The quality of our faith will be revealed by the choices we make or what we allow to happen when we are asked to follow a failed leader.

In the books of I and II Kings, the various kings listed in those books who ruled over Israel and Judah were described. The description of those kings determined how they led the people to either follow the Lord or walk away from Him, worshipping the same detestable false gods as their leader. Some of those false gods had led the people to sacrifice their own children on the fiery altars of deception.

In the books of I and II Kings, a repeated theme is revealed– failed leaders would lead the people into deeper expression of sin. One of many examples of this was how Pekahiah, a king of Israel, led the nation. “Pekahiah did what was evil in the Lord’s sight. He refused to turn from the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had led Israel to commit” (II kings 15:24). The comment, “had led Israel to commit” is a reoccurring theme in I and II Kings when a leader was leading Israel in such a way that the people were willing to follow the example of their failed leader.

In both the biblical history of Israel and in the following generations of Israel’s leadership up to the present moment, the same mistakes of failed leadership have taken place. It’s not only true for Israel, but it’s also true for any nation or any church denomination. Some who are being led by a failed leader have not considered the result of their following. When it becomes obvious that a leader is not following Godly principles, not all followers will continue to follow them.

Those who choose not to follow such a leader will be labeled as a rebel or a divider by the submissive group of followers who did not look deeper into what was happening. The people who were labeled as rebels or dividers could not continue to align with the practices of a leader who was not leading others with the heart of God.

Choosing not to be led by a failed leader into evil acts is what our faith should look like. It’s a brave choice to make because that choice will cause us to be rejected by those who continue to follow a failed leader, because they have not taken the time to see where their choices of compliance will lead them.