An open letter to the pastor/preacher who has failed or about to fail.

 

“People fail in every profession, including yours,” was the response given by noted televangelist T D Jakes to when a TV reporter asked him about fallen preachers.

 

At first blush, that answer seems reasonable, practical and logical.

 

Well, I hasten to inform you that it is not.

 

They are drawn to a higher calling and answer to a higher authority. This is not just like any other profession.

 

Flippant statements like that make me afraid that we may be losing our sense of awe and wonder that this thing is special or different from anything else.

 

Why you may ask? To which I will respond, why is it newsworthy? Why is it shocking? Why do you still find it appalling when a pastor or priest messes up?

 

Without exception the standard answer is, “Well, you just do not expect that from a pastor or priest. Even the most degenerate sinner knows that.”

 

At this point, I can almost hear the chorus of boos and cries of “That’s not fair” and “People fall short and mess up” and “Judge not, lest ye be judged.” Here’s my favorite: “ I am a man like everybody else.” Then they trot out names like Jacob, Lot, Noah, David ,Samson, Solomon and Judas. Yet as they shout, protest, condemn and quote scriptures, deep within the core of their souls they know what I am saying or about to say is right.

 

They will find no sympathy in this corner because the standard is not any of the above-the standard is Jesus Christ.

 

 Remember, you are called a man of God, not a man of Jacob. His standard is excellence.

Was Jacob crucified for you?

Were you baptized in the name of Lot?

Your life and actions must reflect the character of the one you claim to represent.

For God’s sake you are an ambassador of Christ –indeed the noblest profession.

 

Check out the requirements for a bishop in the New Testament: A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, given to hospitality, apt to to teach. Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre, but patient, not a brawler, not covetous.  -1 Tim 1: 2-3.

 

Personal moral failures and extramarital affairs, phrases coined in the United States of America, used in context with pastors will always be abnormal to me. Point blank. You do not misuse the church’s money. You do not cast your eyes on the ladies in the choir and you certainly do not have sex with the boys in your charge.

 

Notwithstanding, Paul’s admonition in the same chapter about ruling your own household well, many a preachers seem to find an out because they are consumed by the demands of the job, their wife leaves you because of lack of attention, their son falls victim to drug abuse or their daughter experiences an unwanted pregnancy—all real word examples. Any personal indiscretion on their part should not be understood or tolerated.

 

God called the preacher to be the shepherd and should be held responsible for his own actions instead of blameshifting.  Pastors you are like a spiritual bus driver; though others may get on and off the bus, you do not give up or forfeit your seat until you finish the route.

 

Furthermore, I am not concerned with words like authoritarian, dictatorial, dogmatic. In fact, you should not be listening to the people, you should be paying attention to God.  It does not matter if everybody likes or approves of you as long as your way pleases him and your conscience does not condemn you.

 

Neverthless, once you are called, voted in, elected, ordained, anointed, or appointed, all bets are off. The rules change and the expectations are different.

 

If you think it is unfair or unreasonable, you need to take it up with Him.

 

If you say that He has called you, then you must believe and act like He can keep you.

 

“Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,to the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power,both now and ever. Amen.” -  Jude 24 and 25

 

Why is Billy Graham considered America’s preacher? He did not preach words of overly -eloquent wisdom, but the power of the cross. He has promised, promoted and lived lifelong fidelity to his God, family, faith and profession.

 

If you are not confident enough in that, you need to find a seat in the pew. Become a plumber or better yet become a politician.  They are not men of principle and nobody really expects anything from them. There is a distinct difference between the pulpit and the pew. In the natural world, the distance between the pulpit and the pew is very small but in the spiritual it is gigantic. Although it isn’t a good thing for any Christian to fall, if a sheep in the pew messes up -- well that is what a sheep does. When a pastor errs, the fallout is severe and horrendous. The sheep are scattered to the four winds, some never return or find it extremely difficult to come back to the fold.

 

I have seen and heard of too many stories and tragedies here and abroad.

 

Before you decide to step up to the pulpit, assume responsibility for people’s souls or commit to showing them the way, consider very carefully whether you possess enough to finish the job.

 

This is serious business with eternal implications.

 

You knew the requirements of the job going in—they are rigid, strict and unyielding.

 

If you felt insecure and uncertain you should have declined the invitation or waited until you were sure that you were ready for such a weighty undertaking.  That makes Bob Coy’s admission that he would “one day disappoint” or fail his people absolutely incredible. Not even a professional quarterback has that attitude. If he did, he would quickly discover what NFL really means -- “not for long.” The man who would lead God’s team must be prepared to accept and do the impossible. It is a primary job requirement.

 

According to Pastor T.V. Mathews, whom I have featured in these columns , if you mess up, it is your own fault. You study and profess to know the word of God. Therefore, you knew your actions were wrong. You knew the steps you were taking would eventually lead to destruction. So when you fail, do not rationalize it or try to explain it. Just kindly take a seat in the pew for you can never be his pastor again. Your actions clearly demonstrate that you are a sheep and not a pastor. How can you rebuke the sheep about sin and wrongdoing or try to correct them when you are doing the same thing?

 

Indeed this is what Paul commands in 1 Cor.5: 12, “But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard or swindler-not even to eat with such a one.” How can we take direction and instruction from him?

 

It is reprehensible to see pastors fighting allegations in court and the media about rape, financial impropriety, spousal or sexual abuse. You are not Bill Clinton, Bill Cosby or a comedian and nobody is laughing. I can guarantee you God is not.

 

When the Catholic Church transfers problem priests to different parishes to avoid confronting the problem, this is inexcusable.

 

Just man up and humbly admit you are not up to the job. There really is no shame in that. It is admittedly a “naturally impossible” job. Many are called, but few are chosen.

 

Only a select few can do it. Obviously, you cannot.

 

“Only be thou strong and very courageousness that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law,which Moses my servant commanded thee;turn not to the right or to the left,that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest” were the instructions given to Joshua before entering the Promised Land in Joshua 1:6.

 

 You may recall that Moses ,his predecessor, did not enter said destination because of two errors- striking the rock twice and uttering “we” while doing so. Read it again in Numbers 20: 11-12.

 

To whom much is given, much is required.

 

From my youth I have been taught to give way for the man of God, that I should respect, honor and obey him.

 

If I am ever called into your office for instruction, reprimand or correction, I always would and should feel nervous because you are not one of the boys and I am not dealing with a man like me.

 

Despite your age, I have always wanted and needed to look up to you, needed you to pull me up to scare the ‘hell” out of me in the event of any slipup on my part as sheep are prone to do. The church, the body of Christ and I do not need a running buddy, a pal or a “dawg.”

 

 We need a man in charge, a father who knows it, shows it and lives it. Someone who has firmly declared, “Here am I, Lord, send me.” To witness  a failure in this most precious endeavor is confusing, disillusioning and disheartening.

 

Naïve and simplistic as that may sound my question to you, did it change and when did it happen? I do not recall that.

 

How could you in all good conscience knowing all that you know crucify Christ anew and put him to an open shame? You are supposed to subdue the flesh and bring it under subjection while preaching to others.

 

In the final analysis, this regrettable failure does not preclude you from going to heaven or being of service to God. God is still loving merciful and full of compassion. However, it does preclude you from being a shepherd or guide.

 

 For you have shown that we cannot trust you because sometimes you lose your way.