Politics and Christianity
One of the saddest things in Christianity is that it often mimics the unsaved world in areas that it shouldn’t. After serving in ministries, Christian owned businesses, and other Christian based organizations, I’ve seen a massive problem of politics infiltrating a place that should be void of them. I’ve seen politics in many forms:
1- Nepotism: There is something special about families that go generation to generation serving in the same ministry. It tells a lot about the family upbringing. When it becomes unappealing is when family members are given positions in a ministry or organization simply because they are family. The members are often unqualified, namedroppers, or unappreciative of the hard work it took to build the ministry. Sometimes they are not where they should be spiritually. However, since they were born in the family, they are allowed this high position and no one better question it. I’ve also seen where organizations will change their policies due to a family member living a certain way or doing a certain action.
2- Kissing up: Nothing is more atrocious than an employee who will tell their boss anything they want to hear simply to win the favor of their boss and possibly get a promotion. The employee becomes nothing but a clone of the boss and has no opinion. They are often afraid to share their opinion for fear they will drop in the sight of the employer. They often want to be right by the side of the boss and live in fear of any negative feedback. They also try to outdo their fellow employees. If another employee receives praise, the employee will either try to match it with his actions or will try and set up the praised fellow employee for destruction.
3- Favoritism: Nothing is shallower than a leader who selects favorites based on their compliance to orders. If an employee chooses to disagree with their boss, then the boss will begin to have a vendetta against them. The favorites are receivers of a double standard. Often the rules that apply to a normal employee (conduct, requirements) are not applied to the favorite. They are allowed to slack off, get the easy jobs, or are allowed special privileges. The other employees see this and often disassociate against the favorite employee.
4- Stars In Their Eyes: Politics is often about who you know. I’ve seen leaders who will often forget their job’s responsibilities to snuggle up to celebrities. It seems that there main concern quickly becomes the ability to brag about who they have spent time with, talked to, or have seen. I’ve seen pastors neglect their flock to hang out with the big boys of their ministry or conference. It seems they like being with the people everyone knows. It then continues to be unappealing when the leader likes to brag about whom they have been with to other pastors. It somehow is supposed to earn a level of higher stature or importance because they had been in the presence of someone important.
5- Convenience: As I mentioned before, there are leaders who are given their positions and are totally unqualified for the position. Why do they stay in these positions? Normally, there is a quality about them that their leaders don’t want to lose even though they may be a terrible leader and not fit the job description. A leader may be responsible for networking but is very successful relationally with the employees. His leaders have placed their priority, not on his actual job description, but on what he does well. As a result the organization suffers simply because the leadership has changed their view on what is most important. They organization could be more successful if they hired the right person.
I don’t believe politics is ever a successful way to lead. If anything, it loses respect of your employees or staff and grumblings increase. It also puts personal opinion and preference before the organizations goals. Simply, leaders who use politics don’t want to succeed with their purpose or their mission. They want to build their own personal kingdom by surrounding themselves with people who are loyal, even if the ship is sinking. There is no room for disagreement or ownership by others. The leader wants the sucking up, the glory and the praise of his employees. That has become his mission.
James 2:1-7 says, “My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don’t show favoritism. Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in. If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? But you have insulted the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? Are they not the ones who are slandering the noble name of him to whom you belong?”
If an organization claims to be Christian or a leader says they run on Christian principles, then they need to run by this passage. How dare we play the favoritism card and say that we are believers. Christ himself never put the popular and famous at the top of the list. He even humbled himself to the place of a servant.
Labels: christian ministry, church, favoritism, fear, kissing up, leadership, nepotism, politics
