Читать книгу The Divine Conspiracy Continued: Fulfilling God’s Kingdom on Earth - Dallas Willard, Dallas Willard - Страница 18

So also, when the delight of eternity draws us upward and the pleasure of temporal goods holds us down, the identical soul is not wholehearted in its desire for one or the other. It is torn apart in a painful condition as long as it prefers the eternal because of its Truth but does not discard the temporal because of familiarity.

AUGUSTINE OF HIPPO

LATE IN THE twentieth century the distinguished American sociologist Talcott Parsons observed that societal leaders had “become the most important single component in the structure of modern societies.”¹ This is perhaps even truer today. Ready examples of the incalculable necessity for moral leadership can routinely be found over the airwaves and on the Internet. Consider the 2010 explosion and sinking of the offshore oil rig Deepwater Horizon and the spill that followed. This was a horrific catastrophe for both human lives and the environment. We may never know exactly who knew what and when. But as the investigations and lawsuits ensue, it is worth considering what kind of impact even one single, courageous, devoted individual could have made to avoid this disaster. What will likely never be discussed, much less probed, are the many factors that would have needed to be in place for a courageous, moral leader to have prevented such a calamity.

Laws protecting whistle-blowers do exist in the United States. Their effectiveness may be questionable, but they do exist. Still, having a law to protect whistle-blowers is not the same as mandating the character required to “blow the whistle” in the first place. One would need the integrity to avoid rationalizing away or skirting responsibility, the values required to prioritize safety over profits, the self-esteem to face the scrutiny and even disdain of supervisors and coworkers, and the courage to risk losing a job or career.

If one or more of these characteristics are absent, the temptation to cater to one’s own fears and needs rises above what is morally true and best for all concerned. If moral leadership and courage win out, lives and livelihoods are saved, untold disasters are averted, and huge amounts of resources are preserved. In short, the world is a better place when leaders lead well. Such is the mentality that followers of Jesus must consider every morning as they enter the workplace to assume their responsibilities.

This is exactly what appears to have happened in the life of a low-level Google sales employee in the United Kingdom. The Guardian reported that Barney Jones came forward to give evidence against Google’s claims that it did not close sales deals in the United Kingdom and therefore was not liable to taxation in the country. Upon hearing this, with no financial incentives and facing the prospects of diminished employment opportunities for himself, Jones presented to the public accounts committee his evidence that sales deals reported in Dublin were indeed closed in London. Why go to the trouble? Jones stated that he stood up, because he believes his Christian commitment requires accountability for pursuing and achieving the good. Therefore, he couldn’t willingly “allow something within [his] power to just slip through.”² There was no parade, no medal, and no reward, just an ordinary citizen doing his job with extraordinary courage.

The growing complexities of contemporary life make it increasingly difficult for us as both individuals and societies to know all that is occurring around us, so that we can discern both our needs and what is best. This was evident in the Deepwater Horizon disaster; there was no way for the fishermen, hoteliers, beachfront homeowners, or restaurateurs to protect themselves from the events that caused the massive oil spill. But the complexity of modern life also played a key role in the nationwide mortgage crisis and accompanying economic recession. Few people understood or were privileged to have the information about the nature and effect of the underlying investments that would threaten to demolish the world economy. In both instances, what was required, more than we realized, were leaders, professionals, and experts with the integrity and courage of Barney Jones to discern and pursue with all diligence what has for centuries been understood as the “general welfare.” How, where, and by whom is the kind of personal character forged that is sacrificially devoted to the public good?