I never realized I would learn about leadership from Harry Potter! But here we are. Let me set the scene from The Goblet of Fire. Harry has almost lost his life to a dark plot, but through ingenuity and the protection of friends, he is safe. But darkness is looming, and evil is crouching at the door. Professor Dumbledore is having a discussion with the Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge. And it is a line in the sand moment: the decision you make from here will determine everything else from this point on.

“You – you cannot be serious!” Fudge gasped, shaking his head and retreating further from Dumbledore. “If the magical community got wind that I had approached the giants – people hate them, Dumbledore – end of my career – ”

“You are blinded,” said Dumbledore … “by the love of the office you hold, Cornelius! ... I tell you now – take the steps I have suggested, and you will be remembered, in office or out, as one of the bravest and greatest Ministers of Magic we have ever known. Fail to act – and history will remember you as the man who stepped aside and allowed Voldemort a second chance to destroy the world we have tried to rebuild.” [1]

Fudge’s choice is one of integrity: does he care more about what others think about him, or about doing what is right? Will he leverage his power for the good of others, or leverage it to garner more power for himself? This is his dilemma. His position exists for such a time as this; yet to acknowledge this scary incident might cause people to lose their faith in confidence in him, in the Ministry’s leadership, and in the future itself.

As I sat reading these words, I was struck with a thought. You never wanted to be in ministry – it was never your dream or goal – yet here you are, by God’s guidance and grace. God has brought you into the position you are in. How will you use the power and position that God has given you? Will you be a person of integrity, or will you simply use your position for your own good?

Integrity is an integral part of leadership. Integrity is when we are consistent, undivided, and whole. Integrity means being true to who we are regardless of the circumstances, who is around us, or what we stand to lose. Dwight Eisenhower stated, “The supreme quality for a leader is unquestionably integrity. Without it, no real success is possible, no matter whether it is on a section gang, a football field, or in an office.” People want to follow leaders who present themselves as they truly are, not as they believe others want them to be.

Yet scandals like Enron, the VW emissions scandal, religious institutions ignoring sexual harassment or abuse, and dozens of other examples, remind us that integrity is often sorely lacking in our world. A recent Gallup poll shows that 66% of American employees think corruption is widespread in their businesses, and only 36% of believe that their employer would do what is right if they raised a concern about ethics. [2] In a 2019 IRS poll, 10% of Americans thought it was okay to cheat on one’s taxes “a little here and there.”

Dishonesty slowly creeps into our lives: when we shift our priorities in order to achieve more, when we say certain things to fit in, when we don’t speak up against a racist or sexist joke, when we look the other way rather than confront unethical behavior (even minor) head on. Dishonesty shows up any time we emphasize our image (who people think we are) over our integrity (who we actually are). [3]

Whenever I prepare a sermon, I try to ask myself the following question: Am I practicing what I am preaching? Do my actions display what I am teaching? Am I loving my neighbor? Speaking honestly? Confessing my sins? Asking for forgiveness? Pursuing peace? Sharing the love God has given me? Loving my wife and my kids? If people were to hold my life alongside my sermon, would they recognize that I am a person trying to put God’s calling to work in my own life? In the end, that is integrity.

So how do we work on our integrity as ministers, as leaders, as followers of Christ? I believe some things are vital:

First, practice accountability. We need people in our lives who know us and love us enough to call us out. Pray that God will make evident in your life a person or persons who can help you become the person God wants you to be. Then grab coffee or a meal with them and ask them if they might be willing to practice accountability with you. The Bible is pretty clear: “Confess your sins to one another and pray for one another” (James 5:16). It doesn’t have to be a “huge” sin for us to need someone to help us strive to let God’s grace be at work in those situations.

Second, practice Examen. There’s an ancient Christian practice that encourages us to stop and look back on our day. The steps are pretty simple. Just stop and spend a few minutes on the following:

• Recognize the presence of God.

• Request enlightenment from God.

• Review the day with God, using such questions as these. Where did I feel close to God, and when did I feel farthest away? Where did I struggle, and where did I thrive? When did I feel most alive, and when did my spirit feel dead? There are dozens of ways of looking back on the day, but the goal is just to do it.

• Pray about whatever you have discovered.

• Resolve to live for God.

For me, these two practices have helped me to discover areas in my life in which I need to grow, in which I am experiencing pain, and in which I need more of God’s grace.

I pray that we can be people of integrity. It’s what we need in our own lives, what our fellow Christians need from their leaders, and what the world needs to see from the church – people who know themselves well, know the grace we’ve been given, and pursue God’s agenda above all else.

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[1] J. K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Arthur A. Levine Books, 2000: 798.

[2] https://www.gallup.com/workplace/327521/company-integrity-leaders-set-tone.aspx, last accessed Aug. 16, 2021.

[3] John Maxwell, Developing the Leader Within You, 38.

Read on for Part 2: “Integrity Is Integral … and Gritty.”