Leadership matters greatly. Nations rise and fall on their heads of state. Armies conquer or go down in defeat on the decisions of their commanders. Teams rise and fall on their coaches. Corporations thrive or wither on the performance of their CEOs. The most important social institution in any culture, the church, is no exception to this rule. We need capable leaders.

Isaiah warned Israel that leadership is a gift from God, one that he gives to those who please him.“For behold, the Lord God of hosts is taking away from Jerusalem … the soldier, the judge and the prophet, the diviner and the elder, the captain of fifty and the man of rank, the counselor and the skillful magician and the expert in charms. And I will make boys their princes, and infants shall rule over them. And the people will oppress one another, every one his fellow and every one his neighbor; the youth will be insolent to the elder, and the despised to the honorable” (Isaiah 3:1–5). Isaiah’s message was clear: Because Israel refused to turn from their idols and worship the true and living God, his people suffered. God deprived them of qualified leadership. Society degenerated into social chaos, and God’s people suffered.

Many complain about our leadership in Washington and other  key social institutions. Could it be that we are under God’s judgment? If that is the case, the crucial solution is repentance from all known sin Complaining is a sin. It merely amplifies the problem.