Little by little they crumble, erode,
Imperceptible at the start
So tall and massively built,
By loyalty of the heart.
The slightest misalignment
Causes cracks, at first unseen
Their hands--deeds thereof hidden--
We don't see that they're unclean,
Til one day something breaks
And the idol we've erected
Comes crashing down headlong
Like a king that God’s rejected.
The blind and unaware
Want to build it up again,
Sweep up the broken pieces,
Ignore the blatant sin.
A leader of God’s house
Is held to a higher demand--
Charged to protect the flock
And for righteousness to stand.
Have we somehow forgotten
The poignant words of Paul?
"Follow me as I follow Christ."
That's the measure of it all.
Abusers, liars, false teachers
Should never be given free board
For the Lord Jesus loves His body,
And He's coming with a sword.
Corruption and pride, with their secrets,
Will fall to obliteration--
And those who have carried their torch
Be removed without hesitation.
For God hates a lying tongue
And hearts that devise wicked schemes;
And we can't ignore His Word
To fulfill our "peace and love" dreams.
Yes, God is a God of love,
And in love He's cleansing His bride.
There's no room for a god beside Him;
That is something He will not abide.
Too long we've exalted leaders
Under banners of honor, so high
That we've left the Lord in the shadows
And made men our Adonai.
God’s crying out for repentance
As leaders around us fall.
Let us truly repent for exalting
Those who shouldn't be leaders at all.
© 2026 Teresa Miles Kephart
