Are You Talking the Talk or Walking the Walk?

I am led to share this topic about being a man of God and leadership. How should we be behaving as men of God? Even more, how should we behave as men of God who are in leadership roles or wanting to be leaders?

I recently am struggling with the fact that I see men who call themselves Christian and men of God wanting to be leaders behaving in such a fashion in public and church that are contradictory to the way they should act. Now, first off let me say that I am far from blameless at times, but I strive to be worthy and pleasing to God.

Warriors of Christ, you need to be aware that you must hold yourself to a higher standard. You must always be thinking, “How does God perceive me, and how do others who know I am a Christian perceive me and my actions?” You need to constantly be conducting a self-evaluation to ascertain if your actions and life reflect the actions and life of a godly man.

Also, brothers, at times we are called to exhort and correct other brothers, even when this may seem uncomfortable. We need to hold each other accountable—even more so when we are associated with a ministry, such as Band of Brothers, as we try to mentor men and bring them into our platoons. Our actions need to be beyond reproach!

As a Band of Brother member and a platoon leader, I constantly check myself so as not to bring a negative view from others to the attention of the Brothers and also not to bring embarrassment to other brothers or those who I am associated with. 

My calling from God is that of a pastor, a leader and a mentor. I have a heart for men, and I take this calling very seriously. I consider myself a friend, but I am also a pastor. I must always place my calling and duty to God first!

The men I associate with often lovingly (or not) refer to me as the “Bulldog,” because I shoot straight from the hip and I have no problem correcting a brother. I too want to be held accountable; I never felt I ever was above it.

Does it hurt sometimes when being corrected? It can, but if a Christian brother corrects you from a biblical view, this should be accepted and held close to the heart, because that brother who corrected you loves you enough to do so. You see, others around look at us when we are men of God and associate ourselves with various ministries, and our families and loved ones also look at us and at times will be evaluating our walk. Are we walking the walk or just talking the talk? 

I urge to examine yourself frequently to evaluate if you are living, acting, speaking and leading the way God wants us to. Men, we are under the spotlight, with others around us watching our every action, and Satan would love nothing more than to put us in a negative light to those around us.

“If a man is blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of dissipation or insubordination. For a bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but hospitable, a lover of what is good, sober-minded, just, holy, self-controlled, holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict.” (Titus 1:6-9)

For the original article, visit nomatterthecost.org.