Chapter 3: Convictional Intelligence: The Leader Develops the Capacity to Think in Convictional Terms and Leads Followers to Do the Same
Book smart and street smart are not the same. It is a world of difference to know what makes a street or a book dangerous. Different intelligence is needed for each context. Although everyone has intelligence a good leader has convictional intelligence. That is, “the product of learning the Christian faith, diving deeply into biblical truth, and discovering how to think like a Christian” (31). This knowledge is rooted in knowledge that is true, good, and beautiful; that is Christian. The beliefs that a leader has (see chapter 2) are sourced from the leader’s intentional studies.
We rely on habits, reflexes, and intuition to apply knowledge. However, our habits, reflexes, and intuitions can also betray what we claim to convictionally believe. Christian knowledge must shape these these three actions. The place this Christian knowledge is first shaped is in the pulpit. Through the preaching of the Word of God, as well as the others means of grace, the leader gains true knowledge. And through this true knowledge he is able to grow in convictional intelligence.
This post is part of a larger series of posts. Each post is a short reflection on a chapter of The Conviction to Lead: 25 Principles for Leadership that Matters by Albert Mohler (ISBN 978-0-7642-1004-4).
Musica Theologica 