Research into Covey's Habits of Private Victory
A significant part of our journey with the Lord has been my education at Briercrest Biblical Seminary - not so much from what I learned through my studies there, but from what the Lord chose to teach me through experiencing first-hand how easy it is to depart from His truth. Since my program of studies focused specifically on leadership and management techniques and issues, the writings of Stephen Covey were prescribed course textbooks for several of my classes. His writings were always presented in the most positive light, and attention was given to how Biblical many of his conclusions were; as a matter of fact, Paul Magnus (then president of Briercrest) advised us that he was in correspondence with Covey to determine if in fact he was a born-again Christian. For my thesis, I chose to examine the three habits of Covey’s seven habits dealing with what he terms Private Victory to determine just how Biblical his teachings really were. At the time I made this decision, I was convinced that I would be developing a study that would prove that he was very close to being truly Biblical (that was the light my instructors at Briercrest shone upon this man).
It was during this time the Lord was beginning to open my eyes to the reality of Evangelicalism and the responsibility I had to stand firmly upon the truth of God’s Word. I had no sooner re-opened Covey’s book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, than I recognized that something was amiss. Now I was faced with the challenge of standing on God’s truth against the faculty of Briercrest who were committed to Covey being Biblical. You will notice, as you look further, that the result of my research did not produce a thesis – only a MRRP (Ministry Related Research Paper). I have posted my research only because Covey continues to be a highly influential leadership guru, and undoubtedly still finds open acceptance with Evangelicalism.
Permit me to qualify my research. At the time, the Lord was just beginning to open my eyes to my need to be entirely committed to His Word (placing it above the theologies of highly educated theologians). As a consequence, you will find favorable quotations made from men who I now recognize as being deeply New Evangelical (men like Chuck Colson, Leith Anderson and Charles Swindoll). However, even such false teachers could be used to show the fallacy of considering Covey to be a born-again Christian. I have left my paper (other than a few housekeeping matters) as it was presented to the Dean of the Seminary (who was my first reader). With this caveat, here is my research on Stephen Covey’s first three habits, along with the evident implication of Briercrest’s slide into liberalism beginning so many years ago.
It was during this time the Lord was beginning to open my eyes to the reality of Evangelicalism and the responsibility I had to stand firmly upon the truth of God’s Word. I had no sooner re-opened Covey’s book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, than I recognized that something was amiss. Now I was faced with the challenge of standing on God’s truth against the faculty of Briercrest who were committed to Covey being Biblical. You will notice, as you look further, that the result of my research did not produce a thesis – only a MRRP (Ministry Related Research Paper). I have posted my research only because Covey continues to be a highly influential leadership guru, and undoubtedly still finds open acceptance with Evangelicalism.
Permit me to qualify my research. At the time, the Lord was just beginning to open my eyes to my need to be entirely committed to His Word (placing it above the theologies of highly educated theologians). As a consequence, you will find favorable quotations made from men who I now recognize as being deeply New Evangelical (men like Chuck Colson, Leith Anderson and Charles Swindoll). However, even such false teachers could be used to show the fallacy of considering Covey to be a born-again Christian. I have left my paper (other than a few housekeeping matters) as it was presented to the Dean of the Seminary (who was my first reader). With this caveat, here is my research on Stephen Covey’s first three habits, along with the evident implication of Briercrest’s slide into liberalism beginning so many years ago.
