How can we identify "conspiracy" among leaders in today's church community? Setting the Biblical Foundation Ezekiel 22:25 sets the stage: “There is a conspiracy of her princes within her like a roaring lion tearing its prey; they devour people, seize treasures and valuables, and multiply widows within her.” The text pictures leaders secretly uniting for selfish gain, harming God’s people in the process. The verse is literal, historically rooted in Jerusalem’s collapse, yet it also exposes timeless patterns that betray spiritual leadership today. What Scripture Means by “Conspiracy” • A hidden alliance for unrighteous ends • Motivated by power, profit, or prestige • Carried out under a cloak of piety or authority • Resulting in exploitation of the vulnerable Signs of Conspiracy Among Leaders • Loss of transparency: decisions made behind closed doors, minutes withheld, finances blurred • Predatory culture: members pressured for excessive giving or unquestioning loyalty (cf. 1 Peter 5:2-3) • Silencing dissent: godly critique labeled “divisive,” whistle-blowers marginalized (cf. 3 John 9-10) • Lifestyle imbalance: leaders living lavishly while ministries languish (cf. Micah 3:11) • Scriptural distortion: texts twisted to justify control or gain (cf. 2 Peter 2:1-3) • Networked power: a tight inner circle protecting one another’s interests, resisting outside accountability Practical Discernment Steps • Test everything by the whole counsel of Scripture, not isolated verses (Acts 17:11) • Verify financial integrity: insist on audited statements, plural oversight, and congregational visibility • Observe fruit, not just rhetoric: genuine shepherds leave a trail of healed, equipped believers (Matthew 7:16-20) • Seek multiple witnesses before concluding wrongdoing (Deuteronomy 19:15; 1 Timothy 5:19) • Engage mature believers from other congregations for objective counsel (Proverbs 11:14) • Pray for illumination by the Holy Spirit, who exposes hidden things (John 16:13) Additional Scriptural Witness • Jeremiah 5:26 – “For wicked men are found among My people…” • Acts 20:29-30 – wolves arise “from among your own number.” • 2 Timothy 4:3-4 – leaders who cater to itching ears gather followers to myths. Each passage confirms that conspiratorial leadership is no anomaly; Scripture anticipates it and equips believers to spot it. Guarding Against a Conspiratorial Spirit • Cultivate servant leadership marked by humility and accountability (Mark 10:42-45) • Anchor doctrine and practice in the clear, literal meaning of Scripture (Psalm 119:105) • Foster a culture where questions are invited and truth is celebrated (Ephesians 4:15) • Uphold mutual submission among elders and congregation alike (Hebrews 13:17-18) By embodying these safeguards, the church disarms conspiracy before it can root itself, honoring Christ as the true Head. |
    |