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 could prosper accordingly if we emulate their practices. The truth is that we might, but that doesn’t make it right. If prosperity does it occur, it is temporary at best.
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 last year’s GLS 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
Do these remarks line-up with God’s word?
Christianity 101
There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit…For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. Romans 8:1, 5-8
Romans 8 makes it extremely clear: followers of Jesus Christ are called to walk not according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. The passage goes on to tell us why — those who walk according to the flesh are carnally minded; they operate in a manner to gratify their own lusts and appetites. The Bible tells us quite directly that this behavior makes them God’s enemy.
Read the passage again!
A Christian who emulates the ways of any person who is not guided by the Holy Spirit cannot please God. Knowing this, are you absolutely sure you want to adopt any of these worldly techniques for your personal spiritual development or bring any of these ideas back to your church? If you do, you do not have an appropriate understanding of what it means to fear the Lord.
Worldly Counsel is No 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.”
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. The bottom line is that God hates it. We must also 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 or woman and if you attended the recent Global Leadership Summit, and if you glean and 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 quenching the good work of the Holy Spirit and are in effect showing your brothers and sister in Christ that it is ok to do as the world does.
Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies. Test all things; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil. 1 Thessalonians 5:19-22
Does the Global Leadership Summit do anything right? Absolutely! They host 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
- What do these verses say about God?
- What do they say about us?
- What is our only recourse?
Related articles
- The Call To Separation: The Perversion (ptl2010.com)
- Forever Food (ising4god.com)
- Where Can Wisdom be Found
I was asked by my elder Christian friends to attend the Global Leadership Summit in Malaysia today. But God turned my desire back and told me not to go. I didn’t understand why earlier and my friends were disappointed but after reading your blog, I believe God has given me the confirmation in my heart. Praise the Lord for His faithful guidance for those who have ears to listen.
You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too: you cannot have a part in both the Lord’s table and the table of demons.
– 1 Corinthians 10:21
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[…] Willowcreek, the Global Leadership Summit, and Following Jesus August 201013 comments 5 […]
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Andrew, I am sure Dave will comment but I will as well. I would not go so far as to say that some at the conference do not believe in Jesus Christ. I would more than likely say that the majority are Christians who do not know the word of God very well. Without the teaching of sound doctrine, these kinds of errors flourish in the contemporary church. Our churches have become great outlets for social issues, but somehow in the mix, doctrine has been labeled as too meaty, etc. However, it is that doctrine that teaches, instructs, protects and nurtures. It is that doctrine that protects from heresy.
Thus, I would not go so far as to say they are not Christian……but they sure need to read the Bible 🙂
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I agree with you!
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I am attending the Summit in Swansea,UK in October. Can I take it that the basis of Global Leadership is that is has been founded by people that do not believe in that Jesus Christ is our Lord and Saviour?
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Hello Andrew,
The answer to your question is no. The people who put together ARE Christians and I applaud their ‘Christian’ efforts.
What I object to is that they also include secular (worldly) business people to contribute to the conference based solely on the fact that they are successful (by worldly standards).
My stance is a biblical one–God hates mixture of this type (and I’d agree); nothing good can come out of taking worldly philosophies and applying them to kingdom building.
If you are committed to attending the WCS, than I would warn you to ONLY listen and glean from the Christian leaders represented there.
God bless.
dave
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Hi Dave, I stand with you on this one. I have no desire to receive counsel from those who are of this world. True wisdom only comes from God through his people. The enemy is too quick to hide his lies in the words of those who do not know Christ. My time here is on loan from God. I choose to take instruction from those who are instructed by him!
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Could not have said it better.
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There is an underlying arrogance to your statement about learning from those who are not followers of Christ. Does truth only reside in us who are Christ followers or does all truth originate from God?
If truth only reside in us and our belief system as Christian, then your statement is valid. If all truth originates from God then it can come from anywhere.
I believe the latter to be true and therefore I have learned a lot from both Christians and non-Christians that have helped me immensely in being a better husband, father and pastor.
With that as a backdrop, I have learned a great deal from each of the 15 Summits that I have attended. At the same time, it goes through the screen of Scripture. As Christ says in Matt. 10:16, to be wise as a serpant and harmless as a dove.
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Pilate therefore said to Him, “Are You a king then?” Jesus answered, “You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.” Pilate said to Him, “What is truth?” John 18:37-38
You find me arrogant because I choose to seek my truth only in Jesus Christ and in those who choose to emulate Him? It would seem sir that in your arrogance you would take away my freedom to choose!
No way. As I mature in my Christian faith, it is my desire to choose Jesus more and secularism less.
Having said, I fully understand that I am missing out on a great deal of worldly wisdom, but in case I haven’t made my position clear, the collective wisdom of the world only serves to destroy. Accepting a piece of it here and a piece of it there results in a gradual eroding away of the foundation upon which every Christian stands.
I say this not in arrogance, but in truth. If you believe otherwise, so be it pastor. Love ya!
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I pray pastor that many eyes read and respond to your plea.
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For the last 3 years I have been given the opportunity for the ngo I volunteer with to work at the summit and attend for free. I always walk away with something good, as well as some negative. This year, although there were a few wonderful speakers, I also walked away with the same thoughts as you. I was definitely disappointed in some of the choices that were made. I feel as though each year they are trying to appeal more and more to the business world, and in order to do so are making more and more compromises.
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I agree Rebecca. I was speaking with a pastor friend this morning who told me that Hybels does in fact desire to ‘reach out’ to the unsaved and his hope is that some will be lured in by a non-believer who is represented at the event.
I understand the principle, but the spiritual logic behind it is ludicrous. Honestly, it’s only a stone-throw away from utilizing temple prostitutes. I pray that Hybels will soon see the error of his way.
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I so agree with you – which is why I left that world 🙂 and am in a different church now. One that takes the teaching of God’s word seriously.
It bothers me as much as the endorsement of several “evangelical” leaders of the Manhattan Declaration, but the guys I learn from stood up against it. Yea!
Why did they take a stand against the whole evangelical world? The gospel message is distorted and is not a focal part of the document! John 4 22-24 reminds us to worship God in spirit in truth. Truth mattered to Jesus – and should matter to us. http://www.shepherdsfellowship.org/pulpit/4466/why_they_could_not_sign/
Good post, Dave.
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Thanks Kathy…enjoyed your post and your link too
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