Falling

A pastor in our community resigned from his church the other day because he was caught having an inappropriate relationship with an underage girl.

Many things go through our heads at a time like this. A member of his flock must have a myriad of feelings. Shock, dismay, righteous indignation, anger, betrayal, sadness, even rage.

I'm also just as sure that there are those both saved and unsaved that may feel vilified or even relish in an affirmation of their preconceived "Hypocrite Christian" viewpoint.

It is my hope that there are also some people who might feel compassion, hope for restoration, and a sense of humbleness that "there but for the grace of God go I."

This called to memory a similar situation in my church a few years ago where a very gifted and learned leader let self and pride come between himself and God. If the church had been an orchestra, he would have been the conductor, and he was good at it. The problem was that the church had been steadily losing members, largely because this person couldn't relinquish control of anything and often intimidated people, including our pastor, to get his way. Through much heartbreak, the board asked him to step down from a leadership role for awhile and be a part of the body, sitting in a pew, rejoicing, singing, worshipping, and listening for what the Holy Spirit had to say each week. That wasn't good enough. Self and Pride won out, and he, along with his whole family, left the church immediately. I know thay my sister and I loved them very much and were broken to see them go. I pray to this day that he has found peace once again with Jesus.

It's a hard thing when our desires of self become the god we worship more than the true God that we should wholly serve.

If a leader, or any brother or sister, for that matter, denies and defies when they are confronted according to the Gospel, then of course they should be taken out to the woodshed, but, I can't stress enough that we must have compassion and a hope of restoration for those who have fallen and turned away because the world won't give it!

You might be thinking that it wouldn't have been as bad had the sin involved an older woman, or that he should have known better because he was a pastor, but before we jump on the bandwagon and throw stones, let's ask ourselves where we have fallen each day. We are all called to be priests, holy and sanctified. How often do we cut corners, or turn into someone else when we drive, or abuse God's temples with alcohol, tobacco, or excessive amounts of food, or gossip about that horrible and weak pastor?

We all, daily, require our Father's forgiveness, compassion, mercy, and restoration.... And I know He asks the same from us.

Romans 3:23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

John 8:7 (concerning the adulteress) He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.

I ask that the readers of my blog pray with me for this pastor who loves the Lord but has lost his way. Pray for a renewed relationship between himself and the Lord. Pray for his family and the church that looked to him for guidance. And that they will all find some peace in this trying time.

God Bless