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Unfortunately, I think you are correct—and a lot of the LEADERS of the flock are not living up to their responsibilities.

That's a good point.

And that's the trouble with having leaders who are only leaders because they wanted to be.

True leaders rise up based on their leadership ability. Not all leaders are leaders, they just hold the title. This too I have observed first hand on a micro level.

But I just thought Christianity was different. I thought God chose his leaders. Like he chose Moses.

Where are those common men? Men living in obscurity who hear the call? Where is the one man or woman who will set the example and call his people to action? This is an easy one. If every Christian just went to church of a Sunday like it was the thing to do, what can [they] do?

Arrest everybody? Put the dogs and firehoses on them? What would that do? What would that cause?

I think StevenW has it right.

I think the current 'leaders' believe they are protecting their 'flock' because they have fallen for the rona propaganda hook, line, and sinker.

And that is a problem.

I think the current 'leaders' believe they are protecting their 'flock' because they have fallen for the rona propaganda hook, line, and sinker

That and they love the money - main stream denominations pay pastors big bucks (frequently 6 figures) and that's more important to them than Jesus and God. This applies particularly to the big name divinity schools at big name universities that hew to the 'woke' philosophy.

Your more likely to see courage in excommunicated priests like Jeremy Leatherby and unpaid Pentecostals.

On another note, Ted Nugent says it well -

There are some of those out there. I have noted that they are being fed to lions by their fellow pastors and denominational leadership. But there are a hand full following their calling anyway. If the derp media hears of them they are flayed, even on local conservative talk radio. But it's interesting to note that the media doesn't have a finger on the pulse of what happens in the Christian community. I hesitated to post about the gatherings in the city park 40 miles from me. I'd like this phenomenon we have going uninterrupted by media attention. People are noticing, that town's leadership is aware and we have no problems. They refer to it as our right of peaceful assembly. The only people that have worn a mask is a man currently going thru chemo and a lady who wore one only one time after she visited and nursed her dad who had the "dreaded virus." Respect for others thing. Hubby and I made it a point to go give that lady a hug. Lotta others did too. Just not letting the cursed bug stop what we're doing.

sidenote: stopped at a grocery store in that town this morning. Big store for the area. No corporate mandate like Wallyworld but the governor's unlawful mask decree applies there. All employees were masked but a lot of shoppers are still face free. I think it makes a difference that we've made the point of singing in the park. Kinda gives people courage to leave off the mask even tho the whole thing is word of mouth.

But I just thought Christianity was different. I thought God chose His leaders. Like He chose Moses.

GOD had problems with them too...

EXCERPT... The seventh and final letter to the churches of ancient Asia Minor is to the church in the city of Laodicea. This last message is found in Revelation 3:14-22. Laodicea was a wealthy, industrious city in the province of Phrygia in the Lycos Valley.

Question: "What was Jesus’ message to the church in Laodicea in Revelation?"

The message is from the Lord Jesus Christ via an angel or messenger (likely a reference to the church’s pastor): “To the angel of the church in Laodicea write . . .” (Revelation 3:14). This was not simply John’s message to those in Laodicea; it was a message from the Lord. Jesus identifies Himself thus: “The Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation.” These titles emphasize the Lord’s faithfulness, sovereignty, and power to bring all things to their proper completion (the “Amen”).

In contrast to the other six churches, the Laodicean church has nothing to commend it. Jesus begins the message with condemnation: “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked” (Revelation 3:15-17). Jesus emphasizes their “lukewarm,” apathetic nature three times. As a result of their ambivalence to spiritual things, Jesus would have nothing to do with them. He would “spit them out,” as the people of Laodicea would spit out the tepid water that flowed from the underground aqueducts to their city. With their apathy came a spiritual blindness; they claimed to be rich, blessed, and self-sufficient. Perhaps they were rich in material things. But, spiritually, the Laodiceans were in a wretched, pitiful condition, made all the worse in that they could not see their need. This was a church filled with self-deceived hypocrites.

you hit the nail on the head ... I don’t want to slide but I believe the narrow path / gate ... and over life I’ve come to find it’s much narrower than anyone can imagine. It’s like the ratio of people who follow + contribute to these threads relative to FR as a whole relative to conservative moment at large relative to the population as a whole. Very small ... and the broader flocks are being led to destruction. The modern day church is described in scripture as becoming a “church of apostasy” and is nowadays more like self-help seminars for most. They’ve done polls and pastors responded that they didn’t even want to breach such subjects because then, if people knew what was happening + coming, they’d get ready and stop giving donations. These people are sick extends far & wide IMO. The most telling was savior on the Mt. of Olives saying that many would come on the day saying (to paraphrase) “weren’t we great? we did all these wonderful things!” ... and the answer, sadly, will be, no. not. There is a passage, I forget the citation, but it’s said that all of the greats like Moses are actually wishing they were here with us, here & now, to see & experience what we are + will (besides the benefits of modern dentistry). WWG1WGA + Maranatha :)

Our diocese in CA immediately shut down Masses, for months. The third month, our parish began having Mass again, but had many rules about how to act and where to sit in pews. Most old parishioners continued to stay home. Last month, after our governor’s latest edict, our parish switched to outside Masses, in the heat. Again, most of the older parishioners, the backbone of the Church, stay home.

The time to show leadership was at the first directive to shut Mass down. It’s been very disappointing.

I’m sure there are some people, like me, who refuse to participate in a government-modified Mass. I watch a nice, reverent, simple Mass each week online, in spiritual Communion. I don’t miss all the “performers” who sing at Mass. I will go back in person when this is over.

Hopefully, our Church Militant will have learned some valuable lessons about how to proceed against tyranny in the future.

“I thought God chose his leaders. Like he chose Moses.”

Ideally. Sadly, many go into the ministry for other reasons. Situations like Covid and resultant government overreach make it easy to tell one from the other. There are those who’ll buckle to please the government, and those who’ll follow “God rather than man”.

If people are looking for “a good church” to attend, this might be the ideal time to find one. Check to see how the churches in your area are handling the Fauci Rules.

But I just thought Christianity was different. I thought God chose his leaders. Like he chose Moses.

I think the current ‘leaders’ believe they are protecting their ‘flock’ because they have fallen for the rona propaganda hook, line, and sinker.

And that is a problem.
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Well God does raise up leaders—Like DJT—A modern day Cyrus as some people think. However, that doesn’t mean that every leader in the whole of time was endorsed as a Godly man.

Nimrod and Hitler for example.

And I do think that too many have fallen for the fear porn in the media and likely think that they are protecting their flock. However, there’s no reason not to be creative and meet out in the sun shine-keeping a “proper” physical distance and rejoice in the day that the Lord has given us all, because every day of life is a gift.

And it also doesn’t give the derps any excuse — though they try to condemn it for sure—and thus reveal their true nature and motives-by their actions we shall know them.

And how did Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton become leaders? Far as I know, there never was a vote to decide. Ha.