Fit For Ministry

It seems a debate has been raging online concerning a certain Bible Study and Prophecy teacher’s fitness for the ministry. This summer, I have been so busy with all the details of a kitchen remodel that I barely had a minute to breathe let alone catch the latest Christian cat fight. 

Two years ago, I moved into the house of my dreams, all except for the kitchen that is. It had old, outdated appliances and wallpaper. There was a countertop broken in several places and there was some questionable flooring under a 1980’s style carpet. Even with all those problems, the day that I first viewed the house I saw a kitchen bathed in light from three different directions and one hundred year old wood begging to be restored. 

The day my appliances were delivered signaled the end of my month long remodel project and was also the day the scandal broke. It was that day that I noticed Pastor H***** H***** placed an article on his website to defend himself against accusations made of drinking, womanizing and tax evasion. I knew something had been brewing for a while, but the guy is so gosh, darn entertaining. This man’s ministry has been growing by leaps and bounds and while he appears to be doing good works, sometimes he seemed to lack some good old-fashioned Christian maturity. You know that thing that you need in order to be FIT FOR MINISTRY.

It appears that a few young Christian men called out a certain older Christian man on allegations that he had hooked up with various married and single women over the years and may have been a serial womanizer. He may have even been kicked out of a few churches for this behavior. Perhaps, a ministry partnership was quietly severed over inappropriate conduct and the police even investigated the Pastor for recording a woman in a compromising position without her consent.  If that is possibly true, this man is not FIT FOR MINISTRY.

Christians can get very emotional when a beloved ministry head is accused of wrong-doing. Sometimes, there is even a knee-jerk reaction to defend him rather than to begin by reflecting on what the word of God, the Bible has to say about these things. That is the case in this instant where Pastor H’s legions of fans are coming to his defense but, in the process of doing that, their own spiritual journey is being compromised. There are checks and balances written in the Bible which are there to protect the integrity of the church. 

It is easier than ever to start a ministry on YouTube or on a website and escape the close scutiny that being in a church building and meeting face to face might entail. Therefore, more than ever we must use some biblical knowledge and spiritual discernment before we go down that road. The Holy Spirit “will guide you into all truth”-John 16:13 

With the advent of quick money collecting sites such as “Go Fund Me” and even the Christian alternative  “Way Giver,” a person or ministry can quickly accrue huge amounts of money often based on very questionable criteria. A friend of a friend on facebook says donate. Often a very emotional appeal will get even strangers to donate.

It looks like Pastor H has appealed to his radio audience on multiple occasions. He once asked for personal financial aid with very nebulous reasons to explain why he needed the money. How could a Pastor ask for help with a personal problem without telling his listeners what the money is for? Also, he asked people to help a woman and her children with costs associated with relocation and now that woman is his wife. This woman and children lived as his friend, according to him, in his apartment for a year before that marriage. Many things here appear to give the impression or possibility of sin. The Bible tells us to be careful not to leave that impression. 

People are trusting of a Pastor but, the Bible doesn’t teach us to be fools about it. Jesus warned, “See to it that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name”- Luke 21:8 The  Bible tells us many appear innocent but, are not. The Bible can not help us if we don’t listen to its’ advice.

Other times Pastor H is asking for money to give bibles to people in prison. Who wouldn't want to give to such a cause? That is, if it is all going to that cause or at least an appropriate amount. There is nothing wrong with earning money and a congregation is charged with supporting its’ ministers fairly. However, since we are talking millions of dollars, shouldn’t there be plenty of accountability to answer any financial questions? It is easy today to hire a Christian firm which can certify that the ministry is meeting the financial Christian mark. After knowing the facts, there is then a clear choice if you or I wish to contribute. 

The Bible is pretty clear that the standard for leadership is high. “Not many should teach” for example, which Pastor H does do. The Bible cautions those called to ministry not to take it lightly. It also says that one in ministry should be blameless. It doesn't say sinless because as the Bible explains none but Jesus were sinless. It says blameless. 

Another thing that is hinted at in the allegations against H**** H***** is a pattern of behavior. The Bible talks about the continuation of sin as a red flag. “No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him.”-1 John 3:6. So, all in all, I think it is incumbent upon each of us to hold the leaders in our Christian Community to the biblical standards as the Lord has asked us to. I believe that not doing this will take away the anointing that God has placed upon a group that we are involved with. 

Below are some scriptures that I am pondering and praying over as I contemplate this situation. 

1 Timothy 3:1-7: Here is a trustworthy saying: Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task. Now, the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full respect. (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?) He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap.

1 Corinthians10:19: Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. 

Mark 9:35 and he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, “if anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.”

Matthew 7:15-20: Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.

1 Timothy 5:19: Do not admit a charge against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses.

Matthew 18:15-17: If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But, if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.

James 3:1: Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.

****  The name is changed. I wondered if I should identify this Pastor by name. However, the overriding principle of holding all Christian leaders accountable is the real issue. 

Culture of Silence

I had a run in with my Pastor recently. He did not want to talk about a recent murder-suicide that had occurred. I thought it strange that on a social visit that he got hugely bent out of shape when I brought up the question of why the guy did it? Let me back up. Several days ago, I received a call from my Pastor’s wife concerning the passing of a woman at the hands of her own husband. He then took his own life in short order.

The man was related to a dear sweet woman in my church. I feel awful for her and for all who are suffering because of this terrible crime. I think I am in trouble with my pastor though. When I received a call about the murder-suicide from his wife, I was upset. Whenever something like this happens I ask myself why. It seems so unnecessary and terrible. 

But, somehow as I was trying to work through my feelings by bringing up the question of why this happened, he accused me of being judgmental or a gossip. I did debate him on these points. I told him that it is natural to feel wronged as a community and wonder how these things happen and what we can do about them.

He countered that it has nothing to do with me so why would I even be concerned. He stated that the conversation was putting this man on trial when we don’t know what happened. Of course, the irony is that had this man lived he would be going on trial. The medical examiner has determined the cause of death to be stabbing for the wife and a gun shot for the husband. So, does that make the medical examiner judgemental or just a scientist?

From what my Pastor said, I see that he is concerned that the family left behind not be labeled and judged. He seemed emotional when he thought that people would treat the family cruelly over what one of their members had done. It seemed clear that he thought even discussing it would be gossip. As we all know, and I covered in a long ago post, gossip is something that every Christian needs to try to avoid.

However, is it wrong to question who might be involved in a crime? I think it would be wrong not to. Is it possible that family members could be complicit in a crime that a family member has committed? The answer is yes. Is it possible that a family member had no knowledge or nothing to do with their family member’s crime? The answer is yes to that to. 

Here is a recent example dealing with this concept. There was a lesbian couple by the names of Echo and Marie. They lived in Pennsylvania in a trailer with Echo’s parents. Marie had been divorced and had entered that relationship with three children from that union. They all resided together in that trailer.  Over the course of many years, two of the children were neglected, abused and died of starvation. Both women and the parents living in the trailer had various charges leveled against them. The father’s lawyer tried to wiggle his client (Echo’s father) out of any culpability to which the prosecuting attorney replied that in a trailer that small, the father most certainly knew what was going on and bears responsibility. 

Being a Christian is a contact sport, we should not be bystanders on the sidelines of life. When we see something we have to say something or do something. Can we help in a situation? If so, then how? The Bible tells the story of virtue, of faith and also of crime and evil. It does not waver in telling this story. Should we? Sin has entered the world and exists until that time where God shall once and for all vanquish it. We need to stand up to evil. Domestic abuse is one of those evils. Domestic violence is made perfect in a Culture of Silence. 

Silence is tacit approval. Silence in our hearts and in our communities ensures that we learn nothing from a situation. We can’t even apply biblical truths to our lives if we don’t deal with the uncomfortable truths of life. The violence of a murder-suicide needs to be discussed. The Bible teaches accountability to God and to one another. It was a young man’s realization of that which allowed him to reach out to me when he was about to beat up his wife. 

In his new found faith in Jesus he suddenly broke the hold that domestic violence had upon him and had persisted for generations of his family. It began for Joachim* by exploring the difference between right and wrong in his Bible. Then, he was able to confess his sins “Confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed” -James 5:16.  He called me up and told me that he wanted to hurt his wife. I told him to walk out the door of his home and I continued to talk to him. In his mind, she was the reason he was so angry and the answer for that was to hit her. I explored that with him and that began to tear at his previous preconceptions of his situation.

Sharing how angry he was at his wife and the violence that he had previously done in his marriage began the process of repenting and learning new ways to live his life without the violence. Joachim now helps other men to work through these issues at his church through prayer, biblical teachings and accountability to a men’s group. Joachim’s family had been silent when they suspected his father and grandfather of similar things. There were broken bones, blood, and flat tires, The truth is, many people are trained in their homes or in their culture to think that beating or even killing your wife is okay. 

I am praying for my Pastor. I believe his over the top attempt to shut me down from speaking could perhaps indicate a personal history or struggle with some of these issues. Maybe, there was some deep shaming in his own family because of a crime that occurred. Shame comes because we have still yet to normalize the truth of mankind’s sinful and fallen nature. If we were honest, we would understand that within our hearts, within our family history there is a Jack the Ripper, a domestic abuser, a bank robber or a horse thief. It is not always a man either. In Westchester County, New York people are grieving the loss of a four month old baby and her mother. That baby was killed at the hands of its’ own mother, a doctor no less.

Rather than deny it, why aren’t we trying to be part of the godly solution to this all? One of the chilling parts of my discussion with my Pastor was his total condemnation of me over asking why this husband did it. He looked like he wanted to kill me. I felt a very strong anger coming my way. I heard no condemnation of the act of stabbing his wife. I heard not a touch of sympathy concerning this poor woman meeting a violent death at the hands of her husband. I think he is part of the Culture of Silence.

Stabbing someone is a hateful and a very personal way to kill. Yet, all he spoke of was how this man probably loved his wife and I did not know what he was going through. Why could he not see the hate and sin in the situation and address it? I think when you pick up a knife and stab someone repeatedly that it does indicate something other than love and we should not ignore that. I wondered if he was going to ask me to leave the church? That did not happen. Instead, when I attended church last Sunday I noticed that he seemed to still be trying to argue his points to the captive audience that exists when he is sermonizing from the pulpit. No one is going to answer him that way are they? One thing is for certain, I am not going to be part of the Culture of Silence.  Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.-Matthew 5:14

* the name was changed.