Dare Great Things For Christ

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.

Leadership can be defined in many ways.  Yet most definitions converge on the same point:  Leadership is influence, nothing more, nothing less.  The impact my life can make on others to bring others to act for a common vision.  But how can I harness my leadership for its maximal impact?  How can I lead best?  St. Thomas Aquinas gives us the key – he teaches how to act with depth.

After a lifetime of leadership, effort, struggle, all of us want to leave a legacy behind that will be remembered.  When it is all said and done what will your life leave behind?  These are the questions that all of us face, King David was no different, and before he died he spoke to Solomon, his successor, and he gave him his legacy.  By looking at it we can get a better glimpse of our own.

Our Lord doesn’t call leaders to lead just in their businesses.  He calls them to lead in their families as well.  And in fact, it is especially in the family that the depths of who we are are tested and tried and where our leadership most intimately links us to our God.  It was no different for King David as he confronted the real struggles in his family. He also had to find his own peace with God.