Whence Comes Leadership?

As the world continues to reel and lurch, tossed about by strong and conflicting forces, one cannot have a conversation for long before the well-worn topics of leadership and government arise. The man or woman at the helm—whether local, national, or global—is continually watched, praised, and pilloried, depending on a person's assessment of his actions relative to what he would do in his stead. Love it or loathe it, our leadership—those individuals or bodies of men and women who greatly influence what course our life will take—is constantly in our purview.

Conversations about leadership, though, are similar to observations about the weather. As the old adage goes, "Everybody talks about it, but nobody does anything about it." However, while this is certainly true of the weather, something might be able to be done about leadership—but not in the way that carnal man assumes.

Human nature is inherently inclined to mutiny and revolt, yet Proverbs tells us that this is not the answer: "My son, fear the LORD and the king; do not associate with those given to change" (Proverbs 24:21), implying a change in leadership through rebellion. A change in our leaders through rebellion or a coup will always bear bitter—if not fatal—fruit.

The reason for this is the same reason that something might be done about poor leadership. As Benjamin Franklin noted, "God governs in the affairs of men." Actually, Benjamin Franklin did not go nearly far enough. God is sovereign in the affairs of men. As such, He decides which men will be leaders to carry out His will. He likewise decides the quality of that leadership. Recall these verities:

» Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. (Romans 13:1-2)

» This decision is by the decree of the watchers, and the sentence by the word of the holy ones, in order that the living may know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, gives it to whomever He will, and sets over it the lowest of men. (Daniel 4:17)

» John answered and said, "A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven." (John 3:27)

» The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes. (Proverbs 21:1)

» Jesus answered, "You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from above. . . ." (John 19:11)

Truly, God is sovereign in the affairs of men, and the records of God deciding who leads, and in what manner he leads, are unmistakable. Did not Korah find out the hard way that God ordains who leads (Numbers 16)? Did not Pharaoh have his heart hardened and softened according to God's plan for His people (Exodus 8-14)?

It is evident that we cannot decide which human leader is over us, even in a democracy. Setting up rulers is clearly God's domain. However, we can beseech God for good leaders and good leadership. The real question, though, is whether we—as individuals or as part of a larger group—are living in such a manner that will incline God to bless us with good leadership rather than curse us with leadership that leads us astray.

Will God bless a nation with a godly leader, wise counselors, and discerning judges when that nation has turned its back on Him? No, God does not reward wickedness. Looking at the history of Israel in the book of Judges, only when Israel cried out to God after repenting of their idolatry and other sins did God bless them with a leader to deliver them from their present distress. This same God is still governing in the affairs of nations.

This principle is by no means limited to nations; the same effect can be seen in our own history in the church. After the death of Herbert W. Armstrong in 1986, a new leadership was ushered in—one that dismantled the corporate structure and obliterated the body of doctrines he had restored. Did God have a hand in who the successor would be? Did He know the character and inclinations of that successor? God would not be God if He did not. But the relevant question for us to consider is this: Was this not the leadership the church earned through its increasingly ungodly motivations, attitudes, and actions?

The nations of Israel and Judah are enduring increasingly tumultuous times, and no relief is in sight from the torrent of pressures and dangers. We might wish for godly leaders and hope that the various national elections would result in some wisdom at the top. But when considering the corrupt, anti-God citizens of those nations, it seems apparent that wise and godly leaders would be starkly at odds with the people they would lead.

The modern nations of Israel have the leaders they have earned. If anything is to be done about it, the change will begin with the individual. Perhaps then, God will bless us with leadership that will lead us rightly.