I'm Sexy and I Know It . . . (Jude 1:4, 8, 10)

Self-centered leaders manipulate when they move people for personal benefit (John Maxwell).

The Self-Centered Leader

He was brave in battle, came from a well-known family, and carried himself with the physical presence of leadership. Responsible, good-looking, tall, humble, and strong, Saul was a great choice for Israel's first king. However, as if often the case in situations where outward appearance is equated with leadership, Saul flamed out fairly quickly. By the end of his life, he had revealed himself to be entitled, jealous, envious, quick to blame others, and prone to fits of rage! Israel had fallen prey to a common, human foible. Mankind most often judges leadership competencies based solely upon outward characteristics. The one who looks the best, sounds the best, dominates the best, and is the loudest is the one we most often assume to be a leader, even though that one may not have shown any actual leadership skills or had any experience. Unfortunately, the qualities we admire more often than not define the self-centered leader.

Characteristics of the Self-Centered Leader

Recognizing this, Jude spends the majority of his letter warning the church against the inevitable onslaught of teachers and leaders who would come in to claim their share of the material pie! In verses 3-16, Jude outlines four characteristics of the self-centered leader, only one of which--the Sensual Leader--is discussed in this post. He is bold in calling out the clear and present danger these leaders represent to the Gospel and to the faith as a whole. Simply put, the self-centered leader pulls the focus away from God's Kingdom and onto his own kingdom. He makes ministry man-centered, not God-centered. 

A quick caveat, however. Christians have, throughout the centuries, mistaken a desire to enjoy the bounties of God's goodness for self-centeredness. The ancient monks who performed self-flagellation or lived in extreme asceticism believed pleasure was to be denied. The Puritans are often painted as a people who wore drab clothing and participated in drab activities and lived overall drab lives. More recently, pastors were expected to deprive themselves and their families of anything the congregation deemed extravagant, lest they be viewed as prideful and self-centered. I know of a pastor who bought a used, yet still flashy, sports car. He was promptly taken aside by a parishioner and chastised for his ungodly ostentatiousness! Enjoying the fruits of God's goodness, taking pride in accomplishments, wearing nice clothes, staying in shape, or even getting hair plugs (!) are not necessarily signs a person has fallen into the depths of self-centered depravity. The motivation for those actions is what determines where one falls on the scale between self-centeredness and God-centeredness.

The Sensual Leader

Jude's graphic warnings for his readers urge them to look beneath the surface of those "certain individuals whose condemnation was written about long ago" and have "slipped in among you" (v. 4). The first warning sign is their emphasis on the sensual.  Note--this is not the "sensual leadership" currently in vogue which utilizes the emotional side of the leadership toolkit. There is no emphasis on empathy or connectedness or being present. This is leadership which feeds the five senses. Jude speaks of those who "turn grace into license" (v. 4), "defile the flesh" (v. 8), "live off instinct (like animals)" (v. 10), and are "led by their desires" (v. 16). Commodus, the Roman emperor from 180 to 192 AD, exemplifies this. Anointed by his father, Marcus Aurelius, as successor, Commodus took the reigns of Rome at the age of 18 when his father passed. His reign as emperor is known not for great military feats or legislative achievements but for " [ignoring] his official duties … [devoting] himself to his harem of 300 females and a like number of males, [playing] gladiator at Rome’s Colosseum and [ordering] the executions of countless foes, allies and family members alike."

What does Jude mean when he says these teachers "turn grace into license"? The Greek here is the word for "debauchery," and is the same word Peter uses in 2 Peter 2: 2, 17-18. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is a gospel of grace. God's grace is forgiveness through Christ and admission to the Kingdom being extended to undeserving sinners who are incapable of finding forgiveness or entrance on their own. Scripture is very clear that we sinners cannot do enough to force God's hand (Ephesians 2:9). How easy, then, to take that grace and turn it into permission! It sounds something like this--"God will forgive me so long as I ask for it; therefore, it matters not how I act. God's grace will cover it." Paul addresses this argument in Romans 6:1 and writes, "Are we to remain in sin so that grace might increase?" His answer to that question is a resounding "No." These leaders will falsely claim that grace allows them to feed their sensual side without repercussions because God will forgive all things. There is nothing further from the truth of Scripture.

So, how about "defile the flesh" and living off of animalistic instinct? Galatians 5:19-21a illustrates this clearly. "Now the works of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, depravity, idolatry, sorcery, hostilities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish rivalries, dissensions, actions, envying, murder, drunkenness, carousing, and similar things." Man is created in God's image; in the beginning, God created the human body; to defile God's creation through these things which break community and covenant is to "defile the flesh." This is what an emphasis on the sensual does. It breaks covenant, destroys community, and wrecks God's beautiful creation. Animals live off of this sensual instinct to satisfy their desires. Sensual leadership/teaching drags mankind back into the abyss of the wild and out of the glory that is God's Kingdom, where His creation is treasured and cared for.

Turning grace into license … defiling the flesh … living like animals … these images are of people led not by the Holy Spirit of God but by their own desires. Eve followed her own desires; shortly after, Cain did, as well. The Book of Judges ends with this indictment of Jewish history: "Every man did what was right in his own eyes." And that explains the trap of sensual leadership. It encourages self-centeredness, not God-centeredness.

But How Will I Know?

Sadly, too many Christian leaders have become entrapped in this same model of self-indulgent leadership and teaching. The discerning person can recognize sensual leadership in at least two ways. First is the emphasis on self-promotion. For instance, Pastor X comes into a prayer meeting. When invited to share his concerns, they somehow become a platform either for bragging on his successes as he regales the listeners with tales of how appreciated his work has been or the "persecution" he is receiving in the form of criticisms or suggestions that there might be a better way than what he is doing. Second is how the sensual leader receives criticism. He cannot. It doesn't feel good. I spoke recently with a pastor and offered what I felt was some constructive criticism. He had offered advice to some younger pastors and I shared with him that his advice came across quite negatively. His response? "You're making me second-guess myself and I don't like that. I'll just keep my advice to myself from hereon." This is a mild reaction for the sensual leader. In his effort to keep away from criticism, the sensual leader will often wage all-out war on the critic, executing the critic's character, reputation, and sometimes position, much like Commodus who executed both his real and perceived critics in real-time!

Don't Be an Animal!

The Gospel is strongest in its emphasis on grace. Grace allows us, as Christians, to be free from living in fear of failure and unmet expectations. Grace allows us to live lives awestruck by God's goodness and mercy, recognizing that we are dependent upon His grace. The Gospel is also most widely-abused because of grace. Under the auspices of God's grace, too many grant themselves a license that is far out of the bounds of grace. Grace does not equal doing what is right in your own eyes. Therefore, it is incumbent upon believers to discern false leaders who misuse grace and mercy. The faithful leader challenges his people to become more citizens of God's kingdom and not more like citizens of Animal Planet!

Reflection

1. What does "grace" mean to you?

2. What is your reaction to criticism?

3. Who promotes your successes?

4. How important is it that your successes be promoted?

5. Which kingdom are you leading people to?

6. Are you focused on how what you are doing makes you feel?