Scandal in the pulpit and the pews: 6 Scripture-based things to keep in mind
Article By Shaunta Paige // Scandals // EEW Magazine Online
This year has seen the proliferation of widespread scandal among pastors, gospel singers and faith leaders being exposed for infidelity, immorality and personal failings. This is not the first time nor will it be the last.
Yet, this trend, as it always does, has led to shock, discouragement and in some cases devastation among those that believed in and followed these leaders’ ministries for years.
It is perfectly normal and biblical to hold leaders accountable and expect them to live a life of integrity that is pleasing to God. However, the truth of the matter is, sometimes, they will fall short, just as we all do.
Great biblical heroes like David, Saul, Noah and even Abraham, the patriarch of faith, stumbled and were yet used by God. In light of this, we must take into account the importance of never expecting a mere mortal to perfectly meet the standards of holiness. If that were possible, Jesus would not have needed to sacrifice Himself for our sins to redeem our lost souls from death and destruction.
To be clear, Scripture in no way condones sin, and neither should we. Howbeit, Scripture also makes clear that no one is perfect. Therefore, we can never sit in the judgment seat and attempt to predict someone’s eternal fate, as we are not God.
Having established that, if you find yourself understandably and justifiably troubled by the recent scandal-plagued headlines pertaining to the faith community, here are 6 Scripture-based things to keep in mind.
#1 Everybody gets it wrong. “…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” says Romans 3:23. That “all” in this verse, whether we like it or not, includes pastors, worship leaders, our favorite gospel singers and even those regarded to be the most pious among us. Because we live in the flesh, and our flesh cannot obey the things of God (Romans 8:7), mess-ups are inevitable. But thank God for the blood of Jesus that cleanses us, washes our sins white as snow, and makes us worthy to be called sons and daughters of God.
#2 Restoration, not judgement, is our role. “Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted,” says Galatians 6:1. It can be hard for believers to grasp this biblical principle, as we feel more inclined to condemn than restore. But if we obey the Scripture’s command to consider the fact that we, too, could stumble and fall, we will be more compassionate and loving and quicker to restore those who have fallen.
#3 Unrealistic expectations lead to disappointment. “We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check,” says James 3:2. Despite Scripture making it clear that stumbles, failures and shortcomings are unavoidable, some still hold Christian leaders to a non-biblical standard of perfection. If you embrace an unrealistic expectation that leaders of faith will, or at the very least should, always say and do the right thing, prepare to be disappointed— a lot.
#4 Holiness is still right. “For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness,” says 1 Thessalonians 4:7. We have talked about forgiveness, nonjudgement, restoration and grace; now let’s talk about holiness. Holiness is simply being set apart for God and is a biblical requirement. Of course we miss the mark at times, but make no mistake, it is God’s desire that we obey Him, and walk in love, purity and truth. Exploiting or abusing the grace of God through reckless living will never be okay. When leaders get it wrong, holiness is still right.
#5 Holding a position is the not the same as true discipleship. “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven,” says Matthew 7:21. There are false disciples that build platforms for money, fame, and selfish gain, using the name of God. But they don’t actually do His will. In these cases, Scripture teaches that a tree is known by its fruit (Luke 6:43-45). Naturally speaking, a good tree might have a couple of bad apples, but if all the apples are bad, the whole tree is rotten. Though believers are not called to judge, we are fruit inspectors, and we know that repeated and willful sin, or rotten fruit, indicates that the heart has not been truly transformed. God will deal with them.
#6 Faith in God and following God are entirely different. “You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder,” says James 2:9. There is no true salvation without transformation. The Bible notes that demons even believe in God, but that doesn’t make them righteous. Faith in God does not indicate true discipleship. Repentance, meaning turning away from sin, is what marks a true disciple. Because salvation and transformation are inextricably tied together, you can’t have one without the other. This is important to remember lest you be influenced and go astray by following in the footsteps of apathetic, willful sinners. Profession of Christianity without righteous fruit is neither normal nor condoned. It is, in fact, offensive to God.
To reiterate, no one is perfect, leaders will stumble, and forgiveness is available to them when they do. That does not mean, however, that God holds no expectations of us, and grace can be used as an excuse to sin.
In every case, whether a leader gets it right or wrong, pray for them. Furthermore, before you judge, take to heart Matthew 7:3: “Why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but fail to notice the beam in your own eye?”
Make sure your heart is right with God.
