When Church Leaders Let You Down

It is a sobering time for the church right now. As a Southern Baptist, I am sickened by the details of the recent Houston Chronicle report on sexual abuse, cover-up, and inaction within our denomination. Even locally, we have seen ministers leaving their posts suddenly for reasons ranging from criminal acts, to moral failure, to personal weakness—leaving their churches to figure out how to pick up the pieces.

The Bible tells us that the devil shoots at us with flaming arrows (Ephesians 6:16). The reason a warrior would set fire to his arrow is not only to kill his enemy, but to burn down everything around him. When a pastor or other prominent Christian is hit by one of these arrows, it threatens to burn down the church, his family, and the reputation of Christ in the community. How do we keep the flames from spreading? How do you keep your own faith from burning up when your spiritual leader falls?

It’s Not OK

One impulse we might have is, out of love for the person, to minimize or dismiss the sin. None of us is perfect, after all, and we all sin. We might write it off as a “mistake,” and, in the name of “grace,” restore the offender in short order. We might even help him cover it up. This course of action is the worst we could possibly take. It’s not truthful or helpful to deny the seriousness of the sin, the hurt that it caused, or the damage it has done to the minister’s spiritual readiness to lead. Often these cover-ups cause the innocent to leave the church, unhealed and unhelped, while the perpetrator becomes the target of sympathy. It is vital to fully acknowledge the sin.

And if you are angry, it’s important for you to understand that your anger is justified. God is angry, too. Jesus’ words for those who cause people to fall away couldn’t be any stronger (look at Luke 17:1-2). It’s not OK for church leaders to act this way.

Look to Jesus

The Bible tells us that sin, when it is full-grown, leads to death (James 1:15). Many pastors who sin are good men whose sin went unchecked, grew into a monster, and destroyed them. The Bible also warns us that some who pass themselves off as ministers are wolves (Matthew 7:15, Acts 20:29); such men are deceivers and manipulators who gained their position with false motives.

Regardless, you need to know that the truth and your faith are not invalidated if the person you heard the gospel from turns out to be a fake. Paul knew that some preachers were selfish troublemakers, but he still rejoiced that Christ was preached (Philippians 1:18). The one who called you to faith was not some pastor but the Holy Spirit himself, and he is the Spirit of truth, who has the power through the Bible to speak to you even through the mouths of imperfect or even fraudulent preachers.

Look to Jesus. Ask him to remind you of the truth of your relationship to him. Ask him to heal your hurts. And don’t forget to turn to others.

Minister to the Hurting

When a church leader’s sin comes to light, a lot of attention often goes to damage control—how to save the church institution from catastrophe. The ones that often get lost in the shuffle are the ones who are hurt the most. Jesus will heal us as we concern ourselves with ministering to those in pain. Who is caring for the abuser’s victims? What about the family the adulterous pastor left behind? Who is left most alienated and hurt by the minister’s departure? When a church rallies around the hurting, showering them with grace and love, we show ourselves to be true disciples, the Body of Christ in the world.

Light is good. When light hits and evil deeds are exposed, it is painful, and our impulse is to hide or flee (John 3:19-20). But if we dare to fight through the pain, stepping into the light instead of fleeing, we find there healing and glory as God works through us (John 3:21). The redemption that comes through the cross of Jesus is powerful enough to overcome any sin, even the sin of church leaders. When a leader falls, we can see plainly that the only legitimate head of the church is not any sinful man, but Jesus Christ himself, and he is always faithful, always trustworthy, and always able to heal our deepest hurts.

What Is the Christian's Responsibility in Regard to Voting?

One of the things that is true everywhere in ministry is that there are, from time to time, issues that hijack everyone's attention.  Sometimes it's a local tragedy.  Sometimes it's something exciting or fun, like a championship run by the local team.  Right now, it's the election.  So please indulge me for this post as we address what is dominating the news, as well as the conversations of our people.

For most Southern white Evangelicals, the question in this election is not really one or the other; it's one or neither.  Other church leaders may have reason to address why Hillary Clinton is not fit for our vote, but that's not what we're struggling with here.  It's all about Donald Trump, and it goes like this: Christians have the civic duty to vote, we can't vote for Hillary, a write-in or third-party vote is as just like not voting at all, so we must vote for Trump, regardless of his perceived flaws.  You've heard this line of reasoning rolled out in various forms for months now, and it's been effective.  Many Christians who initially found Trump to be repugnant are now fervently on his side.  Trump/Pence yard signs are popping up everywhere around town.

I accept only one premise in that argument: for her radically pro-abortion stance, her general hostility toward biblically conservative Christians, and a host of other reasons, I cannot recommend that anyone vote for Hillary Clinton.  But I want to examine the question of what a Christian's civic duty really is in regard to voting, and I'd like us to center our thoughts on five guidelines for our political engagement:

1 - Pay attention

"No Matter What": A New Year (part 2)

CHAPTER 3 – A NEW YEAR (continued)

            These things might have kept me on the margins of a few conversations, but these disparities were nothing compared to the difference in transportation.  Kids at our church had used BMWs and Mercedes, brand-new Mazdas and Toyotas, or full custom pickups and SUVs.  I drove (when I could get it) my dad’s brown 1983 Oldsmobile.  Most of the time, I went around like a beggar, asking people for rides.

            I didn’t have to beg for rides from my youth group much, because I was usually with my parents, but it was an everyday struggle at school.  Basketball was the last period of the day, and we never got out in time to catch the bus, so I was stuck without a way to get home.  No one wanted to commit to driving me home on a daily basis, so every afternoon contained the humiliating quest to find a willing friend to take me home.

*  *  *  *  *

            “It sucks, Dad,” I said, as we talked about it on the way home from a grocery store run on the last day of summer.  “I know there’s nothing we can do about it, but I feel like an idiot every day.”

10 Ways God is Different from "the Force"

With the hysteria at fever-pitch this week as Star Wars, Episode VII, is set to premiere later this week, I thought I would take a look at the "theology" of these movies compared with what has been revealed to us in the Bible about God.

This type of exercise is fun in a way, but it also serves a purpose.  Competing ideas about God are everywhere, and when a mythology such as what Star Wars has built becomes so ingrained in our cultural consciousness, it can create confusion.  Particularly if you are a parent of a Star-Wars-crazy kid (like I am), these distinctions might be some talking points to cover when you enjoy these adventures together.

And since everyone loves lists on the Internet, here are Ten Ways God is Different from the Force:

"No Matter What": A New Year, part 1 (excerpt)

CHAPTER 3 – A NEW YEAR

            It was a week before the start of my junior year, and I was back-to-school shopping with my mom—which was just as embarrassing as it sounds.  I was actually never the type to be embarrassed to be seen with my parents or family, though.  I love my mom, and, besides, am I supposed to be embarrassed I have parents?  That being said, there’s nothing that makes you feel more like a “little boy” than going in and out of a dressing room so your mom can see how your clothes fit, and you don’t exactly want kids from school seeing you do a model turn for your mother. 

            I had the reputation in my family as the “fashion-conscious” one, which would have been hilarious to anyone who actually saw me dress as a teenager.  (There was this dude my sophomore year who looked me over disdainfully one day and said, “I can’t believe you can throw those clothes on in the morning and think you’re ready for school.”)

"Calvary Characters": Barabbas

This is my first effort for my "Calvary Characters" project.  These are fictionalized first-person stories of people who surrounded Jesus during the time of His crucifixion and resurrected, based on Scripture and history.  This first one was based on a monologue I did for Easter a couple of years ago.  Let me know what you think.

CALVARY CHARACTERS - BARABBAS

            In a cave in the Negev of Judah, a hooded figure slips through the shadows to join a band of robbers by the fire.  As light from the flickering fire illuminates his face, gasps echo in the cavern.  The newcomer removes his hood and speaks…

            “Don’t look so surprised!  Yes!  It is me!  Barabbas!”

August 6th

August 6th is my son's birthday.  This year, he turns eight.  Eight seems pretty old to me, hard to believe.  (I remember when I turned eight, I thought I was big stuff, challenging my much larger brother with an ill-advised, "Don't mess with the eight-year-old.")

August 6th is also the anniversary of two of the scariest days of my life...