Sunday, March 16, 2008

When the High Road is in a Flood Plain


We have a situation in our church. The senior pastor we hired two years ago with such great expectations turned out to be a snake- oil salesman. The problem is that the large majority of our members are completely unaware and the people in the know aren't talking. There is a mountain of evidence that the man has deceived us all, yet in the spirit of being Christ-like, Mt. Everest has been disguised as a benign molehill that can be remedied with some vague explanations and an overly generous severance package. The remaining staff members, as well as godly leaders in our church, are now bound by a self-imposed gag order while those who are uninformed cry out indignantly or shrug their shoulders indifferently. I am a huge believer in turning the other cheek, forgiving seventy times seven,and taking the "high road". However, at what point does the "high road" detour us from the truth? Our financially challenged church is committed to paying a man $55,000 for services that have not been nor will ever be rendered. The Uninformed think we asked for the pastor's resignation simply because he didn't visit people in the hospital. But most importantly, godly men are having their integrity questioned. In my opinion, the creek is rising and not even higher ground is safe from destruction.
However, God is Sovereign.
"Instead of their shame my people will receive a double portion, and instead of disgrace they will rejoice in their inheritance; and so they will inherit a double portion in their land, and everlasting joy will be theirs. For I the Lord, love justice; I hate robbery and iniquity. In my faithfulness I will reward them and make an everlasting covenant with them. Their descendants will be known among the nations and their offspring among the peoples. All who see them will acknowlege that they are a people the Lord has blessed"
Isaiah 61:7-9

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