Preventing an Ethical Blowout

1. Preventing an Ethical Blowout Mike Shaub Grace 360 Conference January 18, 2014

2. One Day You’re Cruising

3. The Next Your Life is on Fire

4. Goals of this Workshop Help you consider possible indicators of susceptibility to an ethical blowout in your life Recognize that tendency in others so that you can Help those who give you access Stay clear of the explosion for those who don’t Develop strategies to reduce the possibility of an ethical blowout, always focused on dependence on Jesus Christ.

5. What is an Ethical Blowout? A moral failure that is a one-time or short window event that changes the course of your life or ministry. Not the collapse that inevitably comes from a life lived in rebellion to God over the long-term. It is a sudden, cataclysmic failure, though the process may take months.

6. Classic Example: Rehoboam Listen, walk, do I Kings 11:3-6—why God had to use Jeroboam I Kings 11:38—what God told Jeroboam to do I Kings 12:1-15 Rehoboam forsook wise counsel (v. 8), didn’t listen (v. 15). Didn’t think long-term, but short-term Decided he would do it his own way, be tougher than his father was

7. What is Going Through the Mind of a Person Before an Ethical Blowout? Stop listening—suppress the truth Think short-term Make it work—getting by on your own devices, self-sufficient

8. Stop Listening Leaving home as a college student naturally means listening less to prior authority. Truth suppression is the problem. Truth inserts itself in many ways when we rebel. Word of God Spirit of God Wise counsel

9. Truth Suppression Romans 1:18-27 Suppress the truth in unrighteousness Profess to be wise Isaiah 44:18-20 Worshipping things we make with our own hands Ignoring obvious truth

10. Reckless

11. Reckless Utterly unconcerned about the consequences of some action Without caution, careless “Reck”: to have care, concern or regard; to take heed

12. Allen Stanford Before Telegraph.co.uk

13. Allen Stanford After Articles.businessinsider.com Time.com

14. Recklessness • After the fact, recklessness makes you ask, “What was he thinking?” • Generally, the person bypasses the controls designed to prevent the behavior. • The person either doesn’t care or doesn’t listen. Others’ opinions are irrelevant. • This is truth suppression.

15. Truth Invasion: Word of God The first way truth inserts itself is through the Word of God. John 17:17 James 1:22-25 It’s a mirror. Listen and do. Hebrews 4:12 Piercing Judges the heart

16. Truth Invasion: Spirit of God John 16:13-15 The Spirit won’t take you where you want to go. The Spirit guides you into all the truth, whether you like it or not. The Spirit discloses. The Spirit is full disclosure. We want to cover up.

17. Truth Invasion: Wise Counsel Spouse—Prov 19:14 (prudent wife), 31:10-11 (trustworthy) Friends—Prov 20:6 (trustworthy) Mentors—Heb 13:7 (considering the outcome of their way of life, imitate their faith) Instead, we surround ourselves with “yes men.” With fellow false worshippers, who agree with us (Romans 1) If you have power, with “you” worshippers. True with CEOs, football coaches, athletes

18. In Summary The first thing that leads to an ethical blowout is truth suppression. This means we stop listening to the Word of God Spirit of God Wise counsel

19. Secondly, We Think Short-Term Habit of underthinking the implications—Rehoboam (I Kings 12:7) Surprised at how things turn out Typical behaviors Pouting at setbacks or when others push back Rash decisions that bring regret In students, skipping class or assignments Ending friendships instead of apologizing

20. Third, We Make it Work Psalm 81:8-12 Listen: Walk in My ways. Don’t listen: Walk in their own devices. Self-sufficiency leads to the self-worship and truth suppression that Paul describes in Romans 1:18-27.

21. “Walk in their own devices” We figure out what works and do it. Even if it’s cutting corners Even if it hurts others Even if it violates your faith What I see in students Sexual intimacy with others to fill emotional needs Cheating Free riding on others’ work and taking credit Relying on connections rather than the hard work that leads to competence

22. Coping Behaviors Our “own devices” can often be behaviors to cope with sub-optimal circumstances. Loneliness—drinking, partying, counterproductive sexual behaviors Exclusion from the group—gossip Frustrated ambitions—outbursts of anger

23. So How Do I Prevent a Blowout? 1. Listen and embrace truth. Gal 4:16—Have I therefore become your enemy by telling you the truth? Hang around truth-tellers, even when they make you uncomfortable. Develop truth habits. Seek the truth in God’s Word. Listen to the Spirit of God in time alone with Him. 2. Think long-term. 3. Connect with others.

24. Strategies for Truth-Telling • Tell yourself the truth as a habit, good or bad news. • Speak truth to others, but remember that the truth is often the aroma of death to people. • II Cor 2:14-16 • Don’t shoot the wounded. • II Cor 4:3-4—satan blinds to truth • II Tim 2:23-26—prisoners of war • Practice on believers before you go dumping on pre-Christians. • Eph 4:14-15—speak the truth in love

25. Think Long-Term

26. Think Long-Term

27. Think Long-Term

28. Connect with Others Lack of communication and carelessness seem to have been at the root of the Deepwater Horizon explosion. If you live in isolation, you are very susceptible to an ethical blowout, no matter your spiritual history. You need accountability, so hang around truth-tellers.

29. Beware the Enticement of Success Proverbs 1:8-16 A habit of taking advantage of others Quick success, leaving victims in your wake Proverbs 1:24-28 There is a point where it’s too late to be wise. So be careful who you hang around.

30. “When your dread comes like a storm” Articles.businessinsider.com Time.com

31. Remember • Listen and embrace truth. • Think long-term. • Connect with others. Only daily dependence on God can deliver us from an ethical blowout. But these habits help.