For a while I’ve interacted with ministers who suffer due to being mistreated by church members. But, some ministers rebel and should be disciplined (Fired) by a congregation. As I have written about the wrong of hurtful church members, I am much more appalled by sinfully rebellious ministers. Thus this post.
I found the following from a minister. If you can get through reading it, I have a few comments to follow… (Note: These are the minister’s own words {Bold is for emphasis}):
I had an affair. I left home for a week. I came home Saturday. I fell asleep. My wife picked up my phone to turn (the) alarm off (and) there was a text from my girlfriend (and) she read it. (My wife) confronted me. Now I can’t tell if I’m sorry cause I know the truth or because I’m caught. I want to leave and be with the other woman but my only obstacle are my children. I took all the love for my wife and put it in another woman. I’m now deeply in love with her. I know the scriptures, I’ve given my life to them. But I’ve had my middle finger up to God for over a year. I know about his redemption. But I don’t want it right now. I’m a fixer I’ve always fixed people. I have always taken the lumps so everyone else could be happy. This time everyone is not gonna be happy. I feel guilty dropping the other woman cause I love her so much. I feel guilty leaving my wife cause of my kids. It is a lose lose. I feel such a heavy responsibility… I hate that a girl is gonna get hurt. I have always been a protector of women. My mom was severely abused and I hate men that hurt women. Physically or emotionally. I’m that guy now. I wanna get another job leave my wife and take my kids with me.
This is what rebellion sounds like… from a minister no less! Is it any wonder people ignore Christ when supposed church leaders act and speak like this? I fear for him because by his conduct and attitude he has caused many to stumble. Not only that, “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hand of the living God” (Heb 10:31).
Oh how different another believer reacted when he committed adultery (AND Murder)… “Nathan said to David, ‘You are the man! Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel…’ David said to Nathan, ‘I have sinned against the Lord.'” (2 Sam 12:7, 13). David was forgiven because he repented. The same can’t be said for the person above… at least as far as can be known.
This person has given unbelievers a reason to defame Christ and His Church (Romans 2:24). This is a grave sin. This person was… and should have been… immediately removed from the fellowship of the congregation in keeping with what Paul wrote in 1 Cor 5…
1 It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you… 2 Let him who has done this be removed from among you. 3 For though absent in body, I am present in spirit; and as if present, I have already pronounced judgment on the one who did such a thing. 5 you are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord. 9 I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— 10 not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. 11 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. 13 God judges those outside. “Purge the evil person from among you.”
From what I have been able to find out, the church tried to help the minister… but he turned them down. Sometimes it is not the church at fault, but the minister. But still I contend that regardless of who is or isn’t at fault, it is best to be loving, forgiving, merciful, compassionate, and gracious… with all those things mean.
UPDATE (7/10/14): Click HERE for a church that handled a difficult staff situation the RIGHT way.
It is not clear wheather or not the Church even knows of his rebellion. He should repent and seek to save his marriage by getting his wife to go with him to a Christian marriage counceler. Regardless, he needs to quietly resign, if quietly is possible, before the entire Church is harmed.
If I’m not mistaken, the church did find out and asked him to resign… offering counseling help, that was refused. While I agree about being gracious, I’m of the opinion he should eventually publicly confess to the church and ask for their forgiveness. There are many dynamics that I’m sure neither of us will ever know or be aware of, so it is hard to make definitive statements, only basic generalizations. Bottom line, it is a much worse sin because ministers are held to a higher standard by all.