Recently, Kenya has experienced GenZ protests against injustices committed by political leaders. The GenZs also verbally condemned church leaders for hiding and remaining silent on the issues affecting Kenyans. The GenZs are absolutely right in pointing out that there are issues to call out from both the political class and church leaders in Kenya. However, what I fear some of the GenZs may get twisted is assuming that because church leaders haven’t held the political class accountable for the injustices they have committed, then God must agree with them, hence altogether dismissing Christianity and God himself. A deep dive into scripture will help show us the truth of God’s stance concerning the injustices by the political class and the clergy members.
God Withholds Blessing
In the book of Micah, the leaders of Israel were unjust to the poor, loved evil and hated good. The consequence of their actions was God not answering their prayers (Micah 3:4). We see more evidence of this pattern of consequence in 1 Peter 3:7, where husbands are warned that their prayers wouldn’t be answered if they mistreat their wives. In short, God will not bless leaders who sin against those they lead.
God Held Leaders Accountable in the Old Testament
Kings who committed evil, like David, were not spared. In 2 Samuel 11, David is seen to have committed adultery and murder. God holds David accountable by declaring that the sword will not depart from David’s house. We see that come to pass when three of David’s sons die violent deaths: Amnon (2 Samuel 13:28-32), Absalom (2 Samuel 18:6-15), and Adonijah (1 Kings 2:19-25). God also warned that another man would sleep with David’s wives in broad daylight (2 Samuel 12:11). To make it even worse, the man who ended up sleeping with David’s wives and concubines was his son Absalom (2 Samuel 16:20-22).
Solomon, on the other hand, committed sexual sin by marrying many women (1 Kings 11:1-3). As a result, his heart was turned away from the Lord, and he worshipped idols (1 Kings 11:1-8). Due to Solomon’s sin and idolatry, the kingdom of Israel was divided, and consequently, many adversaries rose against the nation (1 Kings 11:11, 14, 23-25).
King Ahab committed more evil than all the kings before him (1 Kings 16:30). He worshipped Baal and Ashram instead of God (1 Kings 16:31-33), and Baal worship spread throughout Israel during his leadership. Ahab also married an evil woman named Jezebel, who hated Israel’s prophets (1 Kings 18:4). King Ahab refused to obey God’s command to kill a wicked king of Aram named Ben-Hadad (1 Kings 20). Instead of carrying out God’s just orders, he made a treaty with Ben-Hadad. Even though King Ahab had all the kingdom’s power, God held him accountable. Drought hit the land for years (1 Kings 18:17-18). Ahab died a terrible death, and dogs licked up his blood as the prophet Elijah had predicted (1 Kings 21:19). None of his sons inherited the kingdom (1 Kings 21:21-22, 29), all of his Baal prophets died (1 Kings 18:40), as well as his descendants (2 Kings 9:7-10). Further, King Ahab’s wife, Jezebel, also died terribly (1 Kings 21:23-24). God holds leaders accountable, no matter how powerful they are, and he will eventually carry out his vengeance against the unjust.
One of the most powerful, educated, and respected leaders of ancient times was King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. Nebuchadnezzar ruthlessly attacked Israel and, with pride, looked over his beautiful kingdom of Babylon and said he was the one who created it all (Daniel 4:30). He immediately went mad and became like a wild animal (Daniel 4:28-33). Power, education, and respect would not stop God from holding leaders like Nebuchadnezzar accountable. Such stories should cause us to stand in awe of God and recognizing that justice will eventually come, no matter how farfetched it might seem.
God also brings instant justice to evil religious leaders such as Nadab and Abihu, who were priests and sons of Aaron, the first high priest, burned strange fire before the Lord (Leviticus 10:1, Exodus 28:1). As a result of them breaking God’s law they were instantly burned alive from their strange fire (Leviticus 10:2-3). God said he would be sanctified and glorified among all people, including religious leaders (Leviticus 10:2-3). We further see this with the high priest Eli’s sons named Hophni and Phineas, who treated religious offerings with contempt (1 Samuel 2:17), slept with women in the tent of meeting (1 Samuel 2:22), and ate the choicest pieces of meat offered to God (1 Samuel 2:29, 3:13). Eli himself desisted from holding his sons accountable. As a result, God separated Eli’s family from the priesthood forever (1 Samuel 2:31). The three men all died gruesome deaths as promised by God (1 Samuel 4:12-18). Whether you’re a high priest or the high priest’s son, God holds religious leaders accountable.
God Held Leaders Accountable in the New Testament
In Matthew 23, Jesus says, “Woe” to the religious leaders in Israel. He calls them sons of the devil (Matthew 23:5), whitewashed tombs (Matthew 23:27), and bound for hell (Matthew 23:32). There are lots of other places in the New Testament where religious leaders are called out. So, remember that God will hold you accountable whether you have a calling for ministry or not.
Redemption is Available
You may be reading this and wondering how ruthless God must be for holding leaders accountable in such a fashion; at least we are confident he doesn’t turn a blind eye to evil. Amidst these stories of God’s harsh vengeance, evidence of his kind and gracious heart also abound. King Manasseh, despite killing and sacrificing his own son to an idol (2 Kings 21:6), even shedding a lot of innocent blood (2 Kings 21:16), was given another chance (2 Chronicles 33:12-16). He later repented, and the Lord, being gracious, forgave him. However, there were still consequences to Manasseh’s evil actions in his fifty-five-year reign. It was only that God’s wrath was delayed as opposed to being immediate (2 Kings 23:26-27).
God’s eternal wrath against sin and injustice can be removed from any leader because of the blood of Jesus Christ (Romans 5:9). However, scripture and life experience show that consequences often still remain. If you’re a leader reading this article, I beseech you to take the warnings herein seriously. Repent and turn to God, for he is a gracious God to forgive men as evil as Manasseh. Praise God that eternal redemption is available even for the most vile.
