As I got ready to come to church this morning, the shiny people on the local news were pleading with me to rush home this afternoon in order to watch the ongoing saga of yet another large church pastor caught in a scandal.
This is just a new refrain in the same old song sung to the tune of money, sex, and power. Leadership of a large organization begets hubris, which magnifies the leader’s depravity, and “every temptation common to man” scores again. (For strength, read Matthew 26:14 and 1 Corinthians 10).
It hurts me to hear of fellow pastors embroiled in scandal. It damages the Church Universal and injures the cause of Christ because it steals our credibility as Christ-followers.
But it’s more than just the bad press… sin and its horrific consequences remind me of the fragile state of the redeemed human. There is life-altering danger in one unguarded moment. To my pastor friends: One stupid decision can wreck your life. It’ll wreck your family and your church. And generational sin (your kids and grandkids having their lives altered by your stupidity) will wreck your family tree.
The truth of this is “But for the grace of God, there go I.” I am not immune to temptation. I pray every day that the Lord would protect me from myself; that I might not give in and find my family and my church picking up the pieces of a bad decision.
So, Preacher Man, build some accountability into your life. Go to bed early; get up early. Make sure the Bible is the first thing you read, and prayers are the first and last words you speak every day.
And for good measure, splash on some Aqua Velva before you leave the house. It’ll repel the opposite sex and pesky Carolina mosquitoes.
This may be my biggest fear going into ministry: that something I do can hinder and effect those outside the church’s view of our Savior. You’re right about staying prayed up and read up on Gods word to put on the full armor of God. I think it’s ironic that the only time the church gets national attention is when something like this happens. The modern day church has faded away from church discipline…and secular news seems to enjoy picking up our slack.
Very well said. I am a contractor and one of the thought’s I keep in my pocket is “your only as good as your last job” THanks for sharing this with us. We need to be reminded from time to time that one bad decision can wreck a perfectly healthy soul.
I missed the part of putting on the whole armor of God and slather it in Aqua Velva – whatever works for you!
Of late I have been approaching choices and reviewing choices made with an eye on Romans 12. What a guide to shape your life by that makes you look so very different from the rest of the world. Our prayers continue for you daily – strength and wisdom, love and humility. “The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies Me, to one who orders his way rightly I will show the salvation of God.” Psalm 50
May grace abound in your life
I pray for you to be free from temptation every day. I pray that Connie will have the patience and strength to deal with having a preacher for a husband. I pray that your kids handle it well in school and don’t become “PK’s”. I pray that you will stay humble, even though apparently you get a real kick out of lifting heavy things and bragging about it
. I pray that you keep on preaching at HG until Jesus comes back which I hope is SOON!!! Love you!!!
Laura T