By Brady Speers
If you had a friend that had been abused or horribly mistreated by your own priest/pastor and you learned about it, what would you do? What if there was a pattern of this priest/pastor doing this to others for years?
If the abused party was truly a friend, doing nothing would only condone his actions and betray your friendship.
Your options would be one of three things:
1. Work to make him repent and humble himself before God and his congregation and MAYBE let him continue in his role
2. Leave the church and warn others
3. Confront him with others and force the priest/pastor to leave
Either he would have to repent, seek forgiveness or leave, or you would have to leave. It’s really that clear, yet instead, most in the situation do nothing.
A local well-known pastor has been hurting and abusing people in his own congregation for years. I personally know of nearly 10 different couples he has greatly hurt. The Bible makes it clear that Christians are to demonstrate the “Fruits of the Spirit” and certainly a man in his position should even more so. Yet, those of you still attending this church should read the list and ask yourself which of these “fruits” appears in his personal life. If you don’t know him well enough, ask someone who does.
"But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control." Gal. 5:22-23.
Does he demonstrate even one of these?
Knowing and having followed this man myself for 10 years, what I see is lack of control, meanness, uncaring, rudeness, insensitive, power hungry, explosive anger, critical spirit, pride and more. Sure, we all struggle with sin. We all need to work to produce better fruit in our own lives. But when a priest/pastor fails to demonstrate even the basics of humility, grace, love and patience with his own people, but instead berates people, and runs over them emotionally, there is character issue that should keep him from being in his position.
Christians need to unite during this time and reclaim their own church. They must stand up for their friends, even if it means they too get kicked out and escorted off the property. You would have only proved the point even more that this man must go.
Doing nothing lets the devil continue to have his way. Doing nothing hurts your friends who are likely in shock that you have put this man ahead of your dear friendship. Doing nothing means it continues and yet again gets swept under the rug.
Doing nothing is NOT what Jesus did. When he saw the leaders of the church taking advantage of their followers, he responded accordingly. With righteous anger and immediate action.
Now it’s your turn. Pony up and let the Holy Spirit lead you. Though your heart may beat quickly, and fear may come on you, it is the right thing to do!
Your friends deserve it!
“Jesus entered the Temple and began to drive out all the people buying and selling animals for sacrifice. He knocked over the tables of the money changers and the chairs of those selling doves.” Matthew 21:12
© 2011, J. Brady Speers
"I say it how I see it and I make no bones about it."
sponsored by http://www.bradyspeers.net/
4 comments:
Brady I believe that to be beautifully written. I, too, am a former church member of that church who was hurt.
I can say that I have finally moved on, found a beautiful church that LOVES my family, has ministered to my family in NUMEROUS ways, and when we have questions, are lovingly prayed with, guided to the answers and led compassionately and lovingly to CHRIST.
My children are learning what it means to be a Christian and now herded like cattle and babysat for 3-4 hours.
Although we have wonderful friendships in that former church, we pray and encourage those who still attend. Love love and embrace them for their decision to stay. But this pastor has to be stopped. He is making ETERNAL scars on people. People who are not Christians WILL turn away thinking, "if this is what being a Christian is about, I want NOTHING to do with it." He may preach the gospel, but there is more to being a pastor than just to preach the gospel. You have to LEAD by EXAMPLE. If your life doesn't mimic what you preach, then you have some changin' to do. I speak from experience.
My prayers continue to be lifted for those families and individuals who are left with the "what do we do" question.
REMEMBER: Doubt, fear, and complacency is OF SATAN. That's EXACTLY what he wants from those families. There is FREEDOM in following CHRIST!!!
You make some really good points and your assessment about overseers is spot on. Churches today need to get back to servant leadership, restoring broken relationships and making disciples. Prayer is a powerful tool in situations like these. Some will be called to leave, others to stay. And, God will not be mocked. "1 But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. 2 Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. 3 In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping." 2 Peter 2:1-3. Sobering verses.
Another former follower of that man here. We left 7 years ago, and did our best to warn others. So blessed to have found another church to fellowship and worship with.
My family also worshiped at that church. His actions go back 15 years that I know of. I am sad, but not surprised, to learn that he has not repented and changed his ways. Praying for my many friends who remain under his teaching. Blessed to have moved to a different church.
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