How can Isaiah 28:7 guide us in choosing spiritual leaders today? “These also stagger from wine and reel from strong drink: priest and prophet stagger from strong drink; they are befuddled by wine, they reel from strong drink; they stagger while seeing visions, they totter when rendering judgment.” What the verse exposes • Leaders under the influence lose spiritual clarity. • Impairment spreads from private indulgence to public ministry. • The result is distorted vision and faulty judgment—exactly what a flock cannot afford. How this shapes our selection of leaders • Sound mind and sobriety are non-negotiables (1 Timothy 3:2–3; Titus 1:7). • Spiritual leaders must model self-control in every arena—substances, pleasures, power, money (Proverbs 23:20–21; 1 Peter 5:2–3). • A leader’s private life inevitably affects public teaching and counsel (Luke 6:45). Red flags Isaiah helps us spot today • Any pattern of addiction—alcohol, drugs, gambling, pornography, uncontrolled spending. • Erratic decision-making, doctrinal wobbling, or sensational “visions” that lack biblical grounding. • Defensive or dismissive attitude when accountability is suggested. • Ministry environments that excuse sin because of giftedness or charisma. Positive qualities to pursue instead • Evident mastery of appetites: “not given to drunkenness… but self-controlled” (1 Timothy 3:3). • Consistent, balanced judgment rooted in Scripture (2 Timothy 2:15). • Transparency with trusted elders and a teachable spirit (Proverbs 27:17). • A track record of shepherding people, not exploiting them (Ezekiel 34:2–4; John 10:11). Putting it into practice • Observe lifestyle as closely as you assess preaching—it reveals whether a mind is clear or clouded. • Ask for testimonies from family and close associates; character is best verified up close. • Establish accountability structures before problems arise (Hebrews 13:17). • Pray for and encourage leaders who walk in sobriety and integrity; their example strengthens the entire body (1 Thessalonians 5:12–13). |
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