Chapter1
The Crisis of Civility in a Chaotic World (Intervention Please!)
1.1 Addressing the Current Crisis of Civility in a Chaotic World. Why we need intervention.
As I stated in my introduction, we seem to live in an uncivilized chaotic era, where I believe that the world is starved for decency and order. This is evident when:
Intervention is surely needed, andit is time to model the way and grow more of this rare breed—The EthicalLeader
My book offers hope in the form of a concerted attempt to grow Ethical Leaders who may be faced with many complex challenges in today’s rapidly changing and volatile world but who remain cemented and unchanged. Our volatile world is often filled with many uncertainties. Although some aspects of change are a normal part of life, the 21st century has been filled with a worldwide landscape of unprecedented volatility. Volatility can be defined as the quality or state of being unstable, unpredictable, explosive, changeable, inconsistent, and unsteady. Volatility can be defined as the nature and dynamics of change as well as the nature and speed of change forces and change catalysts. The 21st century has been filled with a worldwide landscape of unprecedented volatility including terrorism attacks on nations, wars, civil and political unrest, assassinations and attempted assassinations, school shootings at all ages and educational levels, and global financial crises.
As previously stated, we live in an era marked by rapid change and global connectivity. Many have witnessed the terrorist attacks on nations, political unrest, global monetary crisis, CEO departures from small and large companies, a global pandemic, churches forced to distance its interaction with parishioners and forced to close because of an unprecedented pandemic, increasing social injustices, mass shootings, wars, and much more. There is no doubt that this is a chaotic era for leaders. With the increase of these uncivil and chaotic factors, many doubts have been presented regarding the maintenance of civility as the world grapples with these complex shifts.Nonetheless, the need for ethical leadership becomes more evident than ever in these trying times. Biblically speaking, I Corinthians 15:58 encourages God’s people to be steadfast, unmovable, and always abounding in the works of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. I now see this passage as a forewarning thousands of years ago about this massive volatility in the way the world would think and believe, and how this volatility would come to threaten our stability and focus as leaders in God’s Kingdom. Further, Isaiah 33:6 says that wisdom and knowledge will be the stability of your times. Again, this Bible verse notes another intentional focus on remaining stable in seasons of volatility through wisdom in making decisions and in knowing how to think an