Why do some critics insist on describing their opponents in the worst possible way. It’s a sort of “Christian” way to call someone a name without actually doing it. Any time someone compares someone else to Hitler, Lenin, or Stalin, the accuser loses their credibility and becomes annoyingly shrill.

It’s ok to disagree with Hybels. Comparing Hybels’ leadership to any of these awful men is just wrong.

As Christians, in any discussion, no matter how much we disagree with the other person, we should always offer charity first. Not demonize them.

So, here’s the critic’s comments:

“Well, you know, Bill, if leadership is all that matters, I know some whiz bang leaders from history that would really get “underwear in a bundle.” How about some great teaching tapes from Der Fuehrer? Now that was some mind blowing leadership! How about V.I. Lenin? He was such a “great leader” that his corpse is still being refrigerated somewhere in Moscow so the public can stop by to pay their respects. Stalin wasn’t so bad in the leadership department either. It takes one doozy of a leader to kill what is estimated to be at least 40 million of his own countrymen. Then there’s Chairman Mao. Mao successfully led his minions to kill even more than Joseph Stalin. His legacy of leadership is so powerful that we have Americans, all these years later, actively funding the communist Chinese war machine every time we shop at WalMart. We’re talking leadership. If leadership concepts are all that matters for these pastors and teachings and beliefs of those we look to for examples are unimportant, why not get some of that great flickering, black and white newsreel footage and let pastors see what real leadership looks like?”