Bob and Gretchen Passantino wrote this article over 10 years ago and is has
some excellent points to ponder. I hope you'll take the time to read it and
think about the issues they raise.
May God bless,
Carl
my website -- http://www.nettally.com/saints/
my blog -- http://www.anniemayhem.com/cgi-bin/wordpress/
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Truth and Consequences: Exposing Sin in the Church
by Bob and Gretchen Passantino
Copyright 1994 by Bob and Gretchen Passantino.
King David had a humongous problem. A problem that threatened to destroy his
administration. This problem not only could destroy his career, but in doing
so it could destroy the economic and social stability of the nation and
leave it ripe for internal decay and external exploitation. He'd had tough
problems before in his years as Commander in Chief, but this was the worst
yet.
How was King David going to explain to his people that his affair with the
wife of one of the army's most successful generals had gotten so complicated
that he was forced to send the general to his death in a hopeless battle so
he could quickly marry the new widow to legitimize their child?
The ordinary people didn't know how hard it was to run a country, to have
multitudes depending on you for leadership. They didn't understand how the
extraordinary stresses leaders faced almost demanded extraordinary tension
relieving activities. They didn't understand how using all of one's energies
to run the country left one vulnerable to what the ministers called the
"sins of the flesh."
It was time for a damage control strategy meeting. King David called in his
most trusted advisors for a top-level secret meeting. First to arrive was
his court magician, Mike, who had parlayed a brief flirtation with the black
arts into a national inspirational comedy ministry. He had been able to hide
his four marriages, numerous affairs, and tall-tale telling for twenty
years. He was sure to have some great ideas.
The next to arrive was Brother Jimmy, from Southern Judah. True, Jimmy
wasn't as well-liked anymore since that last police stop with the prostitute
in his chariot, but he did have years of experience covering up his
pornographic recreational activities. He could help devise a plan for
keeping the worst details out of all but the most tacky tabloids.
The West Coast Kingdom Network contingent arrived later that day. Paul and
Jan were sure to give David good advice on how he could appeal to the people
with a powerful "word from the Lord" and take pledges for a new temple
franchise at the same time. In addition, they brought suggestions from
several West Coast ministers who had managed to overcome their bad PR to
form new speaking platforms, and from other national ministers who were
unable to attend because of their busy crusade schedules but who advised how
to prosper in the midst of human suffering and poverty.
Last to arrive was Prophet Hal, brimming with ideas about how David's
"little problem" was actually a sign that the Messiah was near and that the
people should be concentrating on the refurbishing of the temple instead of
David's personal life.
The top secret summit lasted all week. The media tried to crack security,
but the usual "high level administration sources" were curiously silent.
Nobody knew what was going on behind closed doors, except that the Jerusalem
Kosher Pizza Hovel was making a fortune on late night deliveries.
When the king's press conference was finally announced, media from all the
world jammed the pomegranate garden awaiting the king's presence. King
David's communications advisor, George the Greek, strode to the podium.
"Members of the press. I have a brief statement from the palace, then King
David will give his statement. Copies of both statements will be available
as you leave, as well as 8x10 glossies. Now, to the statement: 'The palace
announces that King David has instituted a new policy of cooperation with
the armed services and chosen as liaison between the palace and the Hexagon
Mrs. Bathsheba Uriah, whose late husband, General Uriah, sacrificed his life
for his country in the recent battles supervised by Secretary of Defense
Joab. This is a wonderful opportunity for this administration to confirm its
commitment to supporting women in strategic leadership roles. In an effort
to further reduce the national debt, King David has additionally decided to
marry Mrs. Uriah so that she can perform her duties without salary. Thank
you.'"
The murmurs of the reporters had started to die as King David walked briskly
out the palace door, into the garden, and to the podium, flanked by his
advisors. The morning sun glinted from the special highlights applied to his
hair. No shine reflected off his carefully powdered cheeks and forehead. He
turned his best side to the press artists and gave the magic smile that had
won him the popularity of the people.
"My fellow Israelites. Today marks the beginning of a new era in God's
kingdom. After careful consideration and agonizing self-sacrifice, I stand
before you fully prepared to continue my responsibilities as the Lord's
servant according to the Lord's calling. There have been rumors about my
relationship with Bathsheba, wife of the late General Uriah. I tell you in
all sincerity today that these rumors are vicious and are tearing down the
trust relationship I worked so hard to build. A man in my position expects
attacks from the Enemy, and Satan has been working overtime on this one.
Sometimes all it takes for a war to be lost is for the people to lose trust
in their leadership because of evil rumors and destructive gossip. Well, I
think better of you all than that. I know you will reject any such malicious
talk and not believe anything you hear unless it comes from my lips.
Over the years, God has used me in mighty ways to further his kingdom. All
of you know how as a young boy God gave me the power to kill the giant
Goliath with my little slingshot. And those of you who've read my
best-selling biography know the words God directed the prophet Samuel to
speak when he anointed me as king. I waited patiently for the old
administration to finish its term and for King Saul to die before I took
office. Israel has never been so prosperous or so safe as it has been under
my rule (by God's grace, of course).
Now, all of us have our little imperfections. Take my magician advisor here,
Mike. He got in a little trouble a while back for using exaggeration and
embellishment in his comedy routine, and he learned a lot about God's
forgiveness for his moral lapses, but he's still going strong -- he didn't
let those little things keep him from the ministry God called him to. And
look at Brother Jimmy. I think people appreciate the struggles he goes
through with demons. It isn't easy to keep on preaching against pornography
when demons are harassing you at every turn with the stuff. And my dear
friends Paul and Jan, along with the dozens of ministers God has prospered
through their crusades, they know that when God entrusts you with 30 million
pieces of silver, Satan can tempt you to use it for personal gain. And yet
they allow the Lord to use their mansions, chariot limousines, Nile barges,
and jewels as an inspiration to their "partners" to give even more to the
Lord's work so everybody can prosper just like them.
Frankly, we're all sinners. I apologize for being merely human. I don't want
you all to think I've gone Holy-wood on you -- I would never do that. In
fact, I think my human shortcomings should reassure you that I haven't
forgotten what it's like to be struggling with sin. I'm just a simple
country boy who's been called by the Lord to the most important leadership
position in His kingdom, and my communications team just hasn't caught up to
the big league yet.
I'm proud to announce my marriage to Bathsheba, and her appointment to
liaison with the armed services. I know this move will strengthen our
nation, save us tax money, and restore in you the confidence you once had in
my administration.
I close with advice from my dear Brother Hal here, who years ago wrote
prophetically that demonic activity, Satanic temptations, and even the moral
failings of Israelite leaders are a sign to rejoice because the Messiah is
right around the corner. I am confident that Brother Hal and his wives, as
well as my wives, join me in encouraging you -- The Messiah is Coming!
Rejoice!"
As King David gazed out over the media crowd his smile broadened into a
grin. The glazed eyes, the vacuous smiles, the reporters' blank notebooks
all testified to David's triumph. God's kingdom was saved!
Exchanging Truth for Lies
When the Church allows compromised Christian leaders to explain away sin,
compromise truth, and sin with impunity, we exchange truth for lies. We
become no better than idolaters, people whose credulous adoration of
compromised leaders fulfill what Paul calls exchanging "the glory of the
immortal God for images made to look like mortal man . . . exchang[ing] the
truth of God for a lie" (Rom. 1:22, 25). Our recasting of King David's story
from 2 Samuel is a lie, but sadly, it represents a popular attitude in the
Church today toward sin in Christian leadership. Unfortunately, although
most Christians sincerely want truth and want to follow biblical ethics, we
too often listen to such lies from our leadership and instead of denouncing
sin and demanding accountability, we parrot excuses like those given here
and allow compromised leaders to continue in leadership.
Biblical Accountability
The Bible clearly states that Christian leaders should be accountable both
to the Word of God and also to God's people, whom the leader serves. Among
the requirements Paul describes for a Christian leader are that he be
"blameless," and "of good behavior" (1 Tim. 3:2). A Christian leader must
"have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into
reproach and the snare of the devil" (1 Tim. 3:7). This does not mean that
the Christian leader is simply good at covering up his sin. Christian
leaders must display integrity and honesty -- they must prove themselves
worthy of Christians' trust.
One would think that our outspoken faithfulness to truth telling would
extend to telling the truth about sin within the Church. And yet at this
point many Christians shrink from truth telling, instead hiding behind empty
platitudes such as "don't judge;" "forgive and forget;" "don't shoot your
own wounded;" "look at all the people who came to the Lord through this
ministry;" etc. Sadly, we have unbiblically acted as though telling the
truth contradicts biblical concern for a sinning Christian leader.
Christians who cry out, "It's wrong to judge," are ignoring the context of
the passage (Matt. 7:1-2), which does not forbid judging, but instead
insists on judgment according to God's word. In addition, a judgmental
criticism of judgement is self-refuting. If it is wrong for a Christian to
publicly criticize a Christian leader whose testimony is false or who is
immoral, then isn't the critic also wrong for publicly criticizing the
Christian? Paul points out this contradiction among some Jews, saying, "You
who say, 'Do not commit adultery,' do you commit adultery? You who abhor
idols, do you rob temples?" (Rom. 2:22). One who speaks English to utter the
sentence "I can't utter a word in English" has refuted himself. Aren't those
who accuse Christian investigative journalism of being the "Christian
Gestapo" themselves acting Gestopo-ish?
Assuming that integrity and accountability exclude compassion unfairly
brands truth telling as "shooting" and ignores that "the wounded" have been
wounded by their own sin.
Christians who excuse false testimonies and immorality by pointing to the
"fruits" of a ministry deny Paul's forceful argument in Romans 3:8 that to
do evil that good may come is slanderous and contrary to biblical ethics.
To equate forgiveness with absolution from personal responsibility is to
cheapen biblical forgiveness and to deny biblical justice.
Christian Leadership
The objections against revealing a Christian leader's sin seem to imply that
it is possible for one to have a valid Christian ministry or profession, and
yet have a private life of corruption. However, the Bible explains that it
is not possible for one's sinful conduct to have no negative effect on one's
profession of godliness. Titus 1:6-8 summarizes the same qualifications for
a Christian leader Paul gave in 1 Timothy 3, but goes on to condemn one who
says he believes, and yet whose works deny his profession of faith:
To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and
unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled.
The profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable,
disobedient, and disqualified for every good work (1:15-16).
To attempt to combine immorality with godliness to produce spiritual fruit
is completely contrary to scriptural teaching. In fact, Paul ranks it with
"profane and vain babblings" and warns Timothy to avoid "contradictions of
what is falsely called knowledge" (1 Tim. 6:20).
In addition, Jesus openly rebuked Peter when Peter argued against Jesus
going to the cross (Matt. 16:22, 23). Paul writes Titus that it is the
responsibility of the church to hold the leader accountable for his sin:
"Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith" (Titus
1:13). Paul also commands Christians to rebuke sinning leaders publicly,
"Those who are sinning rebuke in the presence of all, that the rest also may
fear" (1 Tim. 5:20). Paul took his own advice, as recorded in Galatians 2,
and publicly rebuked Peter "before them all" (Gal. 2:14).
If we neglect to uncover sin within the Church, we rob the Church of the
integrity it should expect from its members. The Church becomes weak through
compromise, and the leader becomes weak because of his or her immorality.
Fallen leaders betray the trust of those they lead. Maturity in the Lord,
which is an essential part of qualifying one for spiritual leadership, can
be confirmed only by an established pattern of resisting sin and walking
faithfully with God, family, and others.
First Thessalonians 5:21-22 commands us to "test all things," and Paul
commended the Bereans for "searching the scriptures" to test what he himself
had taught them (Acts 17:11). The Christian whose life is characterized by
truth telling must support spiritual leaders whose lives exemplify Christian
maturity, and must hold those leaders accountable. If a Christian leader is
chosen whose life is bound by immorality, the Christian has the obligation
then to expose that sin publicly since the leader is public and his actions
impact the church he leads.
Fallen leaders damage the trust relationship established between them and
their followers, a relationship mirroring the trusting relationship we are
to have with the Lord. In addition, they break the trust relationship Peter
tells us to have with the world; that is, we are to live so that even the
world will note our trustworthiness and be unable to speak against us, but
will, instead, glorify God (1 Peter 2:12).
It is unethical for Christians to cover up for leaders who have achieved
their position through false qualifications or stories, or who are living
immorally. Can the Church claim a higher ethical standard than the world
when we adopt a "code of silence" worthy of the most pernicious organized
crime conspiracy or even some suspected invisible satanic ring?
Some people in society have a greater responsibility for honesty and
integrity than others. This does not mean that it's less wrong for one
person to lie than another, but a public leader has a greater responsibility
because the consequences of his failure have greater ramifications. A lay
person who has a mistaken medical opinion will not affect the lives and
health of as many people as a doctor with a misunderstanding of medicine.
An individual in a position of public trust surrenders his privacy regarding
his suitability and trustworthiness. He has asked the public to trust him
for specific reasons or qualifications. Those reasons and qualifications are
open to public scrutiny. If the leader is trustworthy, they will withstand
examination. If he is not, close examination will reveal their inadequacies.
Christians who are committed to truth must preserve this fundamental right
and obligation to know in whom they are asked to trust.
Forsaking Lies for the Truth
The examples of Jesus and his disciples' commitment to truthfulness and
integrity give us our model for holding our Christian leaders accountable.
If we do not expose false testimonies and revisionist histories, especially
when they are propagated by Christians, then all truth claims and all
historical knowledge comes into doubt. We can have no certainty of the truth
of Christianity or the objective reality of the resurrection. In the first
century, the apostle Paul could claim that the resurrection "was not done in
a corner" (Acts 26:26). Should Christians be so careless with the truth that
we need to hide our corrupt leaders "in a corner" to preserve the faith
rather than speak the truth and call those corrupt leaders to repentance and
reconciliation? God forbid!
Good discernment and moral accountability should be practiced among
believers. The Old Testament establishes this pattern. Instructions
concerning false prophets in Deuteronomy 13:1-5 assume the prophet arises
from the congregation of Israel. The passage admonishes the people to banish
idolatry from their families, "If your very own brother, or your son or
daughter, or the wife you love, or your closest friend" (v. 6). Deuteronomy
13 instructs the Israelites how to practice good discernment within their
own communities: "you must inquire, probe and investigate it thoroughly." If
the community is idolatrous, it must be dealt with publicly (v. 14). Psalm
50:18 states that one who sees a crime and doesn't report it has moral
culpability.
The New Testament continues the theme of good discernment within the
believing community, most notably when the Bereans test Paul's teachings
(Acts 17:11) and the Thessalonians are commanded to test all things (1
Thessalonians 5:21-22). Judgment is not excluded, but unrighteous judgment
is, as Jesus declared: "Stop judging by mere appearances, and make a right
judgment" (John 7:24).
Jesus expelled the money changers from the temple, denounced the Pharisees
and scribes, and rebuked the teachers of the Law. He reprimanded Peter in
front of the other disciples (Matthew 16:22-23). Paul followed Jesus'
example and named false teachers in the Church (2 Timothy 2:14-19) and
openly criticized Peter (Galatians 2:11,14).
Paul warns that false teachers will arise within the Church, "Even from your
own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away
disciples after them" (Acts 20:30). The false teachers of Jude are said to
"have secretly slipped in among you" (v. 4).
The Biblical Pattern for Accountability
When immorality occurs in the Church (Titus 1:15-16), the Bible says to deal
with it truthfully and constructively. The procedure for public leaders
caught in false teaching or immorality is to be rebuked publicly "so that
the others may take warning" (1 Timothy 5:20). A congregation member who
sins privately against another Christian is not to be exposed publicly
unless he persists in sin, in which case he is to be rebuked before the
church and we are to "treat him as you would a pagan or tax collector"
(Matthew 18:15-17). Paul follows this in 1 Corinthians 5:3-12 concerning the
Christian who persisted in his sexual immorality, and affirms that judgment
belongs to the Church: "I have already passed judgment on the one who did
this, just as if I were present . . . . What business is it of mine to judge
those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? God will judge
those outside. Expel the wicked man from among you" (v. 3, 12).
Christian leaders are accountable to God's people, whom the leader serves,
and should be "above reproach," "respectable," and "able to teach" (1
Timothy 3:2). A Christian leader must "have a good testimony among those who
are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil" (1
Timothy 3:7). A Christian leader who is a false teacher or immoral should be
rebuked to encourage reform (Titus 1:13), and cannot dichotomize his
ministry from his life, expecting God to bless his preaching while privately
he sins; he is "disqualified for every good work" (vv. 15-16).
Telling the truth about false teaching or immorality in the Church
corresponds with the ethics and truth characterizing the Church. The Church
is "salt of the earth" and "the light of the world" (Matthew 5:13- 14) only
if characterized by truthfulness (v. 11) and righteousness (v. 16). Each
Christian leader has an obligation to "hold firmly the trustworthy message
as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and
refute those who oppose it" (Titus 1:9). No Christian is happy when false
teaching or immorality arise, but we cannot neglect responsibility,
doctrinal and moral accountability.
Christians sometimes are uncomfortable with criticism within the Church
because they wrongly assume that public criticism, because it is painful, is
also destructive. On the contrary, the "pain" of biblically conducted
confrontation produces individual growth (1 Timothy 4:16), encourages others
to Christian maturity (1 Timothy 5:19-20), promotes Church strength
(Ephesians 4:15), and preserves the Church's reputation in the world (1
Peter 2:12).
A Call for Christian Integrity
The consequences of compromising biblical truth and ethics are devastating.
Like an insidious cancer, lies and immorality eat away at the church. Tender
believers lose their faith, the associates of the sinner fall into sin
themselves, non-believers mock the church and reject the gospel. While
covering up for a compromised leader, or tolerating sin in the midst of the
congregation may appear at first glance to be loving, compassionate, and
"good PR," in actuality it is like a lung cancer patient continuing to
smoke.
We cannot condone continuing sin within the Church. We must expose it, deal
with it biblically, call sinners to repentance, and then extend the
forgiveness, discipleship, restitution, and restoration offered from God's
Word.
Sadly, Mike Warnke's problems are not unusual in the Church today. When we
began ministry in 1972, we had already experienced some of the duplicity too
prevalent among Christian leaders. Gretchen had quit working on one
ministry's newspaper because the editor, who was also an evangelist, kept
making advances to her, suggesting that the burden of his ministry caused
him to need special comfort. Bob, who is nearly blind in one eye, had
struggled with what to say when a traveling evangelist prayed for his
healing and then announced to the audience that Bob was healed -- but he
wasn't. As new Christians, we assumed that these were isolated instances and
that the Church wouldn't ordinarily tolerate such moral compromise.
Now, almost twenty years later, we've worked on numerous investigative
pieces regarding compromised Christian leaders. Crying Wind, Alberto Rivera,
John Todd, Michael Esses, Joey LaVey, Lauren Stratford, Troy Lawrence, Mike
Warnke, Bob Larson, and dozens of others have come under temporary Church
scrutiny for their ministry and moral lapses. Many were completely defensive
when challenged, and many responded much like our fictional King David. No
true confession, no real repentance, certainly no biblically mandated
restitution and restoration. Tragically, most of them continue in active
ministry.
The Christian Church cannot compromise forever by covering up and excusing
sin within its leadership. Continued toleration of immorality will transform
the Church into what Jesus described as white-washed graves -- pristine on
the outside, and full of rotting flesh and decaying bone inside.
The true biblical story of King David is quite different than what we
created here. In 2 Samuel 12:1- 14, Nathan rebukes David for his sin with
Bathsheba, and God attaches consequences to David's actions that follow him
throughout the rest of his life and reign as king. But most important is
David's response to God's rebuke through Nathan. Let each of us join David
in his confession before God:
Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your unfailing love;
according to your great compassion
blot out my transgressions.
Wash away all my iniquity
and cleanse me from my sin.
For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is always before me.
Against you, you only, have I sinned
and done what is evil in your sight,
so that you are proved right when you speak
and justified when you judge.
. . . .
Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
Let me hear joy and gladness;
let the bones you have crushed rejoice.
Hide your face from my sins
and blot out all my iniquity.
Create in my a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me from your presence
or take your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation
and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.
Then I will teach transgressors your ways,
and sinners will turn back to you
(Psalm 51:1-13).1
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