It is my observation that the more “successful” you become in anything, the more you have to lose, and the more you start to justify your position, often ignoring the facts and ultimately compromising your own integrity.

Jesus said that if we wanted to gain our life we should lose it, but the taste of success in anything is an addiction many never overcome.

This principle is demonstrated time and time again in the corruption of leadership, be it political, military, or business, but also down to the everyday level, where we will defend those things which feed us, and also which give us meaning.

The Christian is not exempt from this world corruption, and it appears that the more entrenched you become in “gospel” culture – church leadership and membership, full-on missionary endeavour, and professional Christian status – the more conservative your thinking becomes. Even to the point of denying the truth. But it’s more worrying when “the small foxes spoil the vine” – we remain “good” people, but stop adventuring in faith, and become increasingly addicted to our spiritual and financial status.