If you are reading this post, I don’t have to write the lengthy list of leadership names that have been disqualified in this recent season. IHOP Kansas City and Forerunner Church are navigating such a time according to social media news. We can debate the appropriateness of analysis I suppose, but in a day of insta-news and social media celebrity, it seems naive to expect some kind of self-imposed mutism from the masses. My discernment is that there are probably more failures yet to be revealed, which is why we need to hear what God is saying to us and understand what He is doing in His Church and with His people.
Honestly, after my limited experience of being involved in some form of oversight regarding leaders who have allegedly failed in their ministry in disqualifying fashion, it is exhausting and frustrating. Trying to sift through the allegations while maintaining the “innocent until proven guilty” assumption, while refusing to minimize the pain or stories of the victims is daunting. No one in an oversight position is desiring pity for their part of the process of investigation, but there is also no “winning” in the eyes of the majority of people. At those moments it is like a Pandora’s Box has been opened and unless God supernaturally moves to render the right amounts of justice, mercy, vindication, covering, exposure, compassion, and righteous indignation; it is almost always a train wreck. We mortals demonstrate our humanity in the best and worst of ways.
I will leave the analysis of specific situations to those who are charged with oversight of the investigation; however, I can practice I Corinthians 10:12, “Therefore let the one who thinks he stands watch out that he does not fall.” I can consider what God might be saying to me and His Church on a larger scale…
- God is “shaking” all that can be shaken and cleansing His House. God is patient and even long-suffering, but He is not eternally suffering. There is a day He says enough and sin will be exposed. You might get by for awhile, but no one gets away.
- For too long the practice of “love covers a multitude of sins” was convoluted to become “love provides a cover-up”. Our expressions of love in this era are many times a euphemism for enablement. God is loving His Church by revealing the depth of sin in its most visible of leaders. He is also loving them by calling them to repentance. In other words, it is house cleaning time and the closets are getting emptied.
- In an era of celebrity ministry we are being reminded: Visibility = Influence, Influence = Responsibility, Responsibility = Consecration. James 3:1 states clearly, “Let not many aspire to be teachers for with it comes a stricter judgment”. If God grants you great visibility, steward it purely and cleanly. The same spotlight which applauds your name is the same spotlight which reveals your sins.
- No leader is “exposed” before multiple opportunities to repent and get their life in order. An exposure is rarely the first step but almost always the last resort. Be a person who is self aware of God’s dealings early so as not to be completely embarrassed later. There are windows of repentance opportunity if we are broken about our sin.
- Pride will almost inevitably precede a fall. I Peter 5:6, tells us we are to “humble ourselves”. If you refuse to do that, God will find a way to accomplish it.
- There is no leader, or person in general, that is irreplaceable in the work of the Lord. People may think highly of me, respect me, and miss me when I’m gone, but within a short time, everyone will move on. Replaceability is a great reminder to the arrogant and haughty of their temporal status.
- Leaders do not have a special set of rules. In fact, I would suggest the rules and standard are even higher for the leader. Moses struck a rock in frustration and he lost his promise. Was that fair? Apparently so, because the Lord felt he had misrepresented Him before the people. A leader needs to know that God expects more of them…apparently way more.
- Light is the only antiseptic for darkness. We must “walk in the light as He is in the light”. There is a part of me that understands the stain the Church receives by airing its “dirty laundry” to the world and the repercussions of their disdain. However, we need reminding that God has been handling His own PR for millennia and the stories are abundant throughout His Word of adulterers, murderers, liars, thieves, polygamists, fornicators, rapists, abusers, and the like. Yes, it’s a stain, and will bring justifications for those who hate us to again mock us. But we humble ourselves and let God cleanse our messes. It isn’t pleasant but it doesn’t ultimately stop the work of God.
- Everyone needs real accountability and collaboration. The “Moses” model of leadership where one person has the divine strategy or word is fading and mutually submitted people in teams are arising. While I agree that a benevolent dictator might be a wonderful thing in theory, the depth of our personal depravity keeps proving that it rarely if ever can be maintained. Find a group of people and work together where Jesus is more easily seen than you.
- Forgiveness is the command to all of us as believers. Reconciliation, restoration, and restored position are not automatic concomitants of forgiveness. These may take time or they may not be possible at all.
I am sure more points to the list could be generated and with equal weight be considered for our benefit. I’m just doing my best in these latter years to learn as much as I can the easiest way and to be a good finisher. And if by chance you have read this and deception has yet to completely blind your eyes to your ongoing, unconfessed sin…
Now might be a good time to cry out to God and get things right…
Before the shaking comes to your house…
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