Learn more about my book "The Courageous Ask"
Leader, Your Nature Requires Honesty
Brian Kreeger • May 12, 2022
We are our own number one fan. We can always justify the things we do. We always give ourselves a break—the breaks we aren’t willing to give others. We are critical of others’ actions, even when we see ourselves doing the same things. We are judgmental people.
As Christians, we usually know the scripture or principle, but struggle to apply it. We expect grace and mercy, but hesitate to give it to others. We want people to draw a line and forgive and forget, but justify why we can’t do the same.
We understand the context of our life, but don’t seek to know the same from others. We want to have friends, but don’t want to be a friend. We criticize leadership, but balk at the opportunity to become one. We battle when what we really need to do is surrender. The list of relational challenges as part of human nature goes on and on.
Ouch! Ooh! Bam! Some, or all, of what I wrote above applies to you, and some people feel like I am throwing darts at them personally.
It was really hard writing what I did above, and believe me, I feel a conviction in my own life. Plus, I feel a little cynical. I also want to be clear that I can think of so many inspiring stories where people have overcome human nature and have been an incredible inspiration to others.
(This blog focuses on starting a conversation centered on preventing the fall of nonprofit leaders. I write it from a Christian perspective, but all leaders will benefit. Be sure to sign up to receive these articles via email every Tuesday at
briankreeger.com as well as taking a look at previous blog articles. In addition to receiving these articles two days before they hit social media, you will receive the article "5 Early Indicators of a Christian Nonprofit Leadership Fall" along with the Contents, Introduction and the Appendix (My story) of my book,
The Courageous Ask: A Proactive Approach to Prevent the Fall of Christian Nonprofit Leaders.)
Although this is who we naturally are, I believe nearly everyone reading this does not want the description above to define them. We want to help others in their struggles; we want to understand; we want to be compassionate. We want the people around us to feel loved and appreciated. Unfortunately for many of us, this takes effort.
It really can be a battle. A battle that people, especially leaders, must engage in. And some people do it very well. We know who those people are because they really stand out. Maybe you are one of them, even though your humility will not allow you to acknowledge it.
But it really is a battle, especially in nonprofit leadership as we work in the interest of the people who are part of our mission. We work to bring support to our mission in any way we can, sometimes building a façade of success or at least embellishing those things going well in our organization. We’ve all done it.
We want people to think well of us, of our organization, so the organization can continue to move forward, impacting as many people as possible. We sell ourselves on the things we do on the edge of our integrity as being in the mission's interest….and that makes it ok.
So, take a moment to reflect on what I have written. Are you being honest with yourself? Are you being honest with yourself about yourself, about your organization, about your role in the organization?
At the height of my nonprofit experience, as the founder of a Christian free health clinic, everything was going great and God was really blessing us. We were growing and growing….in support, reputation, and credibility.
I was flying high personally as the ministry God called me to flourished. As the face of the ministry I was getting a lot of attention. But I was not honest with myself and actually came to believe the façade I was putting out there in the community. Not being honest with myself was one factor that led to my fall as a Christian nonprofit leader.
I remember many years ago being taught in Sunday school that one facet of integrity was making every effort to stay true to who you have publicly expressed you are in Christ in every facet of life, whether that be in public or private. I would add that this integrity taught in a Christian context could be applied to any commitment we make in life, especially those involving our character.
Those tugs on our integrity come from all directions as a leader, don’t they?
They can come from donors, staff, volunteers, family, community. They can even come from our own entrepreneurial ambition as we work to increase the influence of the ministry. We know who we are and who the organization is. But we see, and focus on, that one opportunity that stretches our integrity, but could propel us forward. (yes, the identity of the ministry and our own can dangerously become one)
That one opportunity causing us to stretch our integrity might be right in front of us.
I know for me, one of these tugs came from a potentially large government grant. You see, God made it clear to me that we were not to accept any government money to open the clinic, or in its operations. And we did just that for about 2 years.
One day this opportunity came along and I sold myself, and those in the organization, on it. This grant would propel us to a whole new level. I wasn’t being honest with myself and was sacrificing the integrity of the organization. We put tons of time into it, only to be rejected in the end.
This was a great example of God saving us, actually me, from ourselves. And I am so thankful! The clinic continues to grow and grow and grow without government money.
So, leader, are you courageously asking yourself tough questions? Are you maintaining the level of character, inside and out, that propelled you to the level of being called a leader? Are you leading yourself and your organization with integrity in a way that allows both to be true to who you/they are….who you proclaim to be?
Are you being honest with yourself? Or are you justifying another path?
I am certain you know the answer.
Be Courageous!
Be Proactive!
Be sure to sign up to receive these articles via email every Tuesday at
briankreeger.com. In addition to receiving these articles two days before they hit social media, you will receive the article "5 Early Indicators of a Christian Nonprofit Leadership Fall" along with the Contents, Introduction and the Appendix (My Story) of my book,
The Courageous Ask: A Proactive Approach to Prevent the Fall of Christian Nonprofit Leaders.
#LeadershipFall #LeadershipSurvival #NonprofitRelationships #ProactiveApproach #LeadershipStruggles #LeadershipBattles #ChristianExecutiveLeader #ChristianLeader #CourageousAsk #Proactive #ProactiveLeadership #NonprofitLeadership #ExecutiveLeadership #ChristianLeadershipFall #LeadershipHonesty
Executives -pastors or nonprofit executives in our context- are put on a pedestal. It’s not that the typical person necessarily believes they belong there or desires to put them there. But it is human nature that this happens. The general public often places much higher expectations on leaders than they do on themselves. Sometimes it is appropriate, and the leader has put themselves in that position. In some cases, it is simply scriptural. For instance, James 3 points out that those who teach will be judged more strictly, thereby heightening the expectations of those who lead and teach. But what about when we accept, and enact, those elevated expectations and forget the humanity of our leaders? Often a community heaps on a leader the expectation that they are to perform with the perfection of Jesus and not simply be a Jesus follower and disciple just like them, but with a unique calling and heightened responsibility. Too many times when a leader shows human imperfection, the respect we have for them is damaged. Leaders fall under strict judgment, and we forget they are no less fallible than us. The imperfection they have colors any positive experience we would have had with them otherwise. While most of us acknowledge this strict, hypocritical judgment and recognize it as not being how we want to treat our leaders, it is a difficult battle to fight in our own attitudes and minds. No matter who the leader is, they are not Jesus. But please allow me to reverently make some comparisons. (This blog focuses on starting a conversation centered on preventing the fall of nonprofit leaders. I write it from a Christian perspective, but all leaders will benefit. Be sure to sign up to receive these articles via email every Tuesday at briankreeger.com as well as taking a look at previous blog articles. In addition to receiving these articles two days before they hit social media, you will receive the article "5 Early Indicators of a Christian Nonprofit Leadership Fall" along with the Contents, Introduction and the Appendix (My story) of my book, The Courageous Ask: A Proactive Approach to Prevent the Fall of Christian Nonprofit Leaders. )
You are the community, no matter what formal role you play in a particular organization, or if you play any role at all. My blog articles typically focus on the roles the leader and the board have in preventing the fall of Christian nonprofit leaders. But I contend that the community that exists around organizational leaders and boards has a role as well. In fact, a community’s role can many times be much bigger. My next few blog articles will focus on the role of the community in preventing the fall of Christian nonprofit leaders. (This blog focuses on starting a conversation centered on preventing the fall of nonprofit leaders. I write it from a Christian perspective, but all leaders will benefit. Be sure to sign up to receive these articles via email every Tuesday at briankreeger.com as well as taking a look at previous blog articles. In addition to receiving these articles two days before they hit social media, you will receive the article "5 Early Indicators of a Christian Nonprofit Leadership Fall" along with the Contents, Introduction and the Appendix (My story) of my book, The Courageous Ask: A Proactive Approach to Prevent the Fall of Christian Nonprofit Leaders. )
