Toxic Town: Five Tactics of Prideful Leaders

Toxic Town: Five Tactics of Prideful Leaders

In the late 90’s, a group of mothers in the English town of Corby realized that they all had one thing in common; their children were born with similar birth defects. One or two might have been dismissed as a coincidence, but there was no brushing off the fact that there was a significant cluster of babies who either died at birth due to severe complications or who survived only to suffer from abnormalities. The only thing linking these women was the fact that they all lived in close proximity to toxic landfill sites which were formerly part of a British Steel plant. All told, 19 families brought a class action lawsuit against the Corby Borough Council when it was revealed that the council not only didn’t follow the proper contamination protocols when clearing the sites, but that they knowingly cut corners which put the residents at risk. Their story was recently made into a Netflix show appropriately named ‘Toxic Town’ and I watched the entire series completely riveted. It wasn’t just because I felt righteous anger on behalf of these mothers and their children or that I cheered out loud when they toppled their ‘Goliath’ and won the lawsuit. What I was particularly struck by were the similarities between the head of the Corby Borough council and another leader who was featured in a documentary I happened to watch that same week.

Produced by Church Reform Initiatives, ‘The Real David Platt’ documentary tells the story of the takeover of McLean Bible Church at the hands of David Platt in collaboration with the Southern Baptist Convention leadership. This non-denominational church which had been faithfully shepherded by Lon Solomon for 37 years found itself battling wolves that were intentionally brought in to divide and conquer. To fully understand exactly what happened I highly recommend you watch the two-part series and also read this article by Jon Harris (a producer on the series) who summarizes the hijacking of McLean Bible as well as the attempted destruction of yet another church, Faith Baptist in Knightdale, North Carolina which is the latest documentary from Church Reform Initiatives.

At first glance, there would seem to be very little similarity between these stories. What could the council of a small borough in England possibly have to do with a mega church in Washington DC? But watching them back to back, I was struck by the pattern that emerged among the leadership in both cases. Pattern recognition is an important tool we can use to not only help us understand a current situation but also provide analysis of possible outcomes in the future. Having personally been on the receiving end of this kind of behavior, it has become easier to recognize the tactics being used. Matthew 7:15 warns us of those who “come to us in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.” While this verse is specifically about false teachers coming into the Church, the principle remains the same even in secular institutions. There will be leaders in our midst who will seem to be meek as a sheep but are actually wolves intent only on their own personal gain and self-preservation. Knowing the patterns they tend to follow will help us discern their true motivations much sooner, hopefully thwarting the path of destruction that they inevitably leave in their wake.

This is not an exhaustive list of indicators but, in my experience, these are the five most common tactics used by those who do not appreciate anyone questioning their authority. They might not necessarily be done in this order either but the same playbook will essentially be followed.

1. Initially Receptive: When first challenged, they will likely seem amenable to hearing your concerns. There may even be smiles (although the smile will rarely reach their eyes) and a sympathetic posture. You’ll hear phrases like, “I hear you.” and “We’re all in this together.” and “I’ll pray for you about this.” None of your questions will actually be answered and you have now been identified as a problematic person. The leader has little desire to really address the issues and is instead angry that you noticed what is happening and brought it to them. They will also usually be curious if you have mentioned anything to other people because they are weighing their next steps.

2. Denial or Obfuscation: If you refuse to back down and dare to bring up your concerns again, there’s a very good possibility that the leader will just outright deny that anything of the sort is happening. Whether it’s a particular teaching you find problematic or a sin issue you want to address, the likelihood of toxic leaders acknowledging that there is truth to your claims is slim to none. In the case of leaders in senior level roles, you may also find that they will try to talk circles around you in an attempt to overwhelm you with their knowledge as a way to remind you that you are no match for them. This is done to put you in your place. They are the leader and you are not.

3. Building a Wall: Behind the scenes, a prideful leader will be gathering around them a group of ‘yes men’ in order to protect and be insulated from criticism. In all reality, this has likely been happening even before you ever raised a single concern but it will be even more clear now that there are those who are ‘in’ and those who are ‘out’ and you are definitely ‘out’. At this point, you will begin to realize that there are no checks and balances in place to prevent the leadership from going rogue and that what you thought was biblical accountability (elders, deacons, school boards, etc.) was simply a way to check the box. You will rightly begin to wonder who you can trust and will be hesitant to share your concerns with anyone outside of leadership because you know you will be perceived to be the troublemaker and the one causing dissension. This accomplishes their goal of keeping you quiet.

4. Gaslighting: Possibly the most disturbing of all tactics is the gaslighting that takes place when you refuse to go away. This tactic is emotional manipulation intended to get you to question reality as you understand it. If you had a meeting with your leader, they will claim that what they said in that meeting didn’t really happen or that you misunderstood them. Words will be twisted, lies will be told and the truth will be distorted in order to create confusion. In a church setting, this will often lead to the weaponization of your own personal struggles and things you shared in confidence which have nothing to do with the original concerns you raised. The goal of this tactic is to make you feel isolated and small.

5. Victim Status Unlocked: Gaslighting is best friends with playing the victim. In a public setting, like the pulpit, you might begin to hear sermons about what its like to be under “spiritual attack” or to be the subject of gossip. Leaders who refuse accountability love to garner sympathy and the best way to do this is by making themselves out to be on the receiving end of persecution. According to their narrative, they were only trying to make things better or do “God’s will” so you are the person who has thwarted their goals and, in their minds, led them to being victimized.

The borough of Corby realized, with devastating consequences, that the hazardous chemicals didn’t just stay in the landfill. They permeated everything until the entire town was toxic. In the same way, prideful leadership never stays contained. It will always infiltrate and damage every area of an institution. James 3:13-18 says, “Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.”

While we can’t always stop the wolves from creeping in, we can learn to recognize the patterns of their behavior and prevent them from causing irreparable harm. Godly leaders serve with humility not hubris. They aren’t immune from making mistakes but they are quick to seek forgiveness and restoration. Where the proud lead, chaos and disorder follow. Where the humble lead, peace and righteousness follow. As more and more wolves are entering the Church, we must be vigilant to thwart their efforts to divide and destroy. Discernment is not only a call to recognition but a call to action as well. And it will require us to be courageous and bold in the face of their tactics. You will be told you are causing dissension and disunity. But, always remember that it is those who bring in error who are to blame, not those who point out the error. Let us be people who shine the light of truth into the darkness of every corner be it the corporate boardroom, the village council, the school administration or leadership of a church.