I promise that I won’t inflict another barrage of wisdom about the MP’s expenses crisis. Others have been happy to pile in with their commentary on this sad and confusing tale. But I would like to reflect on the core issue, the issue of integrity amongst leaders.

Nobody should expect political or spiritual leaders to be perfect. That’s just silly. We are all frail and failed and far from perfect. The problem occurs when leaders live lives that seem to be a complete contradiction of what they boldly proclaim. There’s nothing inherently wrong with a duck house. Not even a very nice duck house. But if an MP believes that public money should be expended on the purchase of such accommodation then something has gone catastrophically wrong. And if a Baptist minister preaches a message of humility, and then leads in an arrogant and belligerent way then something else has gone catastrophically wrong.

The Pharisees were hugely impressive in many ways. They were awesome in the way that they adhered to the religious laws. They were regular in their attendance at the temple, the offerings that they offered were correct down to the last detail and their commitment to tithing would have left most people gasping. But they comprehensively missed the point. Their lives were a sham, because they preached one thing and did another. They were play-acting at religion. They said all the right things but they knew nothing of a personal relationship with God.

In mid June I visited the conference for the Newly Accredited Ministers in their second year – affectionately known as the NAMs Conference. It was an excellent time. We are extraordinarily blessed with the large number of people who come forward for ministry and it was good to meet the 70 or so ministers at the conference. During the conference there were many reminders of the crucial importance of leading with integrity. Every NAM has the blessing of a mentor – a person, appointed by the Baptist Union, to meet regularly with the NAM to enquire into their ministry and to support them as they pick their path through their probationary years. Mentors help their mentees (ouch! I hate the word too, but you know what I mean) to keep reflecting on their ministry – to make sure that their lives ring true.

Most problems occur in ministry when there is no reflection and no support. Through mentoring in their early years, ministers are encouraged to ask the hard questions and to ensure that their lives do reflect the Gospel that they proclaim. The next challenge is to help all ministers to enter into open and accountable relationships which enable those tough questions to be asked, and tensions to be addressed. The ministry department is putting together a tool box for all ministers to encourage every minister to develop their ministry in a healthy and accountable way.

Ministers bear a very special and heavy responsibility but these insights apply to every Christian. We all need to have Christian relationships which enable us to reflect carefully on our discipleship. It’s the easiest thing in the world to put on an act, and to pretend to be someone we are not for the sake of a quiet life. But such hypocrisy is deeply corrosive of all relationships and especially of the relationship that matters most – with God himself.