IF we read the lives of saints in history, sinfulness prior to their conversions was one of the common histories that most of them shared. Two of the greatest leaders of early Christianity — Saints Peter and Paul — served as examples. Saint Peter denied Jesus thrice. Saint Paul was worse. He actively persecuted and advocated for the murder of early Christians until God struck him down with blindness on the road to Damascus. Saint Augustine of Hippo and Saint Mary Magdalene could be added to a long list of them over the centuries.
The world today has a crisis of leadership. We are witnessing the rise of tyrants and despots. Added to the wars and conflicts happening for many years across the globe, we now see the violence on the streets and the unbridled corruption in governments and in businesses that should have been considered as things of the past. The institutions are shaken and emasculated.
Tragically, good leaders in our society are often marginalized. In many instances, they are literally murdered. One of the glaring weaknesses of good leaders is the inability to adapt to evolving leadership challenges. The young ones, filled with idealism but lacking in experience, fall prey to their own naiveté and get easily eliminated by their cunning and morally corrupt enemies. The problem with good leaders is that, unlike the corrupt ones, they have to struggle always with their ethical dilemmas. This is further aggravated by the proclivity to moralize that causes alienation of others, thereby denying themselves the alliances needed to accomplish the task of being in greater service of people. Oftentimes, people unreasonably demand from their leaders to be as spotless as a lamb, whom they abruptly discard even with very minor flaws in decision-making.
There are no perfect nor saintly leaders. Leaders often commit mistakes because decision-making can never have perfect information nor analysis. Risk-taking and accountability are essential to leadership.
Yet, good leaders are under constant threat from the bad ones. The very existence of good is a motivation for evil to act to eliminate the former. It is extremely naïve for good people to assume that they will have no enemies because they have been doing right. Doing right is the “fray that the brave endure.” The mission to do good for all is a hard fight. A good leader must at all times know how to fight. And must have the heart and will to fight. Leadership is not for the faint of heart.
So, how do we lead in these challenging times?
In my leadership journey from my entire public service duty and to this day in the private sector, a Bible verse served as a guiding principle. This is the leadership lesson from Jesus Christ as he led the first Christians and delegated to them the spread of Christianity across the world. In Matthew 10:16, he advised the apostles:
“Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.”
This verse from the Gospel of Matthew is one of the most profound statements on leadership and character in challenging environments. Spoken by Jesus to His disciples as He commissioned them for ministry, it carries timeless principles that resonate deeply with those in positions of public service. Leaders today, especially in government and external affairs, often find themselves navigating complex, adversarial, and morally ambiguous landscapes. Matthew 10:16 offers a framework for ethical and effective leadership: mission awareness, prudence and integrity.
Jesus acknowledges the reality of hostility: His disciples would face opposition, deceit and danger. Similarly, public servants operate in environments where competing interests, political maneuvering and external pressures abound. The metaphor of “sheep among wolves” reminds leaders that vulnerability is inherent in service. Unlike wolves, sheep are defenseless, symbolizing humility and dependence on higher principles rather than brute force.
For leaders, this means recognizing that public service is not about domination but stewardship. It calls for courage to serve despite risks and temptations. Leaders must embrace the reality that their decisions will be scrutinized, their motives questioned, and their integrity tested. This awareness fosters resilience and prepares them to lead with conviction rather than fear.
The advice to be “wise as serpents” emphasizes the need for discernment and strategic acumen. Serpents in biblical imagery often represent shrewdness and adaptability. In leadership, wisdom translates to the ability to anticipate challenges, analyze complex situations, and make decisions that balance competing priorities. Leaders must be able to navigate complexity because policies and programs often involve multiple stakeholders with conflicting interests. Wisdom enables leaders to find common ground without compromising core values. Moreover, leaders, like serpents avoiding unnecessary danger, must foresee potential pitfalls — legal, ethical, or reputational — and act proactively. The challenges of leadership demand tact and diplomacy. Being “wise” involves knowing when to speak, when to listen, and how to frame messages that build trust while advancing objectives.
However, wisdom must never devolve into cunning or manipulation. The serpent’s wisdom is tempered by the dove’s innocence, ensuring that strategy serves justice and the common good. The balancing act between being a dove and a serpent is a thin line. Most leaders eventually fall into the trap of making too many compromises such that they become “the monsters that they had been trying to slay.” Daily reflection and discernment are necessary to assess oneself all the time.
The call to be “innocent as doves” underscores purity of intention and ethical conduct. Doves symbolize peace, sincerity and transparency. In public service, where power can corrupt, this principle safeguards leaders from moral compromise. The innocence is one that is not weak but founded on the strength of moral courage. This is the source of bravery and sacrifice. This trait as well serves as the compass to place oneself in the chaos of the storms that rock one’s leadership. This is the source of power where one draws the line. Where one finds oneself with the power to say “No.” Where one needs to leave to fight a different battle when staying would mean losing oneself. This is also the source of compassion to find the good in the heart of every enemy. For in this strength, one can sway the enemy to the side of goodness and fairness.
This balance of having the innocence of the dove and the shrewdness of a serpent allows leaders to act beyond one’s self-interest; without the moralizing, but with the effective pragmatism to accomplish the mission to do greater good. One without the other leads to failure: wisdom without innocence breeds cynicism; innocence without wisdom results in naiveté.
Let us look for leaders who are not saints. Rather, we choose those who, in their imperfections and flaws, continue to commit and to struggle to do good and hold themselves to account for their mistakes to rectify them and serve beyond their own interests as stewards. We, as leaders, fail. But it is in our grit to rise in every fall that we get things done.
Kaya natin!
