Leadership In Crisis

The subject of this post has been rolling around in my spirit for quite some time.  I have put off writing about it because of fears that it would be taken the wrong way and considered judgemental and offensive.  I assure you, that is not my intention.

As an adult, I have always been involved in many areas of ministry, in the churches I've attended.  Serving in Women's Ministry, Children's Ministry, Greeters Ministry and so much more, I quickly become acquainted with the leadership in the church I'm attending.  I have met so many men and women in leadership, serving God and the Church with complete honor and integrity, who are great examples of how to live the life we are called to live.

But all too often, I have also observed those in ministry leadership who succumb to the temptations of life and become involved in adultery, porn, alcoholism, drug abuse and other destroying lifestyles.  Please don't misunderstand me.  I am not saying that those in ministry will never sin or are never tempted to sin.  And I don't judge those who do.  I am not suggesting that they can't be forgiven and made whole.  But why does the Church choose to elevate and celebrate those leaders who get caught up in these harmful lifestyles and who leave many broken lives in their wake.  Why do we hold them up as the standard for coming out of sin and being made whole?
                 
                                                       
I have watched as many pastors, music ministers, youth leaders and the like, destroy their lives, their families and their ministries.  Then, they go through a short period of counseling, rehab and restoration and all of a sudden, they are writing books, speaking to churches, counseling and proclaiming how they fell into sin and God brought them out and restored them.  I don't doubt their testimonies and I don't question that they have been forgiven and made clean and righteous.

What I do question, is why does the Church celebrate this?  What does this say to these leader's  spouses, families and children, who are left behind to pick up the pieces of their broken lives?  Why doesn't the Church celebrate the minister who sticks in there and does the right thing, not because it's easy, but just because it is right.  Sin is the easy way out.  It's not difficult giving into temptation.  The hard thing is, when facing temptation, trials and forbidden pleasure, saying "no" to them and staying pure and clean.

Some would say that we need these types of testimonies so that when we fall and don't think God will forgive us, we can see other's examples of sin and restoration.  There are plenty of testimonies of every day folk, who are brought out of much sin and wrecked and ruined lives.  Why do we need these types of testimonies to come from the leadership of the Church?  Let them be the ones who show us how not to fall into these harmful lifestyles.  Scripture says that God calls and sets apart leaders and shepherds
                                                             who are called to a higher standard.
                                                             
During the last years of her life, my mom was in a wheel chair.  My father, a pastor, had to fix meals for her, bathe her, take her to the restroom, and not have any chance of an intimate relationship with his wife.  It was not easy.  It wasn't the life he had envisioned for him and my mom.  It wasn't pleasant.  Every day, he had to make the choice to do what was right and to rely on the Lord to be his strength and constant companion.

Of course I pray for all leaders who have fallen into sin, just as I hope they would pray for me when I am struggling.  I know that the Lord loves them dearly and wants to restore them fully and have them back in the fold.  But I wish that the Church would make a way for those in leadership, who are being tempted to fall into grave sin, to be able to share their struggle with someone without the fear of being judged, condemned and ostracized.  We should provide a way out before they fall!  Maybe then, they could join hands with someone and gain the faith and strength they need to reject sin, to not fall, so that they can live the life they are called to live, without destroying their lives and the lives of those they love.

From His lap,