Twelve Aspects of Shrewd As A Serpent
“Training for Combat is Not Combat Itself.”
- attributed to military leaders such as Carl von Clausewitz, a 19th-century Prussian military theorist, or Sun Tzu, in The Art of War
Edited 01.16.25
Download PDF of 12 Aspects of Risk Shrewdness
In risk, there are levels of maturity and awareness. Christ-followers may be described from Level 0 (Blind Faith) to Level 5 (Shrewdness). The Oxford Dictionary defines shrewdness as: Having or showing perception, comprehension, or shrewdness, especially in practical matters. Jesus taught: “Behold I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves.” (Matt 10:16).
If we want to become shrewd as serpents, we have to start at the beginning. That means learning the basics of risk literacy, and as we learn risk literacy skills, attitudes, and knowledge, we are on the first phase of training towards shrewdness.
We cannot become risk shrewd without becoming risk literate. There are no short cuts. We cannot learn everything we need from a book. We must enter into risk and experience it to know first hand what it means to live under threat, chaos, and uncertainty and make decisions in these circumstances.
Risk Literacy - The basic attitudes, knowledge, and skills required to assess various witness risks and mitigate them based on a mature discernment of Holy Spirit-led stewardship. See the RAM Flow Chart for the steps of Risk Literacy.
Risk Shrewdness - Becoming skilled in risk literacy and cultivating the following 12 Aspects.
Risk Assessment and Management (RAM Training) skills. See RAM Flow chart
Applied Risk Ethics – competing values in tension and understanding the righteous choice based on how the Bible models decision making when two “goods” are in tension. Which one weights heavier?
Refined Thinking About our Thinking – Awareness and ability to mitigate biases, risk myth tendencies, mental errors, dangerous attitudes, and group think. Employs both a logical and affect approach to risk assessment and mitigation; knows how to compare data sets and proficient at data analysis and statistical thinking
Situational Awareness and Understanding (SAU) – knowing the context, culture, baseline, the rule of 3; etc. Is prepared for interrogation through training and scenarios, has basic security training to respond well to mob and other anticipated threats. Cultivates Spiritual Situational Awareness and Understanding (SSAU)
Information & Threat Analysis Skills - Knows the basics for analyzing types of information and threats, motivations, and the critical skills for evaluating threats, including death threats.
Decision Making Agility - in risk and VUCA situations, honed risk decision-making skills; utilizes a flexible and holistic decision-making matrix.
Risk Communication skills - effectively able to communicate under pressure
Systems Approach to Problem Solving - risk is not a problem to solve but a tension to manage and requires thinking systemically across the team/organization, not in silos. Understands and can apply the impact of data and information across the organization, not in just one areas;
Anti-Fragility - applied across all aspects of the mission.
Risk Intelligence (RQ) - Knows individual and organizational risk capacity (RC), risk appetite (RA), and risk tolerance (RT).
Emotion Regulation and Management Skills - The better we can be aware of our emotions and develop emotion management skills, the better our risk assessment and management will be. Awareness of impact of perception vs. perspective - when we see the perspective of the other we can better discern what is happening. Fear is built into our biology and necessary for survival, but ordered fear is what Christ calls us to.
Human and Legal Rights - knows critical definitions and laws in country of service.
Download PDF of 12 Aspects of Risk Shrewdness
Risk Shrewdness is cultivating skills in all these areas. While it would be amazing to be adept in all areas, a team of people could form that represents all of these skills at the optimal level and work together through danger.
If you are facing risk right now, don’t despair, but just ask the Lord to show you what your next step is. He is optimally risk shrewd, and knows the way through whatever you are facing. As you follow Him you will experience His faithfulness to you because His loving kindness has no limits.
For more explanation of these, see my book Facing Fear: The Journey to Mature Courage in Risk and Persecution. Available at William Carey Publications and Amazon in ebook and print formats.
