Warning Against Pride in Leadership: Not allowing Pride to Control Us

By:  Dale Weckbacher

2 Peter 2:19

They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves^[a] of corruption. For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved.

(ESV)

History is full of examples of prideful narcissistic leadership.  (1)  This prideful fall of leaders is unfortunately not limited to leaders of nations and even occurs in the church.  (2)  Israel also had its history of prideful kings that fell with the nation eventually going into captivity through their idolatry during the reign of these kings.  (3)  History is also full of great nations that have risen and fallen usually under the reign of prideful narcissistic leadership.  (4)  While the quality of narcissism in leadership can be viewed as advantageous by providing us with leaders of great vision and charisma garnering many followers, this narcissism can overcome these leaders making them sensitive to criticism, poor listeners, lacking empathy, and distasting mentoring.  (5)

Most of us are familiar with Proverbs 16:18, reminding us that pride precedes destruction and a fall.  2 Peter 2:19 reminds us that whatever overcomes a person enslaves them.  When Pride overcomes a leader that leader can become enslaved to their own pride and fall.  Meekness, however, is not weakness as some believe but an absence of selfish pride in ones life resulting in inheriting the earth (Matthew 5:5).  Jesus also reminds us not to depend upon our own selfish pride but to instead lean on Him, finding rest for our souls (Matthew 11:29).  Jesus goes on to demonstrate this by entering Jerusalem, not as a conquering king but humbly on a donkey (Matthew 21:5) and less than one week later by offering up his life for our sins even though he was sinless (2 Corinthians 5:21).

In the 20^th century alone we witnessed the fall of the third Reich, (6) led by Adolf Hitler whose narcissistic pride led him to believe he could create a superior race while slaughtering those he viewed as inferior like the Jews.  (7)  This century has also witnessed the rise and fall of communism led by Joseph Stalin whose narcissistic belief in the superiority of Communism led to the slaughter of anyone daring to disagree with him or get in his way.  (8)

Biblical history also records the fall of narcissistic prideful leaders like the prince of Tyrus who fell because of his pride in believing he was God (Ezekiel 28:1-2).  Even King Nebuchadnezzar fell into this trap of prideful narcissism and was relegated to the humiliation of eating grass like a cow for a period of time.  Fortunately for Nebuchadnezzar, he repented and God restored what he had lost (Daniel 3:28-37) demonstrating that it is never too late for a narcissistic leader to turn from their pride.  Even Jesus’ disciples were tempted to give in to pride and narcissism but were swiftly reprimanded by Jesus (Luke22:24-27). 

As Christians, we are not immune to falling into the trap of pride in our lives and must constantly guard against it.  We must constantly remind ourselves to treasure our relationship with Jesus Christ more than anything else in our lives (Matthew 6:19-21).  We must value serving over being served (Luke 22:24-27).  We must also not seek a position of leadership in the church until God makes us ready (1 Timothy 3:1-7). 

We must constantly guard against allowing pride to lead to the destruction of ourselves or our nation.  In nations like the United States where we elect our leaders, this means electing leaders to federal, state, and local office who have a priority to serve those they govern instead of governing to advance their own political interests.  Individually this mean placing God first in our lives and seeking the direction He wants us to take. 

Perhaps you are reading this and have never entered into a personal relationship with God your creator through the acceptance of Jesus as you savior.  If that is you I invite you to pray with me now.

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, was buried, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

Congratulation, now I urge you to seek out a church where the Bible, the Word of God is taught so you can learn what it means to place God first in your life and grow closer in your relationship with Him.  I also urge you to pray and ask God where He wants you to serve. 

May God bless everyone reading this.

1. Josef. 25 of History’s Deadliest Dictators. list 25.com. [Online] List 25, July 18, 2014. [Cited: September 17, 2017.] http://list25.com/25-of-historys-deadliest-dictators/.

2. Blocksom, Brad. Fallen Leaders: What are the Underlying Causes and Who’s to Blame? thinktheology.org. [Online] ThinkTheology.org, April 28, 2015. [Cited: September 17, 2017.] http://thinktheology.org/2015/04/28/fallen-leaders-what-are-the-underlying-causes-and-whos-to-blame/.

3. Batchelor, Pastor Doug. The Kings of Pride. www.amazingfacts.org. [Online] Amazing facts, May 1, 2008. [Cited: September 17, 2017.] https://www.amazingfacts.org/news-and-features/inside-report/magazine/id/10688/t/the-kings-of-pride.

4. Ames, Richard F. RISE AND FALL OF NATIONS. www.tomorrowsworld.org. [Online] Tomorrows World, July-August 2002. [Cited: September 17, 2017.] https://www.tomorrowsworld.org/magazines/2002/july-august/rise-and-fall-of-nations.

5. Maccoby, Michael. Narcissistic Leaders: The Incredible Pros, the Inevitable Cons. https://hbr.org. [Online] Harvard Business Review, January 2004. [Cited: September 17, 2017.] https://hbr.org/2004/01/narcissistic-leaders-the-incredible-pros-the-inevitable-cons.

6. Taylor, Alan. World War II: The Fall of Nazi Germany. www.theatlantic.com. [Online] The Atlantic, October 9, 2011. [Cited: September 17, 2017.] https://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2011/10/world-war-ii-the-fall-of-nazi-germany/100166/.

7. United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. Nazi Racism. www.ushmm.org. [Online] United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. [Cited: September 17, 2017.] https://www.ushmm.org/outreach/en/article.php?ModuleId=10007679.

8. Haven, Cynthia. Stalin killed millions. A Stanford historian answers the question, was it genocide? news.stalin.edu. [Online] Stanford News, September 23, 2010. [Cited: September 17, 2017.] http://news.stanford.edu/2010/09/23/naimark-stalin-genocide-092310/.