Why is there a lack of strong moral leadership in today’s world?

A mentor of mine once told me that a Christian should not be surprised at the state the world is in. It is a fallen nature and will always be without God. This week the United States is still in a government shutdown, the longest ever in US history. On top of the lack of funding and support the government is supposed to provide its citizens. Several elections around the country show weakness and corruption are still at a high level in our country.

Make no mistake, if you study your bible you will see that God never endorsed any political system or structure. It was always supposed to be God and his people period. It was man’s desire for self rule that led us into the problems past, present, and future. Make no mistake also, God never relinquishes His authority over all things from the smallest to the greatest.

God installs bad leaders. It’s not only happening in the United States but also in other countries as well around the world. God often uses such people to further His plan and to punish those who continually sin. Also to redirect people back to Him though His power. That includes entire nations. 

To understand this look at what the Apostle Paul says in Roman 9:

Romans 9:14: What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Not at all! 

15 For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”

16 It does not, therefore, depend on human desire or effort, but on God’s mercy. 17 For Scripture says to Pharaoh: “I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” 18 Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden.

Romans 9:17 is actually a reference to Exodus 9:16 where Moses told Pharaoh those same words. This was the time of the Exodus and Moses was told to go to Pharaoh to let God’s people go. Through many plagues and difficulties Pharaoh finally gave in. All the while God was freeing His people but exposing the sin of Pharaoh. Pharaoh was not there in power by chance or election. He was there for God’s purpose as every leader is.

We see that God does this in Daniel 2:21 where it is written, “He removes kings and raises up kings”. Also Romans 13:1 says, “For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God”. God still has the same authority over the happenings in the universe that he did from the beginning.

When the people of Israel were captive in Egypt it took over 400 years before they would be allowed to leave. It was the beginning of liberation and problems with their carnal nature put them back on a path towards their own demise. In the many years that followed they would be enslaved by other nations because of continual sins they went to instead of their God.

Even for those bad leaders, some were blessed by the very presence of God’s people and their nations prospered because of it. When they blessed God’s people they too were blessed. Some nations even in the 20th Century found that Christians were often the best workers and more reliable people. Some leaders throughout time were swayed by the people of God through their faith to believe in Him. There were some that punish themselves for going against God. All of these are reminders that God is still in charge.

While there will be bad times, there can be good times too. In the current place we are in it seems political leadership is in a moral decline. We have the reassurance as Christians through God’s written word that all these things will benefit us in their end result.

Your Brother in Christ,

Stephan M. Koenig

Lakeshore Fellowship