By Japhet Alakam

MINISTERIAL ethics are  the standards, principles, and broad guidelines that Christian leaders must observe, as ethical practices are upright, honorable, moral, lawful, above-board, and full of integrity. In view of the above, the conduct and lifestyle of modern-day Christian leaders must be defined . But, in this end time when the devil and his agents have invaded the church, and many antichrist are on the prowl, the need for followers to be guided so that they will not fall to the tricks of the so called wolves in sheep clothing becomes a neccessity.  And the only way they can do that, apart from constant reading of the word of God is to understand the ethics of Christian leaders.

The need to put right some of the wrongs in the present day life stlye of christian leaders is one of the reasons why a seasoned man of God and Provost of The Apostolic Church LAWNA Theological Seminary, Ayegbaju, Ilesa, Osun State, Pastor I.G Awotanmi came out with a new book titled The Principles and Practices of Christian Leadership Ethics.

The 109 pages book published by Deeman Shalom Press, Ilesa, Osun State  explores the dynamics of leadership from the Christian faith and moral perspective. According to Pastor Mark O. Ighile, who wrote the foreword, “ It is the contention of the versatile author and pastor that spirituality is not a substitute for ethicality but rather the latter reinforces and stabilizes the former.”

Christian leadership

The author in the six chapters book conceptualizes the term Christian leadership, articulates the relevance of  Christian leadership to the churches and posits that without due observance of ethical leadership practice, chaos will be inevitable. He also situates the place of effective Christian followership in effective church growth and stability.

In chapter one titled, Christian leadership, the author explains the meaning of  Christian leadership,  the qualities and the difference between it and political leadership. Here, he takes a holistic look at  Christian leadership, pointing out that some of the so called leaders are no longer guided by the holy spirit, hence they are into some unethical practices. He also gave examples of some biblical leadership styles.

Since the church exists in the physical world and has human beings not angelic beings as her membership, the author in chapter 2 looks at some of the Christian leadership theories as a way of revealing their relevance to Christian leadership.

As a result of the importance of power and how people look for it at all cost, the author in chapter three discuses the possible power abuse by Christian leaders, how they do it and proffered eleven solutions on how to prevent such power abuse.

In chapter four, which can be seen as the major core of the book, the author takes a critical analysis of  some ethical  expectations of church leadership. Since ethicality is quite different from spirituality, the learned man of God  taking a cue from the life of apostle Paul who separated ethical expectation from spiritual gifts highlights eight  attributes expected of a christian leadership in order to live a worthy life.

Since there will be no leader without a followership, the author in the next chapter also takes a look at some of the ethical expectations of Church followership. Here, he explains some of the those things the followers must do to help the leaders. Finally, Awotanmi concludes by exploring the intricacies  of leading God’s fold ethically in an unethical world. In this age, where there is a new wave of immorality and christian leaders cover up many un-ethical living with spirituality, ministers of God should as matter of fact first of all purge God’s church of unethical tendencies and living.

The bible in Proverbs 14 vs 34 says, “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach.” In this end time, where the antichrist is already here, there is the need for ministers of God to live a righteous life, sound character, integrity and Christ-likeness in their every day life. Heaven is real.

The book is wake up call to any child of God who wants to make it on the last day especially, the leaders, I therefore  recommend it to all.