Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life.
1 Timothy 1:13-16

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“I am a farmer, an engineer, a businessman, a planner, a scientist, a governor, and a Christian.” Do you know who famously introduced himself this way in 1976? Go on, take a guess. Less shocking today than it was then, Reverend Jimmy Carter launched his presidential campaign by telling the truth about himself. But here’s something that’s still surprising. Are you aware that Carter also made a public confession in a controversial Playboy Magazine article that same year? He vulnerably admitted lusting and committing adultery in his heart multiple times. Not something you expect from a politician on the campaign trail, right? Decades after the dust settled, Carter reflected, “[The fallout] nearly cost me the election.”

The confession of the 39^th U.S. President is significant but pales in comparison to Apostle Paul owning his sinfulness. He let his pastoral protégé, along with every church and Christian for all time, know that he’s an unworthy recipient of God’s unconditional love. Paul regularly drew attention to his failures to draw greater attention to Christ (1 Tim. 1:13-16; 1 Cor. 15:9-10; Eph. 3:7-8). As an influencer, as a leader, the main author of the New Testament opened himself up to scrutiny on levels that most of us would never consider. I mean, do you really want to add “Worst of Sinners” to your resumé on LinkedIn? It’s helpful to know that Paul didn’t openly confess being a persecuting murderer to be sensational. That doesn’t seem to be why former President Carter alluded to his sexual thought life either. As best we can tell, they wanted to shine a light on reality, to be accountable for sin and grateful for grace, and to set an example for the rest of us.

There’s remarkable value in allowing the truth about you to stand on its own, even if it has the potential to taint the perception of your influence or leadership. Transparency about imperfect character and growth edges can have unintended consequences. It’s devastating when confessing the truth gets misconstrued or weaponized. But it’s always better to honor God and those we claim to love and serve. In the end, when people with great responsibility, authority, or sway decide to lead with vulnerability, the door opens a bit wider for all of us to do the same.

Next Steps

When have you wanted to share honestly about a struggle but resisted because it might make you look bad?

When have you taken a risk to be vulnerable and you were surprised it was well received?

Reflect on your experiences leading with vulnerability and ask God to give you courage to take that step with someone today.

* To connect with Willow’s Pastoral Care team about next steps, click here.