I worked with a salesman once who would pick up a clients’ young child and make them laugh just after meeting them, and within a few minutes he would have everyone laughing. This type of person seems to have the confidence and boldness to reach out, take the initiative and start talking to strangers, make others laugh, and to make things fun! They quickly become the life of the party. My dad was this way; he could sell ice cream to Eskimos! For a long time I judged this quality in others, thinking they lacked integrity. I have had to “lighten up” realizing that these qualities can be good. Love always believes the best.

It is so easy to be drawn to charisma in leaders. However, is this what qualifies someone to lead? The body of Christ has had some big leaders fall in recent times. Dutch Sheets recently said, “We, the leaders of the charismatic community, have operated in an extremely low level of discernment. We assume a person’s credibility is based on gifts, charisma, the size of their ministry or church, whether they can prophesy or work a miracle, etc. We leaders in the church have become no different than the world around us in our standards for measuring success and greatness.”

We, as the body of Christ, hold some responsibility too, not just the leaders. How often do we run and support leaders that have gifting, that may minister healing or a prophecy to us, yet have almost no concern as to whether or not they have integrity in their lives or ministries?

Who will we look to for our next president? What ministries will we support? Is speaking well, charisma and gifting enough? Is it all about the “big name” people or dynamic prophecies and visitations? It is time for the church and our nation to grow up. We need to be good stewards of who we support in government and the church.

Jack Frost used to say, “Anyone can stand up and give an amazing testimony, but I want to ask the wife and kids what the change has been.” This is the integrity test. What is life like in the homes of these leaders…or our own? I believe God is looking for integrity in our jobs, our marriages, our families, and our ministries. 1 Sam.16:7 tells us to look at the heart, not at outward appearances. May God give us greater discernment in these times we live in and become men and women of true integrity.