Dare Great Things For Christ

Christ calls us to be leaders, but what exactly is the point of the leadership to which He calls us?  In Saul Alinsky’s, “Rules For Radicals,” he presents a vision of leadership devoid of an ultimate end goal.  Instead he insists on the ultimate relationship between leadership and the power to wield it.  Couldn’t this be a Catholic moment?  Isn’t this an opportunity for us to build a bridge with his thought?

Sometimes the voice of the Gospel can best be heard by listening to the voices of those who do not profess it.  Such is the case for Saul Alinsky.  In his “Rules For Radicals” this social agitator outlined a series of beliefs that have produced stunning success.  But have they produced effective leadership?  What’s the difference between his philosophy on leadership and the truth of the Gospel? 

The persuasive power of any falsehood lies in its proximity with the truth.  Machiavelli’s, “The Prince”, contains many truths and many statements which ring true to our practical ears.  Chapter 22 concerning the secretaries of princes is a great example of this.  In this chapter we read many things that help us understand our role as servants against the backdrop of Machiavellian reasoning.

Chapter 18 of Machiavelli’s “The Prince” is the most controversial of them all.  You could even say that it represents the heart of his thesis.  Concerning the way in which princes should keep faith it flies directly in contradiction to what most of us as Christian leaders understand as the power of leadership coming from Christ.  And so it is a fascinating study to help us understand where Christ wants us to lead and how.

 

In his book “The Prince”, Machiavelli makes the claim that it is better for a leader to be feared rather than loved.  He makes the claim that the efficiency of maintaining power is better for those who instill fear in their followers rather than those who live the good life.  What is a Christian to do in front of such a claim?  How did Christ live this out?  This is what we want to talk about today.

Leaders find themselves at the crux between the practical and the ideal.  Between what is expedient and what is best.  How does our faith help us navigate staying in power and using our influence while following the teachings of God and practicing virtue?  One way not to do it is to follow the teaching of Machiavelli.  In this first of series of talks on anti-leaders we begin by studying Machiavelli and “The Prince.”

For many leadership is an act whereby we influence people to do what we need them to do.  This is a very true idea, however, Catholic leadership goes much deeper.  For Christians, we try to lead other not only to do what we need them to do but to be whom God has made them to be.  This lasting legacy needs more than skill of command and organization, it needs the ability to inspire in a way that leaves a legacy. 

St. Thomas Aquinas is a genius of thought and in this course for Catholic leaders I present a summary course on the four aspects of all human action essential for leadership.  In today’s class I focus in on the doing of deeds.  All leadership goes from vision into planning and from planning into execution.  Doing the great things we planned is the key to having impact in our lives.

The story of Wilbur and Oliver Wright has captivated our hearts for more than a century.  In their lives we see an example of innovation being the first in flight and proving the impossible can be done.  But their story is more than just daring.  It involved a lot of planning and strategy and their ability to make good decisions.  St. Thomas Aquinas concurs.  Great leadership begins with great dreams but great dreams need great strategy for execution. 

By our baptism God calls us to be leaders of our world.  But where does leadership begin?  How can someone who might not customarily be used to leading actually begin to assert themselves under God’s grace in the world around them?  St. Thomas Aquinas offers us some amazing insights from his Summa Theologica.  Let’s dive in and talk about the movement of the will and it’s power to lead.