[This is my fifth post of ten in my “Vintage Wednesday” series on “Leadership Authority,” re-written/updated from a blogpost back in May of 2011.]

The fifth of Watchman Nee’s Ten Commandments of Spiritual Authority states that:

5. Subjection to authority means that a person is subjected to God Himself and not to the channel through which the authority comes.

Perhaps you’ve seen leaders who start out well with a desire to please only God, yet end up either corrupted by power or serving a system that God has seemingly withdrawn from. “Ichabod” (see 1 Samuel 4:21) is clearly written over the institution as it has become self-serving and no longer reveals the glory of God to its constituents. Instead of serving “an audience of One”, the leader now serves his desires or the structure or hierarchy that granted him his perceived position of authority.

Often followers suffer the consequences most as their channel of authority has become corrupted. Though ultimately their subjection is to God’s authority, the one who wields power over them clouds that authority and either distorts God’s image to them or completely turns them away from yielding to God’s loving commands.

Whatever the case, what should one do when a channel of authority is no longer trustworthy or honorable? Furthermore, could it have been prevented? Several things to consider:

First, a leader should never be put into a position of ultimate authority. Checks and balances via a board or group of elders ensures accountability and prevents fulfillment of the old adage—”Absolute power corrupts absolutely.” Sometimes, we the people must share responsibility for leadership disasters. When we place leaders on pedestals and allow them a free pass on their shortcomings (because after all, we say, they’re so unbelievably gifted and anointed!) we are setting them up for failure. Christianity Today made this point quite clear in their 2021 podcast series—The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill.

Second, give honor where honor is due, but do not stay in a bad situation. David would not disrespect King Saul, but he also didn’t remain under Saul’s authority (see 1 Samuel 19-27). When a leader is no longer acting under God’s authority, you have every right to remove yourself from under his position of authority.