Willowcreek, the Global Leadership Summit, and Following Jesus

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17

Where Godly Men Seek

I am baffled by the phenomenon known as the Global Leadership Summit; more specifically as to why Godly men and women would seek counsel and recommendation from the ungodly; i.e. those who do not profess Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. I submit to you that we are being deceived when we look towards secular achievement and conclude that we might prosper accordingly if we emulate their practices. The truth is that we might, but that doesn’t make it right. Consider the words of the Psalmist:

The wicked in his proud countenance does not seek God; God is in none of his thoughts. His ways are always prospering; Your judgments are far above, out of his sight; As for all his enemies, he sneers at them. He has said in his heart, “I shall not be moved; I shall never be in adversity.” Psalm 10:4-6

Now consider these quotes accredited to three of this year’s GLS top speakers:

“Whether you prevail or fail, endure or die, depends more on what you do to yourself than on what the world does to you. ” Jim Collins, nationally acclaimed business thinker

“Control your own destiny or someone else will….The team with the best players wins. ” Jack Welch, Former Chairman and CEO, General Electric

“The future belongs to a very different kind of person with a very different kind of mind – creators and empathizers, pattern recognizers and meaning makers. These people…will now reap society’s richest rewards and share its greatest joys.” Daniel H. Pink, Business Thinker and Former White House speech writer

Ask yourself, ‘do these remarks line-up with God’s word?’

Why would we seek the counsel of any man who was not himself seeking God’s counsel?”

As a Christian, would you go to a worldly neighbor for marriage counseling? Would you seek the guidance of the ungodly on how to raise your children? Of course not! By definition, Christians operate, or should operate, in obedience to the Lord, allowing themselves to be guided by His Holy Spirit. To do otherwise is to sin; to miss the divine and holy mark the Lord had intended us to hit. To receive and carry out any practice that is not God-inspired is to set one’s self up for disaster, regardless of the fact that there might be seasonal prosperity.

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-2

Is There a Lack of Qualified Christian Leaders?

Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ. 1 Corinthians 11:1

No, there is not a lack of qualified Christian leaders. The trap is that we [too often] buy into the bigger and better philosophy the world shoves down our throats.“It’s working for them,” we surmise, “and God doesn’t seem to care; it almost seems as if God is blessing them!” While it might be true that it is working for the them, the reality is that God does care and it would serve the Christian well to remember that there is a huge difference between what God allows and what God blesses. Having said that we must be careful to avoid false teachers, the likes of say a Rob Bell, who is deceived and preaches a false gospel.

Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Galatians 6:7-9

What Am I Saying

If you are a godly man and if you attended the recent Global Leadership Summit, and if you adhere to the advice of the ungodly, you have been deceived and in due time you will harvest a crop you did not realize you had sown. And while your salvation is not necessarily in jeopardy, you are serving to undermine that which the Lord would have you and others do. You are in effect showing your brothers and sister in Christ that it is ok to do as the world does.

Did the Global Leadership Summit do anything right? Absolutely! They hosted and gave voice to several wonderful Christian leaders. My prayer is that next year they would omit worldly teachings in order to make room for, and focus upon the sound biblical wisdom given by inspiration of God that is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that Christians may be complete and thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world–the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life–is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. 1 John 2:15-17