It’s not a positive matter to discuss.

It’s not a fun season to live through. To be the victim of betrayal is to experience significant pain. I’ve found it to be long-term suffering that does not quickly fade from memory.

While I’ve been there, done that, and burned the t-shirts, I’m not there now, so I can address this subject objectively.

The wickedness of betrayal is as old as humanity. The answer to the “why” of betrayal is as simple as sin. Sin entered our world through Adam, and betrayal began. By birth and by choice, all have sinned, and all of us are capable of betrayal.

Like all sins, ordinary circumstances of proximity set the stage. As a matter of fact, betrayal requires proximity.

Consider these 3 bold marks in the betrayal of a leader.

1) The person that betrays their leader is a follower.

Think of Judas Iscariot and his genuine acceptance of the call to follow Jesus, the Christ. As a disciple, he started out well and with good intentions.

So, yes, genuine betrayal comes from one who has made a public profession of loyalty and friendship. They appear to be an asset to the leader’s team (board, council, inner circle, staff). Everyone, even the leader who will be betrayed, knows the individual is gifted and has a measure of charisma. After all, there are valid reasons that this follower is in their place of service. In the end, though, their character betrays their competency.

But the astute leader with spiritual discernment knows something is amiss in the relationship. Even if they don’t clearly perceive what is happening, they sense things are about to go awry. Sometimes, the leader has a spouse or other confidante that aids their discernment.

2) The place where betrayal takes place is familiar.

Judas Iscariot was in the room for the Passover meal and knew exactly where to lead the arresting mob to find Jesus in Gethsemane.

Meetings take place there, and relationships grow strong with quality time. Genuine camaraderie has entered interpersonal relationships. Yet, the betrayer begins to allow familiarity to dissolve boundaries of respect.

Soon, they think so little of the place that their inward disrespect becomes public. Submission to godly authority and righteous protocol goes out the window as the sharpened knife prepares for entry on the backside (Et tu, Brute?). Their familiar seat in the room gives them access to their leader.

3) The process of betrayal is fatal.

There are many victims of this wicked deceit. Judas’ wicked heart was not recognized by the remaining eleven apostles, but he did not fool Jesus. Yet, like Haman of old (Esther), Judas’ plan would backfire as he self-imploded and took his own life.

From Heaven’s redemptive perspective, Jesus was certainly not a victim. He always has been and always will be a healer. Malchus, a servant of the High Priest, experienced His power to restore. Jesus arose from mankind’s betrayal as a victor with healing in His wings for all who would experience the brutality of betrayal.

Betrayal doesn’t have to be final. The betrayer’s free will can stop his or her sinful intent. Within the process, a pattern develops. The betrayer will independently operate outside of recorded group decisions or the protocol of conventional thought. They repeatedly oppose righteous leadership and seek to usurp what does not belong to them.

A betrayal leads to fatality because it is a sin. Sin steals, kills, and destroys. Trust erodes once the betrayal has occurred, and it can take a very long time to rebuild. In some cases, it will never return to its former state.

---

Within the Gospel narrative, there is a tale of two betrayals.

Judas is historically infamous for his demonic betrayal. But it’s not just Judas who betrayed Jesus.

It’s Peter, too, with his repeated denials.

The former perished, but the latter found restoration. Judas went to a premature grave, but Peter went on to Pentecostal greatness.

I’ve lived long enough to insist that betrayal doesn’t have to be final!

It wasn’t final for Peter. The remainder of his life was a Spirit-filled example of what God can do with a yielded vessel.

To the Christian leader, I say, beware. Not everyone on your team is on your side. Just because someone publicly acts as your follower doesn’t mean they privately support you. Ask God for wisdom and observe trends. Don’t prematurely judge someone based on an isolated incident. True colors will shine through over the long haul.

Don’t be in a hurry to turn every team member into your best friend. Take this proverb to heart.

The righteous should choose his friends carefully,
For the way of the wicked leads them astray.

Proverbs 12:26, NKJV

But to the leader, I also say, be willing to forgive the inexcusable and the unrepentant betrayers in your life. Even if they can never be restored to their former proximity, forgive them and release them to move on. Perhaps they can be redeemed as a future asset to another team in another zip code.