Posted on March 16, 2014
What’s Wrong With the Christians?
Why is it that Christians in leadership so often fall into the very sins they preach against or become corrupt by the desire for money and power? This is a question that has been prodding my mind recently. It has been hard for me to see some of the Christians I looked up to and admired growing up fall very hard. As a Christian young woman who might some day be involved in ministry leadership, I have frequently wondered how (and if) I can keep from the terrible sins that have destroyed so many ministries and great Chrstians.
As I was pondering this terrible phenomenon, one question stuck in my mind: “Are all people just corrupt?” Of course, the answer is a definite “yes”. Whether we are great Christian leaders, church-goers, atheists, politicians, drug addicts, terrorists, or do-gooders we are all susceptible to sin and corruption. In Romans 3, it says that ” . . . there is none righteous, no, not one” (verse 10) and “all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (verse 23). Sin is a problem for all people, not just the unsaved, because we are all descendants of Adam and Eve, therefore we all inherit a sinful nature.
Does this mean that we’re all hopeless and bound to make dreadful mistakes that will destroy our ministries and offend unbelievers?Romans 5:19 says, “For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.” Because of Jesus’ grace we no longer have to live under the power of sin – we are free, no longer slaves to sin but servants and children of God.
But what about all those people who have been hurt or betrayed by these sinning Christian leaders? Our hurts cannot be erased, but as individuals we can choose to forgive these people, letting go of bitterness that will only drag us down and hurt us more. With God’s help, we can choose to follow the lead of Jesus and love those who hurt us, offering them grace and forgiveness. Who am I to not forgive another sinner who Christ has also forgiven?
Maybe you still struggle with trying to forgive these people. Here’s a question to ask yourself: did you read books and articles, listen to sermons, and go to conferences to hear what _______ (fill in the blank) had to say or did you do those things because you were seeking God with His glory and righteousness? Go live and forgive, remembering Who this is all about.
It is hard to see how deeply sin has affected us. From what I’ve seen, the people who managed to stay pure despite being in the Enemy’s crosshairs have something in common: they *know* they are vulnerable and take preemptive action to guard from their own weakness. The more keenly we are aware of the ease we could fall into temptation, the more we will put in active roadblocks to protect ourselves. Billy Graham never went into a hotel room alone (with good reason). My husband has full access to my facebook account.
Such sins only work in the dankness of secrecy. If all you do is open to trusted confidantes, you are in a far better place.
And, as always, the key is humility and dependence on God.
I like your closing statement. There are many people who have to deal with the pain of the person who led them to Christ messing up badly; they have to work through this reality as well.
Thanks for those practical ideas Cheri! Like you said, humility with honesty really is the key. There are so many people out there that have been hurt by people who are Christians or call themselves Christians. A really good tip I heard (ironically from one of the more recent “fallen” Christians) is that we can personally apologize and ask forgiveness for the mistakes of our brothers & sisters in Christ because we are all of one Body. By showing this kind of humility and taking responsibility (even though the sin was not ours personally), it can change the perspective of the hurting skeptic.
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