Latest / Jo Watson: Unfiltered Faith / When Leadership Fails
Transcript
- Jo Watson: Welcome back to Unfiltered Faith. I'm Joe Watson, and it's time to breathe. Time to slow down. Time to let your shoulders drop and time to step into the sanctuary. Not the sanctuary we're all so familiar with, but the one that God is building inside you. Today's conversation is one many believers are quietly wrestling with. We love the church, we believe in the church. And we serve in the church. But sometimes the people leading the church fall short in ways that shake our confidence. It is heartbreaking to watch leaders, pastors, bishops, elders, or ministers step down because of immorality, financial misconduct, or a lack of stewardship over what God has entrusted to them. And when that happens, it doesn't just affect the leader, it affects the people who trusted them. It affects the people who gave faithfully. It affects the people who sat under their teaching. But hear me when I say, leadership may fail, but God, God does not. The church may stumble, but Christ remains steady. A listener wrote in with a letter that speaks to the quiet conflict that many believers feel. The tension between wanting to remain faithful and struggling with heartfelt disappointment. Let's listen to this listener's letter with compassion. Dear unfiltered faith, I have recently seen in the news where a number of church leaders Have had to step down because of immorality and lack of stewardship over the money that has been given to the church. It makes it difficult to continue to give or to sit under the teaching of someone who so publicly has sinned. I want to continue to support my church with my attendance and giving, but I am having difficulty overlooking some of these issues. What do you do when you feel like leadership is not being accountable or a steward over what has been given to the church or above reproach in how they should be shepherding God's people? Signed conflicted and confused. Dear conflicted and confused, thank you for your honesty. Your letter carries the weight of someone who loves God deeply and is hurting deeply. Let me say this clearly: your conflict is not a lack of faith. Your questions are not rebellion. Your discomfort is not disrespect. It Is grief. It is disappointment. It is the ache of someone who expected holiness and encountered humanity. Scripture says in First Timothy chapter three, verse two: a leader must be above reproach. And that means integrity matters. It means that stewardship matters. And it means that character matters. And when leadership fails in those areas, it is normal, even healthy to feel conflicted. But here's the truth. Your faith is in God, not in the people who represent him. Let me say that again. Your faith is in God, not in the people who represent him. So let's talk about what you can do. Number one, you can acknowledge the hurt without abandoning the church. You can be disappointed and still be devoted. You can be cautious and still be committed. Number two, you separate the leader's failure from God's faithfulness. People fail, but God does not. Psalms 118 8 says It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man. And your trust was never meant to rest on a pulpit, but rather your trust was meant to rest on the God who stands above it. Number three, you seek accountability, not revenge. It is biblical to expect leaders to be held accountable. Proverbs says twenty seven verse seventeen reminds us iron sharpens iron. Accountability is not punishment, it is protection. Number four, you protect your heart while God heals the house. If you need time, take it. If you need space, honor it. If you need clarity, pray for it. And remember that You are not wrong for wanting leadership to reflect the God they preach. To everyone listening, maybe you've been shaken by leadership failures. Maybe you've watched someone you admired fall publicly. Maybe you've questioned your giving, your attendance, or your trust. If so, let me tell you something: God is not threatened by your questions. He is not offended by your disappointment. Scripture says in Jeremiah chapter three verse fifteen, I will give you shepherds after my own heart. That means God takes responsibility for the leaders who guide his people. And when one shepherd fails, God knows how to raise another. You do not have to lose faith because someone else lost their way. I want to stop right here and pray for this listener. But I also want to pray for those listening to this episode. Because we have leaders who are struggling. And if our leaders are struggling, it affects those whom they shepherd. So let's pray. Father, today we lift up every listener who has been wounded by leadership failure, every believer who feels Conflicted, confused, or disappointed. Every heart that wants to remain faithful but is struggling to trust again. Heal the hurt. Restore confidence. Purify leadership. Strengthen your church. Give your people wisdom. Give them discernment and peace. And remind them that you, not man, are the foundation of their faith. And Lord, I pray for leadership. Help them to remember their call and help them to be held by your word and the power of your Holy Spirit. Cover them with your protective hand. In Jesus' name, amen. To this listener today, you will not lose your faith because someone else lost their integrity. You will not stop giving because someone mishandled what was given. You will not stop worshiping because someone failed to live what they preached. And you will not stop trusting God because a leader broke your trust. God is restoring your confidence. God is healing your disappointment. God is strengthening your discernment. And God is guiding your steps. Your faith will stand, your heart will heal, and your devotion will remain. Family, thank you for joining me today. And remember, your faith is rooted in God, not in the imperfections of People. Your giving is worship, not charity. Your attendance is obedience, not blind loyalty. Leadership may fail, but the God we serve never will. And if you are carrying a weight that feels too heavy to hold, please remember that this broadcast is not a substitution for professional therapy or pastoral care. Reach out, get the support you need. You deserve that kind of care. And if you would like to send in a question or share a story with Unfiltered Faith, you can reach us at Joe at Unfiltered Faithpod dot com. We would love to hear from you. Your testimonies and your experiences matter. They help others grow. They encourage weary hearts and they draw people closer to you. To Jesus. Until next time, family unfiltered faith, God is moving, so stay ready and to God be the glory.