Rise Up Message Series – Renovate Church
By Greg Russell
This is one of the hardest—and most honest—questions people ask when they’re exploring faith:
If God is real, why are so many of His leaders corrupt?
As a pastor at Renovate Church, I hear this question a lot—especially from people who are newer to the faith or still trying to decide whether Christianity is even trustworthy.
Often, the question isn’t theoretical. It’s personal.
It usually comes after watching yet another headline about a pastor who failed morally, abused power, manipulated people, or lived a double life. And when that happens, it can shake your confidence—not just in leaders, but in God Himself.
A Struggle with Trust and Faith
One person who submitted this question shared how difficult it’s been to trust God when so many of the leaders He supposedly chose turned out to be deeply flawed—or worse, wolves in sheep’s clothing.
I want you to know something right up front: that struggle makes sense.
You’re not weak for asking it. You’re not cynical. And you’re definitely not alone.
God Has Always Used Flawed Leaders
The uncomfortable truth is this: corruption among leaders didn’t start in modern times.
It goes all the way back to the very beginning.
- Adam, the first leader, failed
- Aaron built a golden calf
- Moses disobeyed God and lost access to the Promised Land
- King Saul was arrogant and destructive
- King David, called a man after God’s own heart, abused his power
Out of 42 kings of Israel, only eight were considered faithful—and even they failed.
Why would God choose to work through people like this?
Here’s the blunt answer:
Because there isn’t any other kind of people.
All have sinned. Every leader. Every pastor. Me included.
But that’s not the end of the story.
Flawed Leaders vs. False Prophets
This is where things get really important.
The Bible makes a clear distinction between flawed leaders and false prophets.
They are not the same thing.
Jesus addressed this directly in Matthew 7, when He warned about wolves in sheep’s clothing:
“By their fruit you will recognize them.”
Jesus doesn’t tell us to look for perfection. He tells us to look for fruit.
How to Discern a Leader’s Fruit
So what kind of fruit are we looking for?
Galatians 5 tells us:
- Love
- Joy
- Peace
- Patience
- Kindness
- Goodness
- Faithfulness
- Gentleness
- Self-control
Nobody displays these perfectly. That’s not the point.
The question is this:
Is there consistent evidence of the Holy Spirit at work in their life?
And just as important:
Is this what they teach and aim for?
False prophets are not people who stumble—they are people who deceive, exploit, and manipulate.
What the Bible Says About False Prophets
Second Peter 2 gives us a sobering picture of false prophets. They:
- Secretly introduce destructive teaching
- Exploit people for personal gain
- Follow corrupt desires
- Despise authority
- Seduce the unstable
- Promise freedom while living enslaved to sin
- Entice people
That’s the fruit of a wolf.
And if you know God and His Word, they’re not as hard to spot as you might think.
Influence vs. Manipulation in the Church
One of the biggest sources of confusion is the difference between godly influence and manipulation.
Manipulation:
- Uses pressure, fear, guilt, or false promises
- Serves a selfish agenda
- Pushes people to act for the leader’s benefit
Godly leadership:
- Points people toward Jesus, not the leader
- Honors free will
- Seeks what’s best for others—even at personal cost
Pastors are under-shepherds, not owners of the flock.
Why Leaders Fall (And Why It’s Rarely Sudden)
Here’s something important to understand:
Leaders don’t suddenly become corrupt.
The seeds were already there.
Sin, left unattended, grows.
God warned Cain in Genesis 4:
“Sin is crouching at your door… but you must rule over it.”
When leaders stop ruling over sin—especially under spiritual pressure—it eventually shows up in public failure.
Why Pastors Are High-Value Targets
Scripture tells us:
“Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.” – Zechariah 13:7
Pastors carry unique pressure:
- Spiritual attack
- Seeing salvation as a legal transaction
- Pressure to always appear godly and put-together
- Unkept souls
When image replaces integrity, hiding begins—and hiding cuts us off from truth.
The Legal Transaction Gospel Problem
Another major issue is reducing the gospel to “forgiveness only.”
Yes—Jesus forgives.
But forgiveness is not the finish line.
The gospel is about transformation—becoming apprentices of Jesus and restoring the image of God in us.
When leaders preach forgiveness without discipleship, they leave people—including themselves—without a way to deal with sin.
How Godly Leaders Stay Grounded
Second Peter 1 reminds us that:
“God has given us everything we need for life and godliness.”
It goes on to list spiritual practices that protect us from falling:
- Faith
- Goodness
- Knowledge
- Self-control
- Perseverance
- Godliness
- Mutual affection
- Love
This is how we rule over the sin crouching at our door.
A Word to Those Hurt by Fallen Leaders
If you’ve been hurt or confused by a leader who fell, I’m truly sorry.
That kind of pain is real.
But please hear this:
Their failure does not negate the truth they taught.
Truth is still truth. The gospel is still the gospel.
You don’t have to fall just because they did.
Test Everything—Including Me
Scripture tells us to test the spirits.
You should evaluate every teacher—including me—by Scripture.
But don’t nitpick. Don’t hunt for flaws.
Pay attention to fruit. Run from wolves. And hold tightly to what is good.
Final Encouragement for Our Community
Some preach Christ from selfish motives. Others from love.
As the apostle Paul said in Philippians 1:15-18:
“What does it matter? The important thing is that in every way… Christ is preached.”
At Renovate Church, our heart is simple:
We want to follow Jesus with integrity, humility, and truth.
If you’re local and wrestling with faith, questions, or disappointment in church leadership—you are welcome here.
Let’s rise up together and walk in truth.