Leaders Need to Lead
I am glad to see more and more members speaking up in truth and love these days. This is only the beginning of a healthy and necessary trend that is long overdue. But something that cannot be forgotten is that leadership still needs to lead. The answer to bad leadership-- however you define it-- isn't "no leadership," but good leadership. "No leadership" will degenerate into mob rule, "loudmouth" rule, or anarchy, and none of these is a Scriptural option for the church. Leadership exists to care for the sheep of God's flock:

Therefore thus says the LORD God of Israel concerning the shepherds who are tending My people: "You have scattered My flock and driven them away, and have not attended to them; behold, I am about to attend to you for the evil of your deeds," declares the LORD. [3] "Then I Myself shall gather the remnant of My flock out of all the countries where I have driven them and shall bring them back to their pasture; and they will be fruitful and multiply. [4] "I shall also raise up shepherds over them and they will tend them; and they will not be afraid any longer, nor be terrified, nor will any be missing," declares the LORD. (Jeremiah 23:2-4, NASB)

But at a certain point, leaders need to lead. They need retreats to seek God and examine their own hearts. They need to take time to study the Scriptures and think out solutions to the problems the church is facing. They need to pray desperately for direction and guidance from the Lord. And they need to lead in great humility. (Yes, leaders also need the prayers and gracious support of the church as well.)

Honestly, some leaders need to resign. Sadly, some will have to be fired. Some need to step away for awhile. Each congregation desperately needs leaders who will lead in humility, establishing the new sheep-centric paradigms needed in our churches. Blessed are the congregations with such leaders!

"That the leaders led in Israel,  That the people volunteered,  Bless the LORD! (Judges 5:2, NASB)

I'm grateful for more and more people speaking up. So much of what has been shared in town meetings I've been a part of has been church culture issues-- the way we think, the way we do things, the values we espouse. I'm grateful for the sincere expressions of sorrow and apologies. I'm grateful for more and more people evaluating the culture and "thinking out of the box." I'm grateful for more and more people studying and discussing important issues. Talk is a necessary part of the process we are involved in.

But it must be more than talk. Sincere apologies have implications. Godly sorrow consists of indignation and readiness to see justice done. Efforts must be made to right the wrongs of the past. Yes, this means apologies to people who spoken up and been ostracized for addressing the very things we are now apologizing for. And if we go out and again persistently do the very same things we've apologized for, God and man are right to question the sincerity of the apologies.

The objective of change isn't the "perfect church." Frankly, that sort of thinking had more to do with the problems we found ourselves in than most of us realize. Churches cannot be "perfect," and anybody expecting that will be disappointed. Perfection isn't the issue. Taking the current problems seriously and making real changes in light of them is the issue.

Yes, there has been a revolution in the International Churches of Christ. The page has turned. But it remains to be seen if we really have learned something from our past. I pray that we have, but only time will tell.