John Maxwell - The 17 Indisputable Laws of Teamwork

[Gary]

John Maxwell the fraud

John Maxwell is one of the biggest frauds....

Here is the result of my own research on what he writes. I have his book, "The 17 Indisputable Laws of Teamwork" by John C. Maxwell, paperback, published by Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2001.

He claims to be a Christian so I looked in vain for Biblical quotes in this book. I searched and searched...... and searched!

Surely the Bible would have something to say about this? What about the example of Jesus... or other Biblical characters?

This book is 258 pages long (without the "Notes" and his sales pitch at the end!).

Eventually, on page 96 I finally find a quote which looks like it is from the Bible. This is chapter 7, The Law of the Compass (Vision Gives Team Members Direction and Confidence). John Maxwell says on page 96:

"... And make no mistake. Not only can a team fail to thrive without vision-it cannot even survive without it. The words of king Solomon of ancient Isreal, reputed to be the wisest man who ever lived, are true: "Where there is no vision, the people perish." (note 5) Vision gives team members direction and confidence, two things they cannot be without.

Fair enough... it SEEMS OK, but why not check his references? So I go to "note 5" and find Proverbs 29:18 KJV.

Firstly, I find that he only quotes half the proverb! The full proverb is:
Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he. (KJV)

Why did he leave off the second half of the proverb? Didn't fit his little diversion?

However, it runs deeper than this. I happen to have done a study on the Hebrew word "vision" or chazon (CHZN).

CHAZON means "vision" or "revelation" but it is always associated with a God-given "revelation", a prophetic vision. It is NOT the secular "... the vision for this company is to be bigger than Coke... " kind of "vision".

Let us check that with other translations:

• Where there is no revelation (prophetic vision), the people cast off restraint; But happy is he who keeps the law. (NKJV)
  
  Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; but blessed is he who keeps the law. (NIV)
  
  When people do not accept divine guidance, they run wild. But whoever obeys the law is happy. (NLT)

So John Maxwell is misleading his readers. He is quoting from the Bible, leaving out half the proverb (note that he has a full stop after "perish" without the reference to the law "...but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.") He never explains what the term "vision" in the Bible really means: a prophetic vision, revelation.

The other places where this word CHAZON is used is in Isaiah 1:1, 1 Samuel 3:1, Daniel 8:17, Habakkuk 2:2-3. All of these are clearly prophetic visions, revelations from God. Not the secular "vision" that John Maxwell pretends it to be!

What a fraud!

:o :o :o

 

[Gary]

John Maxwell the fraud (continued)....

... but that is not all (as the adverts say)....

I finish John Maxwell's book. I find no further Scripture! So I scan the "notes."

Bingo!

Chapter 9, note 4. Reference is Colossians 3:23-24

I quickly scan back to the chapter and find the note. How did I miss this?

On page 124, under the heading of "Competence", he says:

Competence. I spent nearly twenty five years as a pastor, so I know the church world very well, and I have seen people in the religious community who act as if character is the only thing which matters. I don't think it is true. What you do is also important, as Scripture makes it clear. (note 4). Character is the most important thing, but it is not the only thing...... <snip> ..... Competence matters.

So that seems OK does it not? John Maxwell does not actually quote Scripture here but he is implying that the verses quoted will show that it is not only CHARACTER that is important but that COMPETENCE is also very important.

So guess what I do? Yes, you are right. I don't trust John Maxwell further than I can spit him so I go and check his reference. Let us see what Scripture actually says:

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

Where is the word "competence" here? It says "work at it with all your heart (i.e. attitude), as working for the Lord, not for men."

John Maxwell, you are a true fraud.

Two Scripture references, both misused and abused.

Remember Satan? He also knows Scripture (but was not a pastor for 25 years!)

What a fraud John Maxwell is.

:evil: :evil: :evil:

 

[WiLdAtHeArT]

Maxwell writes books concerning business leadership, and EVERY Christian business owner I know would recommend ANY of his books. He is most likely not a good source if you are looking for a strict biblical study on business ownership, and, if that is what you are looking for, find another author. I'm frankly shocked at the personal vitriol you espouse for Maxwell. It sounds like your expectations were not met concerning how much scripture he apparantly should have put in his books, but calling him a fraud and comparing him to Satan is simply over the top.

 

[KnarfKS]

Remember Satan? He also knows Scripture (but was not a pastor for 25 years!)

No, but he was one of God's top angels, if not the top angel... :-?

 

[Gary]

Maxwell writes books concerning business leadership, and EVERY Christian business owner I know would recommend ANY of his books. He is most likely not a good source if you are looking for a strict biblical study on business ownership, and, if that is what you are looking for, find another author. I'm frankly shocked at the personal vitriol you espouse for Maxwell. It sounds like your expectations were not met concerning how much scripture he apparantly should have put in his books, but calling him a fraud and comparing him to Satan is simply over the top.

I made it very clear.

Two Scripture references, both misused and abused.