Soapbox: What's With All The Church Scandals Going On?

Soapbox time: I am astounded by the plague of bad behavior that has spilled out of American conservative Christian leaders in recent years. Rather than name names, I'm just going to say:

Popular Christian preachers need to limit their travel schedules, and make sure they aren't on the road too much. This has never been a problem for me, because I stay in place and serve one flock. But I can imagine how certain sins are facilitated if a man travels too much, and is away from his wife and church too much. Don't work yourself so hard you become extra-vulnerable to those temptations, then feel sorry for yourself that you're working so hard!  

Don't rationalize or make excuses to yourself for immoral thoughts and feelings. God says sex is to be limited to a husband and his wife, period, no exceptions.  No, you don't deserve special treatment. Call it what it is, and keep digging that rot out of your inner self.

I'll use a harsh word here: if you are a Christian man in a position of ministry authority, don't be an arrogant fool about it. The phrase "elder rule" has come to mean, "overbearing little lordships who push people around."  1st Peter 5:3. Do not attend churches that have this "elder rule." Christ described His leadership style ("yoke") as gentle, humble, and reasonable. The Bible teaches congregational government with elders, it does not teach elder rule.

Don't have other people write books, then put your name on them. That's a violation of the commandments not to steal, and not to bear false witness. That goes the same for making up slanderous stories about people you have fired. Don't trash people on their way out, even if you did need to fire them. That makes you a liar, and a "murderer with your mouth."

How is it edifying to the Body of Christ to publicly talk sarcastically about Christian figures by name? I don't get these conferences where preachers sit in easy chairs on the stage and trash-talk other Christians. It is possible to address issues properly if errors are being spread abroad by popular speakers. Sure, there are times when we should do that. Christ did publicly challenge error. But you can do it by focusing on the issue rather than on an individual, and do it without sneering.   

Christian leadership style is never to be defined by some famous CEO's style, or whoever the president happens to be at any given moment. Are we so weak-minded that we adapt our leadership tone and talk to some godless politician? Vile speech is not "honesty." Arrogance is not "strength."  Lying is not "shrewdness." And the ends never justify the means, if the Word of God forbids those means. 

<hops off soapbox>

 

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