Character over Charisma

When I started pastoral ministry in my 20s, the world was in an interesting technological moment that had a direct impact on churches throughout the United States. YouTube, podcasting, and social media sites were in their infancy, and church planters were quick to adopt those tools in their efforts to reach the lost for the Kingdom of God. As a result, churches across the country exploded in growth under the leadership of young men who lacked “time in the saddle.”

In some cases, churches grew faster than the integrity of their leaders. The result was a series of highly publicized moral failures that reminded us how dangerous it can be when gifting outpaces character.

So, what went wrong?

Most of these leaders were gifted communicators. We read their books, invited them to our conferences, and celebrated their success. We admired their charisma but often overlooked their character. We forgot about God’s words to Samuel in 1 Samuel 16:7: “Man looks at the outward appearance, but God looks at the heart.”

This Sunday in our study of Philippians, Paul will hold up an example for us of someone he loved as a son. Perhaps surprisingly, Timothy didn’t earn this admiration from Paul because he was a talented orator or leader. Instead, Paul will note Timothy’s “proven worth.” Timothy was a man of character whose life increasingly reflected Christ. He obediently sacrificed his own interests for the sake of the Kingdom.

Too often we’re frustrated by people who disappoint us through their selfish behavior (often, we notice that selfish behavior because it steps on our own selfish interests!). This Sunday, we’ll see that the answer isn’t merely finding better people around us. The answer is becoming people whose character is increasingly shaped by Christ. Timothy wasn’t admired because he was impressive; he was admired because he had become like Jesus. In the end, that’s the measure of a successful Christian life.