WATCH OUT FOR LEADERS WITH A CONNIVING SPIRIT (Part 4) – THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A REAL LEADER AND A SCAPEGOAT LEADER

The Bible is a unique book made up of a variety of diverse subjects. Some of these subjects are historical, prophetical, the nature of God, the creation of the universe, and mankind, the origin of sin, and the fall of men. There are other subjects as the plan redemption and salvation through Jesus Christ.

The origin about the scapegoat is another subject that appears in the Bible as central to the Day of Atonement. The Day of Atonement, or Yom Kippur, revealed in Leviticus chapter sixteen is the most solemn Old Testament service. It is deliberately placed in the heart of the book of Leviticus, which is itself at the center of the Five Books of Moses, to help to illustrate the “most holy” character of this service. This day was a day of cleansing when the sins of the people was removed from them and the sanctuary. This service was a yearly service that occurred on the 10th day of the seventh month of the year, which is the month of October according to the lunar calendar.  

Today the word scapegoat refers to a person who is blamed for the wrongdoings, mistakes, or faults of others, especially for reasons of expediency. Society is made up of many types of people such as civilians, government leaders, religious leaders, and business leaders. Sadly, of the class who are leaders, including myself, many of these leaders assert that they want visibility and accountability from those under them such as coworkers, parishioners, and people within their organization. However, this type of behavior, or mindset is leveraged as a tool to identify and abuse people as scapegoats. In many ways at times, it makes the workplace, and church environment hostile and counterproductive.

When a government leader, church leader, company leader, or any other leader foster an accountable environment, it should really start with them first. Because they are at the very top. It doesn’t matter if you are a religious leader, the government, an owner of a business, a director of a company, or a manager, etc. If you want individuals to accept accountability on what they do, then we all need to model the same behavior. Because, we are not above the law! 

Leadership is a great opportunity to learn how to serve people better, and help them develop their gifts, talents, and strengths by being exposed to people who have experience and abilities in areas in which you wish others to grow. Some people love the title of standard leader, but there is a big difference between a real leader and scapegoat leader.

Scapegoat leaders tend to give high-risk projects, or pass legislation without talking to the people of the country, or the department which is to enforce the law. Scapegoat leaders pass laws or rules about new policies without giving guidance on the law, or feedback, even when there are high-impact decisions to be made. Scapegoat leaders set up others to take the blame if their bill, or project fails.

What to do if you are a victim of workplace scapegoating:

1.    Always remember, scapegoating is an insidious form of bullying. Early recognition of the telltale signs that you are being scapegoated in the workplace can help you stop it in its tracks. Left unchecked, scapegoating in the workplace, the church, and society can undermine your self-confidence and hurt your job performance, giving fuel to the perpetrator to use scapegoating as an outlet for their feelings of fear, anxiety, resentment, and frustration of their work.

2.    Never abandon yourself. Just because someone is treating you poorly, it is never okay to treat others the same way. Stay focus and do not abandon your high principles.

3.    Set personal boundaries. Don’t allow scapegoaters to steal away your joy.

4.    Keep Communication to a minimum, but communicate.

5.    Always take the high road.

6.    Before you look for another job, retire, or quit, ask yourself this question. What would Jesus do? Would He run from the problem, or would He stand firm through the problem?

 

How to Stop Scapegoating at Work

It is normal to wonder why you’re being singled out for scapegoating, but there may not be a reason other than your supervisor’s own insecurities. Instead of suffering in silence, trying harder and wracking your brain to figure out what’s going on, take action. Weigh the various options for addressing lift situation, including:

1.    Seek support and affirmation from friends and family. Consider meeting with a counselor, an advisors, or utilizing your company’s Employee Assistant Program, or seek wise counsel from a Chaplain.

2.    Remember, nothing justifies scapegoating, bullying or harassment.

 

How to become a real leader if you are a scapegoat leader

 

1.    One of the most important leadership qualities is the acceptance of personal responsibility. Leaders never complain, never explain. Instead of making excuses, they make progress. Whenever they have a set-back or difficulty, they seek wisdom from God and their team.

2.    Real leaders see themselves as victors over circumstances rather than victims of circumstances. They don’t criticize or blame others when something goes wrong. Instead, they focus on the solution, and on what can be done.

3.    Real Leaders are intensely action-oriented. They are constantly in motion. They try something, and then something else, and then something else again. They never give up.

4.    Finally, real leaders have integrity. They always tell the truth. They live in truth with themselves, and they live in truth with others. 

The acceptance of leadership is a great responsibility. It is both scary and exhilarating. Once you decide to become a leader in your life, you cast off the shackles of fear and dependency that hold most people back and pursue life with a positive attitude. With your own hands, you design your own future, and the future of others. You set yourself fully on the path to becoming everything you can become, with the help of God and others.

My friend, “He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.” Proverbs 28:13.

If those who hide and excuse their faults could see how Satan exults over them, how he taunts Christ and holy angels with their course, they would make haste to confess their sins and to put them away. Through defects in the character, Satan works to gain control of the whole mind, and he knows that if these defects are cherished, he will succeed. Therefore, he is constantly seeking to deceive the followers of Christ with his fatal sophistry that it is impossible for them to overcome. But Jesus pleads in their behalf His wounded hands, His bruised body; and He declares to all who would follow Him: “My grace is sufficient for thee.” 2 Corinthians 12:9.

“Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.” Matthew 11:29, 30.

Let none, then, regard their defects as incurable. God will give faith and grace to overcome them.

 

We are now living in the great day of atonement. In the typical service, while the high priest was making the atonement for Israel, all were required to afflict their souls by repentance of sin and humiliation before the Lord, lest they be cut off from among the people. In like manner, all who would have their names retained in the book of life should now, in the few remaining days of their probation, afflict their souls before God by sorrow for sin and true repentance. There must be deep, faithful searching of heart. The light, frivolous spirit indulged by so many professed Christians must be put away. There is earnest warfare before all who would subdue the evil tendencies that strive for the mastery. The work of preparation is an individual work. We are not saved in groups. The purity and devotion of one will not offset the want of these qualities in another. Though all nations are to pass in judgment before God, yet He will examine the case of each individual with as close and searching scrutiny as if there were not another being upon the earth. Everyone must be tested and found without spot or wrinkle or any such thing. Solemn are the scenes connected with the closing work of the atonement.”

May God help us all to become, REAL LEADERS! Have a HAPPY DAY. Blessings, Blessings, Blessing

 

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By GARDEN MINISTRY - Chaplain Kevin J.T. Santucci