WHEN LEADERS FALL

 by Adam Harbinson

Why is it that in the last five or so years, all the Christian leaders I know who have crashed in flames – I think six at the last count – have been from the independent charismatic wing of the church? Could it be that their counterparts in the mainstream denominations are ‘above that sort of thing’? Is it the committee system of the old church that holds them to account – there are no Lone Rangers. Perhaps the recognised clerics are better trained, more aware of dangers that should be obvious, such as males counselling unaccompanied women or vice versa. No doubt the truth is somewhere in the middle, although the cynic might allege that the major denominations are better at covering up – but I don’t buy that one!

Bob Mumford – once one of the Fort Lauderdale Five who headed up the international ‘Discipleship Movement’ of the last century – wrote an interesting paper on the subject. In it he suggested that the answer lies elsewhere. The part of the brain that is activated by ‘ecstatic’ experiences, common in charismatic circles, is the area of the brain that’s associated with sexual desire. In other words, Mumford argues, men who have that side of their head particularly well developed are likely to be drawn to charismatic-type churches. 

Another possible explanation is that leaders in charismatic churches often suffer from a psychological condition called Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD). Here are some of the classic symptoms:

1. a grandiose sense of self-importance,
2. a preoccupation with fantasies of unlimited power,
3. a belief that he is ‘special’ and can only be understood by other special people,
4. a need for admiration,
5. an unreasonable expectation of especially favourable treatment,
6. they will take advantage of others to achieve his or her own ends,
7. a lack of empathy: unwilling to recognize or identify with the feelings and needs of others,
8. extreme arrogance.

In other words, they are sick men, and it’s not too big a step for such people, who are good at bullying, to exploit others to satisfy their selfish needs.

And now yet another has bitten the dust, and to be honest I wept when I was told. In what might have been a moment of madness - or weakness - he has seen his life’s work, his ambitions, his hopes and dreams lie in ashes at his feet.

But for his Christian community, the main concern must be for the followers, for it is well documented that people can suffer deep and lasting psychological damage when their leader falls – leaders recover, followers sometimes never do. Their identity is so inextricably tied up with him that they aren’t sure who they are anymore. They have modelled themselves for perhaps decades on what turns out to be a façade, a revered personality that doesn’t exist in reality. A hologram, a product of wishful thinking, a figment of their leader’s imagination.

So what do you do when your leader falls? Firstly, take time out. There will be attempts at damage limitation. Don’t get involved for you risk being bounced into another similar relationship. Jesus saw the dangers that can arise when self-appointed men take authority in the lives of others – and they may be good men, but they’re self-appointed.

Secondly, fly into the arms of Abba, your Father who loves you, but remember he loves the insecure man behind the hologram too. Pray for the man who has fallen, pray that he will fall into grace, not from grace.

Thirdly, you may find it difficult to trust leadership again. Understandable, but be careful how you throw out the bathwater, for there’s a beautiful baby in there. And lastly, learn how Jesus wants you to relate to your leaders and to each other. He said, ‘Don’t put anyone on a pedestal in your life … and don’t let anyone put you on a pedestal in their life. You all have a single Teacher, and you are all classmates’. (My paraphrase of Matthew 23:8-12).

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