copyright Dave Wiedis 2025 originally published on Real Clear Religion
Recently, Michael Tait — former lead singer of the Newsboys — publicly confessed to a pattern of self-destruction. He stated, “Recent reports of my reckless and destructive behavior, including drug and alcohol abuse and sexual activity are sadly, largely true.” Not long ago, a well-known and respected pastor publicly confessed to grievous sin: betrayal, deception, and moral failure.
Sadly, these stories are not unique. From pulpits to platforms, we’ve watched trusted leaders — pastors, mentors, politicians, media personalities — collapse under the weight of compromised integrity.
And the crisis is headline news.
CNN’s Jake Tapper, in Original Sin, detailed the cover-up of President Joe Biden’s cognitive decline by White House insiders. But one must ask: what motivates a prominent journalist to pen such a work? Is it a cry for truth in a climate of deception — or an attempt to distance himself from the very cover-up he helped protect?
Meanwhile, Jill Biden continues to vigorously defend her husband, blatantly disregarding the obvious reality of the former President’s serious cognitive failings. Is she motivated by sheer loyalty or did she enable a tragic spectacle that placed the nation at risk?
During violent ICE protests in Los Angeles, Rep. Maxine Waters and Mayor Karen Bass labeled them “peaceful” — even as chunks of concrete were hurled at police. Did they not see the violence, or did something deeper compel them to protect their cause?
And across the aisle: Rep. George Santos lied about his heritage, education, and credentials. Gov. Mark Sanford disappeared from office, later confessing he’d secretly flown to Argentina for an affair.
These aren't isolated incidents — they're part of a broader unraveling in our religious, political, and cultural spheres — and we’re left with a haunting question:
How does this keep happening? It’s easy to point fingers. But a wiser response is more introspective:
What drives us to self-deception — and then, public deception?
At the root of both personal and public collapse is the same issue: our ruling passions.
In The Spiritually Healthy Leader: Finding Freedom From Self-Sabotage, I explain that moral failure is rarely a sudden plunge — it’s a slow drift. At the root is what I call a ruling passion: a dominant inner desire that subtly, yet powerfully, governs our choices.
It could be:
The need to be respected.
The fear of being irrelevant.
The drive to control outcomes.
The craving for love.
The hunger for approval or justice.
These aren’t always bad things. But when they rise above truth, righteousness, or faithfulness — they become idols. And idols always demand a sacrifice.
We’ve seen this over and over again:
Journalists choosing sensationalism over objectivity.
Politicians choosing spin over transparency.
Ministry leaders choosing popularity over accountability.
Ruling Passions: The Real Battlefield
In our culture, we tend to gauge credibility by charisma, competence, productivity, or ideology. But true integrity isn’t revealed by what someone does in public — it’s shaped by what rules their heart in private. A “ruling passion” is a deep, often hidden desire that governs choices, shapes responses, and fuels ambition. It might be the hunger for power, relevance, legacy, admiration, or even justice, all of which can be good things. But when they become ultimate things — more important than truth, humility, or righteousness — they become idols of the heart.
This is why good people — faithful pastors, seasoned politicians, even godly spouses — make catastrophic decisions. They follow a passion that feels right but ultimately betrays truth.
Many in public leadership or ministry begin with noble goals. But somewhere along the way, their motives subtly shift. It becomes about winning. Preserving influence. Controlling the narrative. Avoiding shame. Or just feeling better. And when these, or other motivations replace truth, leaders don’t just lose their way — they invite collapse.
When Good Things Become Ultimate
Tim Keller wisely said,
“Sin isn’t only doing bad things — it is more fundamentally making good things into ultimate things.”
This is what we’re watching unfold on the world stage.
A journalist may start with a desire to speak truth to power — but may be ruled by a deeper longing to be recognized as the conscience of a corrupt age. A political spouse may start with a motivation of love — but be subtly ruled by the need to preserve their image, even at personal or national cost. A senator may say he cares about justice — but be driven by revenge, pride, or the need for applause.
Between what is said and what is actually true in the heart may indicate a vast disparity. And that divergence is where the collapse begins.
Peter’s Political Moment
This tale is as old as time. The Apostle Peter had what we might call a “crucial moment” in Galatians 2. He lived with Jesus, knew and preached the gospel, performed miracles, and had direct revelation from God. But under social pressure, he caved and deeply offended those under his pastoral charge because he feared public disapproval (Galatians 2).
His ruling passion, self-protection, hijacked his principles.
Paul confronted him publicly. Why? Because Peter’s actions didn’t just reflect personal weakness — they corrupted gospel truth. When our ruling passions aren’t submitted to Christ, they eventually sabotage our relationships, careers and lives.
So here’s the question for every leader — senator, pastor, journalist, president, or voter:
What rules your heart?
That’s the real question — for all of us. Not just: What do you believe? But: What drives you?
Is it a passion for truth — or for winning? Is it love for Christ — or fear of irrelevance? Is it service to others — or hunger for control? Is it gospel loyalty — or platform preservation?
Is your worldview driven by Scripture — or your tribe’s talking points?
We’re witnessing a cultural unraveling not just because of differing policies — but because of the collapse of character. Leaders lie, spin, and posture — not because they’re inherently evil — but because their ruling passions have become disordered and unsurrendered to the Lordship of Jesus.
We live in a culture where truth is often a tool, not a foundation. Where both sides lie. Where media, politicians, and even spiritual leaders bend facts to preserve influence. But we cannot bow to the Lordship of Christ while also bowing to our ruling passions. They are mutually exclusive.
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind.” —Luke 10:27
Let Christ alone — not fear, not self-protection, not spin — be your ruling passion.
