.” The caution here is that it is easy to twist and bend teachings that you don’t fully understand into something that isn’t at all biblical. Peter warns us not to get caught up in matters we don’t fully understand, instead continuing to study until the Bible’s meaning becomes clear.
A quick way to measure the importance of a belief is to ask, “Will this matter in a year?”, or “Will this honestly keep someone from becoming a Christ-follower or growing in their faith?” Often faith leaders will be caught up in explaining beliefs that are rooted in tradition or preference, but have little of anything to do with core theology. Consider areas like musical style in worship, or whether a church should offer a Saturday night service for those who work on Sundays, or if it’s okay to come to worship in shorts and a T-shirt. Though we have preferences and opinions in these, the issues don’t warrant deep theological splits in the family of faith. To get back on the road from these tangents, consider focusing on the things that believes agree on, and remind others of the spiritual mission you share as Christ-followers.
Measureless aspiration. Just as we can divide ourselves along beliefs of little value, we can also attach ourselves to goals of no merit. Consider those devoted to a false religion—they may spend hours a day in religious practice, but to what end? Within our faith, Christians can engage in hours of spiritual disciplines, but lack the abiding relationship with Christ that gives these activities meaning and results in genuine spiritual growth. Further, how often in our culture do we see Christians praying for blessing or possessions, aspiring to personal wealth ahead of spiritual sacrifice? Church leaders and members often come up with ideas for growth or ministry that are culturally centered, and then pray that God might “bless the effort” without really considering the spiritual merits of the activity.
Paul teaches his protégé Timothy, “Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come” (1 Timothy 4:7-8). If leaders should aspire to anything it should be to godliness. 1 Timothy goes on to say what godliness is and is not: “Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness” (1 Timothy 6:9-11). Read here how Paul presses Timothy to pursue Christ-like characteristics as core to growing in faith. To get back on the road from aspirational tangents, ask yourself if the goal you are trying to attain is making you more like Jesus.”
Motionless inspiration. Have you ever been in a worship service, or listened to a sermon, and as you walked out the door, you thought, “That really made an impact on me”? The Holy Spirit of God, working through His Word and the worship, spoke to you in a meaningful way. And then… what? Nothing. Our activity at church in worship, Bible teaching, service, can be inspiring and motivating to us. God can speak to us and direct us to move with Him or grow toward Him in some way. But it’s a spiritual tangent if we don’t act on those spiritual impulses. It is likely that churches which are supposedly filled with people of faith are actually filled with people of feeling, for whom faith is not growing because all that is required to satisfy their souls is an emotional climax with no action to follow.
To be inspired is quite different than acting based on inspiration. Mental exercise with lack of action is denying the influence of the very Spirit of God on our leadership. Jesus told us that “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come” (John 16:13). Christ tells us that the Spirit of God will guide us, pointing us to live out the truth of God in all aspects of life. To get back on the road from inspirational tangents, make a specific follow-through in the moment. Ask, “What will change in my life today as a result of the spiritual ‘high’ that I have experienced?”
C.S. Lewis’ book The Screwtape Letters imagines that satan’s own demons are quite satisfied with Christians who are faithfully lukewarm. In the book, Screwtape advises the demon Wormwood to allow Christians their petty arguments, distractions and diversions, which keep them from any real and meaningful growth and ministry as they become entangled in countless questions and squabbles. One of many biting pieces of advice from Screwtape on the ineffective Christian: “The more often he feels without acting, the less he will be able ever to act, and, in the long run, the less he will be able to feel.”
And this is the heart of spiritual tangents—thoughts and feelings which turn into words and songs and goals, but do nothing to draw people to Jesus or grow Christ-followers in their faith and service. A tangent in life, family, work, faith, is a small thing, much like the rudder on a ship. That small piece of metal can direct a vessel that weighs 100,000 tons. Be careful that the steps you take spiritually each day don’t cause you to drift. As Screwtape warns of little tangents, “It does not matter how small the sins are provided that their cumulative effect is to edge the man away from the Light and out into the Nothing. Murder is no better than cards if cards can do the trick. Indeed the safest road to Hell is the gradual one—the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts.”
In today’s culture, we bicker, feud and fight with other Christ-followers. Arguments among God’s people are commonplace. But we can never argue anyone into an understanding of God. At best, this is a spiritual tangent.