{"id":10028,"date":"2012-01-12T23:22:45","date_gmt":"2012-01-13T04:22:45","guid":{"rendered":"\/news_blogs\/john\/?p=10028"},"modified":"2024-02-22T13:13:27","modified_gmt":"2024-02-22T18:13:27","slug":"from-human-wisdom-to-godly-wisdom","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cccc.org\/news_blogs\/john\/2012\/01\/12\/from-human-wisdom-to-godly-wisdom\/","title":{"rendered":"From Human Wisdom to Godly Wisdom"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Leaders read&nbsp;lots of leadership books, both&nbsp;Christian and&nbsp;secular.&nbsp;How do you tell which secular practices may be used in Christian ministry and which should not?&nbsp;That&#8217;s the question!&nbsp;At Arrow Leadership&#8217;s Gala, George Barna said something remarkable:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>&#8220;<\/em>People lack trust in leaders because of the poor character demonstrated by so many leaders. <em>My interviews with 6,000 Christian leaders show that one of the greatest struggles they have is demonstrating godly wisdom.<\/em> The issue is how <strong>worldly wisdom<\/strong> aligns with <strong>godly wisdom<\/strong> and <em>how to discern the difference<\/em>.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I quickly wrote the quote down because it is exactly the reason why I write this blog.&nbsp;My purpose is to help Christians who are leaders become more authentically Christian in their leadership practices.&nbsp;I don&#8217;t think it is that hard to figure out a Christian approach to leadership, but it does take time to reflect on your faith and your work and how they intersect.&nbsp;That&#8217;s why I call this blog <em><strong>Christian Leadership Reflections<\/strong><\/em>.&nbsp;By sharing my own reflections, I hope to help you with yours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"From worldly wisdom to godly wisdom\" width=\"625\" height=\"352\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/MsaZjDSMFdw?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Human Wisdom<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Human wisdom is developed from a human perspective without any reference to God or his ways.&nbsp;It is&nbsp;often positioned as the opposite of godly wisdom, as if the two were diametrically opposed to each other. In this paradigm, human is bad and godly is good.&nbsp;But it is not as simple as that:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>If we believe that God created our universe with certain rules for how it works, then we can study it and learn about it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>And if&nbsp;God gave us&nbsp;the ability to think, to discover and to create new knowledge, then we should do so.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It is inevitable that, quite apart from God&#8217;s revelation, humans will work out some knowledge and wisdom about how things work, or the way things are, that is right and aligns with God&#8217;s design or his ways.\u00a0Don&#8217;t be surprised when this happens because it is simply the result of the orderly ways of God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But sometimes we get it wrong and develop ideas that are not in alignment with God&#8217;s ways.&nbsp;This happens because our values are not in alignment with God&#8217;s or we have forgotten to leave room for God.&nbsp;Most often it is just a case of someone who doesn&#8217;t know God and doesn&#8217;t know any better, but sometimes a person&nbsp;develops something with evil intent such as when a con artist develops a con game based on understanding&nbsp;our (fallen) human nature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Human wisdom, therefore, is not like godly wisdom.&nbsp;Godly wisdom is always 100% right.&nbsp;Human wisdom has a range, from downright ungodly&nbsp;to wisdom that unintentionally aligns with God&#8217;s ways. For example, people with no awareness of God can still do good deeds because they believe it is the right thing to do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The issue isn&#8217;t that human wisdom is the opposite of godly wisdom, but that even at its very best it is incomplete without godly wisdom. On a continuum from foolishness\/ignorance to godly wisdom, human wisdom can be anywhere from 100% wrong to&nbsp;being 100% right (about the topic at hand).&nbsp;If human wisdom meets godly standards, then feel free to use it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Godly or human? Discerning the Difference<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So when it comes to Christian leadership, there is much human wisdom we can draw upon to understand group dynamics, organizational theory, governance, motivation, planning and so forth.&nbsp;There are many very good secular writers whose models and advice are just fine for Christian ministries.&nbsp;But we must be careful to discern where human leadership wisdom is deficient and falls&nbsp;too far short of godly&nbsp;wisdom to be able to use with integrity. And that is why a Christian leader needs to take time to reflect on his or her leadership practices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">How to distinguish the difference?&nbsp;How to tell if a secular leadership technique is appropriate for a Christian to use?&nbsp;Here&#8217;s some advice from a great little book:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>&#8220;From a Christian point of view, it is only when the direction and the method are in line with God&#8217;s purposes, character, and ways of operating that godly leadership takes place.&#8221;<\/em><br>(<em>Reviewing Leadership<\/em> by Robert Banks and Bernice Ledbetter)<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That is how you tell.&nbsp;Ask the question, Does this align with God&#8217;s purposes, character and ways of operating?&nbsp;This is why I say it is helpful if at least one of your ministry&#8217;s senior leaders has formal theological education.&nbsp;It is not good enough to just find a verse here or there to justify something.&nbsp;In this context, verses are little thoughts, and you need BIG thoughts.&nbsp;You need to know not just the verses, but taken as a whole, what does Scripture say about God and his ways?&nbsp;What&#8217;s the big theological picture? You also need a vibrant personal relationship with God in which you submit to and then experience his leadership.&nbsp;You will get to know pretty quickly how to assess opportunities or methods for suitability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here are some illustrations that may help:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>In a commissioned sales environment, sales managers are trained to motivate their staff by appealing to their self-interest and greed.&nbsp;They have them develop vision boards &#8211; pictures of all the good things in life they want to have or experience.&nbsp;Looking at these every day motivates them&nbsp;to sell more. Since when would God have us motivate people by appealing to their greed or self-interest?&nbsp;What relationship does this build between the salesperson and the customer? Instead of truly helping customers, the salesperson has objectified them into a means to an end, an end in the best interest of the salesperson, not the client! Does the technique work?&nbsp;I guess so.&nbsp;Is it godly? No.&nbsp;This style of management cannot be introduced into a Christian workplace.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Traditional strategic planning is based on analyzing the past to predict the future.&nbsp;To ensure the plan is achieved, staff are evaluated based on achieving goals that support the plan.&nbsp;Where does this leave room for God to do something new?&nbsp;When God told Paul to go to Europe, Paul went.&nbsp;He didn&#8217;t say, &#8220;I&#8217;ll do it on to my next mission trip&#8221; or even worse, &#8220;I&#8217;ll have to work it into my next 5 year plan.&#8221; The Holy Spirit blows where he will, and we have to stay nimble and flexible to respond quickly to his leading.&nbsp;Traditional strategic plan also relies heavily on setting your strategy based on distinguishing yourself from a competitor, but God wants you focused on what he has called you to do.&nbsp;In traditional strategic planning, your strategic options are limited by your SWOT analysis.&nbsp;Since when has God been restrained by your weakness? I&#8217;ve written more about this in <a title=\"Strategic planning for Christian ministries\" href=\"\/news_blogs\/john\/2011\/10\/17\/strategic-planning-for-christian-ministries\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Strategic Planning for Christian ministries<\/a>.&nbsp;Strategic planning can be done, but be careful to design the process to include God!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignnone size-thumbnail\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cccc.org\/news_blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/From-Human-Wisdom-to-Godly-Wisdom.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.cccc.org\/news_blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/From-Human-Wisdom-to-Godly-Wisdom-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-34718\"\/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Download discussion guide<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Questions to Ask<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So when I am confronted with a new leadership technique, I look for the aspects of it that need to be tested against God&#8217;s purposes, character or ways of being by asking:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>What is this advice or method based upon? What assumptions does it make?&nbsp;Why does it &#8216;work&#8217;?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>How would this affect the way I relate to another person or group?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Why does this appeal to me? What emotion or motivation makes this solution desirable?&nbsp;Does the appeal call upon something in me that runs counter to the fruit of the Spirit?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>How does it maintain or contribute to my status as &#8220;a holy vessel, consecrated to God&#8221; and to our ministry&#8217;s representation of what life in the kingdom of God looks like?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then compare&nbsp;your answers&nbsp;to what you know of God.&nbsp;Be wise. Be discerning. Take time to reflect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"https:\/\/www.cccc.org\/news_blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/From-worldly-wisdom-to-godly-wisdom.mp3\"><\/audio><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Bible says a lot that applies to leadership, but so does human wisdom. Here&#8217;s are to know when secular leadership practices are acceptable in ministry.  <a href=\"https:\/\/cccc.org\/news_blogs\/john\/2012\/01\/12\/from-human-wisdom-to-godly-wisdom\/\" class=\"linkbutton\">More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":13966,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ts_fic_featured_image_caption":"A ring standing on the gutter of an open Bible, with a light behind it casting a heart-shaped shadow onto the pages. Used with permission.","footnotes":""},"categories":[542,223,543],"tags":[42,81,100,565,70],"series":[],"class_list":["post-10028","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-christian-ministry","category-spirituality-of-leadership","category-christian-faith","tag-decision-making","tag-ethics-and-integrity","tag-spiritual-formation","tag-theological-reflection","tag-theology-of-leadership"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cccc.org\/news_blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10028","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cccc.org\/news_blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cccc.org\/news_blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cccc.org\/news_blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cccc.org\/news_blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10028"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/cccc.org\/news_blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10028\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cccc.org\/news_blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/13966"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cccc.org\/news_blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10028"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cccc.org\/news_blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10028"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cccc.org\/news_blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10028"},{"taxonomy":"series","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cccc.org\/news_blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/series?post=10028"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}