In recent few months, there have been several bad presses on the conduct and choice of words used by prominent pastors and a case on the probable misuse of church funds in a high profile church. Being a Christian, I do not feel comfortable when I see these stories highlighted on the headlines of major newspaper. The worse part was people started to take this opportunity to make snide remarks about God and the church on various forums. What happened does not cast a good name on Christianity especially on non believers who followed the news.
If we look carefully, the events that occurred will literally affect two key areas of bringing the gospel to the world.
Firstly, spiritually immature Christians in the area of tithing and giving will be affected. They may not trust the leadership of the church or even feel bitter about giving money to the church if the allegations of fraud is true.
Secondly, if I am a member of the church of which the above news were affiliated to, a young Christian might feel certain reservations in spreading the gospel or even invite people to his/ her church services. Or spiritually young Christians might not openly declare their faith lest people start to challenge them in these areas and they do not know how to respond. As a result, the commission of Jesus upon Christians to spread the gospel will be hindered.
Nevertheless, reflecting on what is happening around us further reinforces two very important principles of Christian living.
Firstly, the gospel is free but the channel of bringing the gospel to the lost is not. Hence it is important that we remain cheerful in tithing and giving with the full awareness that we are giving unto the Lord to build the kingdom of God and not to men.
2 Corinthians 9:7, “So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.”
Having said that, I knew one of my colleagues belongs to the church under investigation and hence I felt in my heart to drop the person an e mail to encourage her to continue tithing and giving to her church cheerfully and not lose heart. I was glad when she thanked me for the encouragement and that she understood the principle of giving unto the Lord and not to men.
Romans 12:4-5, “For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.”
This is a good time for fellow Christians to build up each other and undergird each other’s faith in the face of persecution and trials.
Secondly, it is very important that Christians should always look at Jesus and not to men.
Their Christian faith must be based on Jesus and not men.
Romans 8:38-39, “For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
In an unfortunate event where the pastor/ leader indeed fell from grace, the disappointment of the sheep under the covering of these pastors/ leaders would come but the faith of these believers must not wavier because their confidence is not on men but on God alone.
In fact a spiritually mature Christian should remain in his/ her church to encourage and support their pastors/ leaders at least during this period of time. They should not leave their church or abandon their faith because a truly repented pastor/ leader would need all the encouragement and support they have around them to help him overcome his challenges while he seeks God for restoration and guidance.
Let every Christian stand tall and stay strong and be proud to continue declaring their faith in the midst of these trials and persecutions.
Steve
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