Coca-Cola recently announced plans to roll out a U.S. version of its classic soda made with cane sugar instead of high fructose corn syrup. On the surface, it sounds like a win for health-conscious consumers. Digging a little deeper, you realize this move wasn’t just sparked by marketing trends or consumer demand. It came after some “encouragement” from the White House and President Trump. Now, how deep that conversation went, we may never know. What we know is that Coca-Cola already makes a cane sugar version just south of the border, known as “Mexican Coke”. (Some say that version’s been having trouble crossing over, pun intended.)
But this isn’t just about sugar. It’s about how politics, business, public health, and public image collide and what that teaches us about influence. Since every leader has influence, the real question is how they should use it, and who really benefits?
What does Scripture teach us about how leaders use influence—and how we as Christians should respond?
The question of influence boils down to one important question. Who benefits the most? Perhaps this is the challenge that sits at the heart of our political situation in Washington, D.C. While politicians should use their influence to serve their constituents (who they are supposed to be working for), far too often, they end up serving the large donors and special interest groups. This speaks to probably the most important characteristic of leadership that far too many overlook.
Leadership is not about what you gain, but who you serve. Consider these words of Jesus:
Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. - Mark 10:42-44
Jesus cuts right to the heart of how leadership looks. Yet let me ask you, do you feel like your elected officials are acting like servants? Better yet, do we even expect them to? Maybe it’s time we rethink what we expect out of our representatives in government and seek people who truly have a servant’s heart. However, even as I write these words, I wonder if that is even possible.
The Power of Influence
Leadership expert John Maxwell once said, “Leadership is influence—nothing more, nothing less.” Whether you're a president, a pastor, or a parent, your influence can build, bless, or manipulate. The decision by Coca-Cola seems to be driven more by political optics than actual health benefits. So, here’s the tension we must consider. When political leaders pressure corporations to make moves that may look good but offer little benefit to the broader population, are they serving others or themselves?
As powerful as influence is, when you remove the servant’s heart from the equation, then influence easily slips into manipulation. I won't say definitively that's true here, but considering some of the evidence, that might be the conclusion. Studies show there is no definitive health advantage in consuming cane sugar over high-fructose corn syrup. David Klurfeld, a nutrition expert at the Indiana University School of Public Health-Bloomington, stated in an interview, “There’s overwhelming evidence that cane or beet sugar has almost no difference from HFCS (High Fructose Corn Syrup) in composition and no difference in any health effects.” He’s not the only one saying this, but so are many others within the health community. So, if this move isn’t about public health, what is it about? It smells like it might be more about public image, and that is the type of influence that does not serve the public at large.
Is there an integrity question we must ask?
There is another side of power, preference, and influence we simply cannot ignore, and it takes us back to the question of who this truly serves. Are far too many of the decisions made by our elected officials simply designed to serve those officials and the industries that helped them get elected? Are they serving the power of the purse or the power of the people? This creates a genuine dilemma for Christians because what standard do we hold leaders accountable to? I am not saying we should expect leaders who may not even be followers of Christ to act like Christians, but we should expect them to act like leaders. Here is a description of what leadership should look like.
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. Philippians 2:3-4
I know Paul is talking to believers here, but honestly, doesn’t serving the interests of others over your own interests speak to the heart of how a leader should lead? If that is the case, then we must begin holding leaders to this level of accountability. When leaders care about image, perception, or poll numbers more than those they claim to serve, that’s not leadership. That’s self-interest dressed up to look like public service. I believe we deserve better than that.
If you think Coca-Cola’s shift to cane sugar was some grand gesture for the health-conscious crowd, think again. As we used to say, don’t fall for the okie-doke. When decisions are made under political pressure with no real benefit to the people, that’s not leadership, that’s theater. Any leader trying to sell that as progress isn’t walking in integrity. That’s what’s missing in too many corners of our leadership today.
The challenge for us is to move past the headlines and start looking at issues with clarity, and yes, through a biblical lens. I’m not saying every leader must live like a Christian (they can’t anyway unless Christ lives in their heart), but I am saying every leader should lead with character and integrity. That shouldn’t be too much to ask. Maybe it’s idealistic, but I still believe power should serve the many, not the few. After all, Jesus said it best: whoever wants to be great must become a servant of all.
Photo Credit: ©Unsplash/Marc Fulgar
