Hmmm......
I know this post was frozen for a while, but I gotta say, some things that were said was right on key.
I always say this (for the "yes" ppl and the "dont worry about it God is in control" ppl and the "we gotta cover the man/woman of God at all times" ppl).
I dont mind a person falling or stumbling in their walk with Christ, because we are yet flesh, and I understand that cuz hey I do it, we all have. But the thing is when that happens the leader must confess and repent showing humility, and they can be restored with a spirit of meekness. You cant restore nobody if they dont wanna get right! They insist on doing what they want to do , and they use thier title to get away with it, and that's just plain wrong!!!!!
I dont like that at all.
When leaders can confess to the flock and be humble seeing that they have fallen, then the flock will welcome them back and restore them to their rightful place.
Im tired of leaders using their title and quoting "touch not mine anointed and do my prophets no harm" because you speak out about it, and labeling you as being rebellious or being a "wild sheep" Ooh you dont know how much i cant stand that. Because that causes the ppl to hang to loyalty of a person than to speak the truth in love and get the sin out of camp.
I mean is that right? Is it that you shouldnt call a leader upon their actions?
I have a scenario and tell me what you think.
There was a pastor and as time went by and the church started growing and much finances were coming in he start misappropiating funds. The finance committe would write him a check anytime he wanted, would write him checks for his house payment, but he would urge others to give and not worry about the bills if we give and trust God he would make a way. Well if I could have access to free money to pay my house note anytime I wouldnt be worried either!! But anyway, then he purchased a car, and had the finance team write a church check and pay for the car, he would eat lunch with church money (mind you he has a secular job) and whatever else he wanted. And he was getting a salary of about $1400 a month when the church had to pay rent and they would be short and had to catch up, eventually leading to eviction. But when the elders went to him and "humbly" asked for him to take a pay cut he said NO!! the man of God shouldnt have to do that , you all should just give more!!! And they humbly walked away, and still remained on the elders board. But they would continue serving and would not say anything about what he was doing with the church money (which i call it embezzlement) but instead said God is in control we are gonna leave it in his hands...And on top of that, when they ask to see the books and purchases made, they were DENIED!!! The pastor said they should trust the ppl that are placed
over the finances, that they are spirit filled and will be good stewards. (Not when they are "yes" ppl!!!!)So the elders were NOT allowed to view the books.
And eventually the Pastor eased up some on what he was doing (supposedly), but still he did not repent to the congregation, he did not have a humble attitude, he denied doing it, and if anyone said anything about it, they were rebuked and accused of gossip and degrading the man of God. And also accused of being "petty" saying worrying about finances instead of the more important issues of the work of the Lord was petty and that showed what level the saints were on (in so many words) And all this stuff, tore up ppl's finances, had marriages in turmoil, had church name and reputation in the streets, had ppl in the church giving hundreds of dollars to keep the church open, when the church turned around and wrote a check of $1500 to pay the rent knowing the money wasnt in there and more.
Now questions:
1) Should the elders have done more, and if they couldnt, should they have voluntarily stepped down and not covered him until he decided to operate like the bible says?
2)Does covering someone in sin (leaders) and not willing to seperate yourself from them, actually help them?
3)Would it have been wrong if one of the suspicious church members would have called the authorities or had the church audited?
4)Should the pastor had repented to the congregation (after repenting to God first of course) in humility for wounding and stealing from the flock, and lying of course?
5)Are the ppl that speak out about it, out of order or rising up against the man/woman of God?
6) And is it possible you can be sowing on bad ground?You know how ppl say "you just give, whatever is done with the money is in God's hands" But if you know what's going on what postion does that put you in?
I would really like to know, because I have friends who have been wounded because of these type things going on in our own city.
That's all for now, sorry so long.
I dont like that at all.
