by Jim Oesterwind

I grew up in Redford Township, a suburb of Detroit, Michigan. One of my childhood memories is a beautiful white picket fence that stood as the guardian between a friend’s home and what was considered at that time a busy service road. These folks painted this fence white annually; however, through the years, the wood had become soft due to humidity and termites. They kept painting the fence, but the only thing that held it up was the previous year’s coat of paint. There was no soundness to the structure, and eventually it had to be replaced.

Jesus described the Pharisees as whitewashed tombs which appeared beautiful outwardly, but inside were full of dead men’s bones and uncleanness. Jesus went on to say that these men outwardly appeared righteous but inwardly were full of hypocrisy and lawlessness (Matthew 23:27-28). These leaders had no integrity or soundness to them; they were deceptive and had deceived themselves.

The greatest threat Christian administrators face is themselves. The light of Jesus Christ exposes us for who we really are when students, parents, and colleagues have been duped by our own self-righteous assertions. It is a painful process when one strips away the veneer of his life and finds nothing of substance. A healthy recognition of inadequacy to do what God calls us to do ought to serve as a messenger of hope goading us back to Christ.

Foundational to a healthy self-perspective is an understanding that the basis for sin is deception. The Devil is the father of lies as Jesus reminded self-righteous educators and administrators in John 8. His characterization of them is brutally honest (see verses 40-45). While deception may cloud others from seeing accurately, God sees it all. The fear of the Lord is the inescapable presence of God in our lives. This is the foundation of change and hope in our lives, because it will lead us to an understanding that we need not carry guilt and shame which render us ineffective as managers in ministry.

We may teach others that lying will get us sooner or later. It is more accurate to say that deception will make our lives miserable sooner and later. Jesus made promises and kept them. He was direct. We ought to model this type of communication for those that serve with us. Teachers and administrators are notorious for using language to manipulate and excuse their own behavior. It is amazing how we cannot see this in our own lives, but it is so clear to us when we see it in the lives of others.

The first consequence of sin is to shift the blame to whoever is convenient (see Genesis 3:11-13). An administrator must understand this principle in order to make progress in unifying a group of believers to do the work of the ministry. Let me suggest five proven ways to increase effectiveness
as a manager in ministry.

First, managing others requires that we become practiced at accepting responsibility for our actions. Practiced is the right idea here because it connotes forming a habit. It encompasses the idea of discipline and skill. The frailty of our humanness extends to each of us. We fail; let’s not attempt to cover it up.

Second, deception begins in the heart. The right combination of people and circumstances will always exert pressure; then out comes what we cannot hide from others. Administrators are quite adept at staying away from obvious blunders; however, our countenance will always betray our disgust with co-laborers. People see through our profane, sanctimonious attempts at taking the high road.

Third, the good news for self-deceived leaders is that grace and forgiveness are always available. Often, we tell parents who have made a mess of things in their home that honesty and integrity will win their families back to the standard of Christ. The same holds true of us. We must be steadfast and immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord (1 Corinthians 15:58). A healthy self- perspective will always lead us to the hem of Jesus’ garment. It is there that we find hope and that we find grace and forgiveness in our time of need. Self-deception dissolves in the light of 1 John 1:8-9.

Fourth, we must speak the truth to ourselves. We need to understand that we are adept at deceiving not only others but also ourselves. Jeremiah 17:9 tells us that our desperate plight grows from the root of a desperately wicked heart. Those that understand this principle are driven to the water of God’s Word for cleansing and a renewed perspective on reality.

Last, people believe that they are unique and not susceptible to problems they see in others. We cannot help people or minister to them from this position of spiritual weakness. A trusted accountability partner can serve as a safeguard against poor judgment, fleshly motivations, and self-deception.

If we have not been driven to the point of seeing how needy we are as administrators, then one of two things is true. We are either novices and still enjoying the honeymoon stage of leadership, or we are walking in our own strength. The most often told lie is the one we tell ourselves. Our honest moments help us to see how needy we are as managers in ministry.