The Credibility Factor Series

Nehemiah had something that went beyond the authority of his position. Nehemiah had what we refer to as moral authority. It goes beyond position. Moral authority, just to throw out a simple definition: it’s simply the credibility, and that’s the key word, it’s the credibility you earn by walking your talk. It’s the credibility you earn when people look at you and say, I may not believe what he believes, but there is no doubt in my mind that he believes what he says he believes. I may not agree with the way he sees the world, but there is no doubt in my mind that there is consistency between the way he or she acts and he or she views the world. We may not believe everything alike; we may have differences, but I tell you what, he or she is sincere. He or she speaks the truth, and he or she is absolutely committed to what they say. There is no hidden motive, no hidden agenda, there is no duplicity, and there is no separation between what they say and what they do. And when you are eyeball to eyeball, when you are face to face with somebody who has earned and has moral authority it is a powerful, powerful thing. Because their moral authority is more convincing than any position of authority that someone might grant them.

Another way of thinking about it is this: that your position, whatever your position is—as a father, as a business leader, as the president of an association—gives you a measure of authority, but your moral authority is what gives you credibility and influence. Now, the phrase “moral authority” isn’t in the Bible, but there is a biblical phrase that communicates the same thing. In the Bible, we find this phrase: beyond reproach. Beyond reproach. That is, a person, that as we look deep into his life, we find there is extraordinary consistency between what he says, what he claims to believe, what he claims to be here for, what he actually says, and what he is actually all about.

Now, when you hear that story you just think, Wow. If you’re a guy—men and women, I think we process these kinds of stories a little bit differently, maybe, but as a man you think, That’s the kind of guy I want to be. That’s the kind of leader I want to be. I would love to know that my life has such moral authority, that my life has such force that people will just take me seriously, not because they agree, but because they know there is no duplicity, there is no hidden agenda. There is no separation between what I’m asking them to do and what I would do myself. And if you’ve ever followed a leader like that, you know how powerful his words are; you know how weighty his words are. And even when you’re not sure you understand or agree, again, you’re willing to lean in and listen, because you know he is sincere.

Now, here’s the interesting and I think tragic thing about our nation currently. About thirteen years ago, about thirteen years ago we began basically a national debate over the question of, Is a man or woman’s personal life important as it relates—or is there any relationship between his or her personal life and his or her authority or position in government? I mean, does it really matter how a man or woman handles his or her finances personally, or morality, or ethics?