The Fall of Leaders in the Church

“The fall of leaders in the church is not always a tragedy; it may well be a sign of God’s work to renew in His people. The hardening that we see toward the word of God in some of the mainline churches (e.g., acceptance of sodomy and abortion) may be a cause for rejoicing; God may have closed their ears and hardened them, as a prelude to overthrowing them.”
— Peter Leithart, An Exposition of 1 & 2 Samuel 

Many of Trump’s Advisory Committee have not endorsed Donald Trump for President. You might ask, “Why then put them on an Advisory Committee?” That’s the perfect question. “I don’t know any evangelicals who are wild with enthusiasm for Donald Trump or for whom Donald Trump was their first choice, or their second choice, or their third choice,” said Richard Land, president of Southern Evangelical Seminary in Matthews. “But the situation now is: The next president of the United States is going to be Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton. That tends to focus one’s attention.”
— Richard Land

What is being exposed in neon lights in 2016 is the depth of the American church and its leaders as “Salt” and “Light”—the metaphors used by Christ Jesus—in the civil government arena. It goes back to Isaiah 3:1-4: the removal of religious leaders (and political and military) is a judgment of God on a disobedient nation; weak, docile leadership is the result. Evangelical leadership in the public square and civil government arena is nearly nonexistent—that is, with men and women of Issachar, “who know times and know what to do”. 

Many Evangelical leaders couldn’t find their precinct with a flashlight. They’ve been hoodwinked into thinking that press conferences, press releases and getting a shout out on TV or newspaper is meaningful. The two largest denominations of political currency are: How many votes can you bring to the table? How many dollars can you raise that brings votes to the table?

Again, press conferences, press releases and getting a shout out on television, or one’s name in ink, are among the smallest denominations in political currency; like, say, half a nickel to a dollar. A Sunday sermon is not a denomination of political currency.

Compounding the problem, our “Inside the Beltway” boys are adept at public relations: boosting their reputation, improving their image, increasing their awareness, and self-promotion … but not so useful at winning elections or setting the moral climate and trend of America in the public square. How do you think that we arrived at the collapse of the Judeo-Christian heritage and biblically-based culture in America in the last half century?

Isaiah 3:12, “As for My people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O My people, those who lead you cause you to err, and destroy the way of your paths.” … read “Hillary.” In verse 4, “I will give youths to be their princes, and unweaned children shall rule over them”—Barack Obama, Eric Holder, Valerie Jarrett, Susan Rice, Hillary Clinton, Van Jones, Ash Carter, Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan, Carol Browner, etc.

If I read this correctly, barring divine intervention, we might as well prepare for a Hillary Clinton Inauguration on January 20, 2017, for God uses pain and suffering to woo His people back to a Judges 6:6 moment, “Israel was made weak before Midian and cried out to the Lord..”

There seems to be very little “crying out” from the pulpits and pews of America, because, as C.S. Lewis put it, “For most of us the prayer in Gethsemane is the only model. Removing mountains can wait.”

Moses and Elijah, and David, saw God in the wilderness. 2020 or 2024 may be our opportunity. A.W. Tozer authored a piece in 1960 that needs wide circulation in 2016.

To the 200 pastors running for city council, county commissioner, or school board in 2016, to the additional 200 pastors who have committed to run for office in 2017-2018, and the tens of thousands of Bible-believing pastors who don’t feel the call to run, but are sprinting toward the public square, America owes you a debt than will never be repaid. Salute.

We need a Gideon or Rahab to stand.