The men (women too) who teach us and lead us in our walk with the Lord are just that, teachers and leaders. They are NOT Christ Himself. They are to emulate Him and walk closely with Him and be men (and women) of upstanding lives certainly. Someone on a forum I’m part of is considering changing churches because her pastor is separated from his wife and has been for some time. She just heard it from a third party and now is seeing him as a man instead of a leader, a man who failed and lied, no less. It makes me sad to hear that. I love knowing my leader is a person too. That he sometimes fails just like me and he can keep his faith intact. While I pray for the relationship battles he is going through I can see what kind of faith he has by how he handles the situation. Of course, if he stepped out on his wife with another woman then I would find someone who can practice what he preaches, so to speak. Since this particular man had chosen to disclose only to the elders of the church, and the information given was by gossip (ß BAD) then he might have been waiting to see how God would make this all work out. No particulars were given so it’s possible it’s something that he had no control over. It’s funny, because we see these leaders as flawless missionaries in a way. High profile topic coming your way à Take Catholicism for instance, the priests who abused the children, a lot of media surrounded this and people were thoroughly shocked. Ummmmm, what about the regular men who do it? They deserve to be ostracized and dragged through the media and put on display too. I digress. When the men of faith fail they topple off the pedestal that we put them on. Should they be walking as straight in the faith as they profess? Absolutely! Of course, as Christians, so should we. “But Jeni, we’re just dust that sins, it’s in our nature!” Guess what, we ALL sin and fall short of the glory of God. (ref. Romans 3:23) Not just you and me, but every single man, woman and child in history, except Jesus Christ Himself. Yes, we hold our spiritual leaders to a higher standard, yes, they should be ready for that task, but, we can’t stone them (anymore) for failing. Even when your spiritual leader falls, or fails, it’s a growth opportunity. How will they deal with it? How will they allow God to guide them from sin? That’s what it’s all about anyway. Better yet kids, what can you learn, and change in your life from their example?
Side note: Gossip and slander is very naughty! If you’re not getting information first hand then it’s gossip. We are all guilty of gossip (especially the Ladies),however, there is no way you are getting the whole story if it’s not firsthand. Add to that the way stories have a tendency to change and twist to affect the response.
Example: Ed says to Mike, “Today my wife left me, we’d been arguing a lot and so she’s going to stay at her mom’s for a couple weeks and we’ll talk when she gets back. We’re really not telling people about it, but you’re my friend and I knew you’d understand and can maybe lift us up in prayer.” Mike goes home and tells his wife the story but adds, “I knew they were having trouble. Did you see the way she was looking at Dan last week?” His wife tells her friend Marge the story Ed gave but adds, “Mike said that Ed’s wife has been seeing Dan on the sly.” Marge goes to Cindy and relays the message adding the shock factor of a hotel bill. And so forth and so on and next thing you know Ed hears the new story and punches poor Dan in the face and accuses him of stealing his wife and Dan’s wife leaves him based on some stupid rumor that should never have been started. THAT, my friends, is gossip, slander and the damage it can cause.
We turn to our Bibles and Jesus spoke about this very subject in Matthew chapter 12 verse 36. But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment. 37 For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned. (NASB)
There it is folks, in plain red and white.
*The Jesus Loving Princess*
*Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.
Proverbs 3:5*
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