Be Careful Lest They Fall

Here’s a tricky thing about following Jesus.

It can be an intensely personal and individual journey.  To a large degree you’re responsible for your own development and commitment to Christ.  When we are judged we won’t be able to blame church leaders and all that kinda jazz.  We will be judged on individual grounds.

Yet our spiritual development is hugely dependent on being a part of a community of faith with brothers and sisters around us who are influencing us to be more Christ-minded and have that compassion to share with the world around us.

Tricky.

What makes it even harder is that we are all flawed and so bring our broken pieces to the relationships.  So the journey in community is often hit with hurts and misgivings.  So it is understandable that when you come across decent people, you want to stick with them as much as possible.  After all good people are hard to find.

What can tend to happen with people, however, especially with groups is that we put certain people to the front.  Get people in front to lead and to be the role models and the examples for others to follow.  Soon that leads to a sort of people dependency where not only are we putting them to the front, we’re also setting them on a pedestal.  In a lot of ways it’s kind of inevitable when we struggle to live in a community where those considered the ‘least’ have as much say in affairs as the veterans.  It’s also a struggle when Jesus as the Head is a nice nominal policy with little practical application.

I say all this because I know what its like to be in a company of people who take the respect for leadership into areas of adulation and dependence on leadership and it ends in tears.

It ends in tears because at the end of the day the appointed leaders are really just brothers and sisters – just like you and me.  In the eyes of God they have no elevated level – on the contrary if Jesus is taken seriously, those who lead serve from a lower position to those being served.  As such those who lead are just as much in need of leading, consoling, comforting, confronting and challenging as the rest of the saints.

I remember taking a phone call and hearing the news that someone I respected highly for his walk with Christ, someone who I looked up to as a role model was found to be conducting an affair with a member of the congregation for many years whilst still married and bringing up the children in that marriage.

It saddened me deeply, worse still it devastated his family as well as crushed those in the church in which he was a leader.  Many people left disillusioned by the episode.  People felt betrayed and couldn’t quite come to terms with how this could have happened.  People talked of how shocking it was and of all the people they thought would fall they never in their wildest dreams thought that this person would do such a thing.

Making matters even worse was that this brother justified his actions and subsequent divorce from his wife as something ordained by God.  This brother even attempted to continue in a leadership role in a church with his charisma bringing others along with him.

The episode, sadly, is not an isolated one.  There are so many emotions and questions that swirl around when things like this happen, and even the pious calls to ‘remain stedfast’ and ‘just pray and let the Lord have His way’ are often excuses put up to prevent people properly processing what’s gone on and seeking some sort of resolution for themselves that keep their hearts pure.

The lesson I continue to learn from such things is to be careful for brothers and sisters.  It is especially those that appear to have it altogether that are in need of great help.  It is especially those who might come across as dazzling and gifted, eloquent speakers, compassionate types, great ministers – these folks are in need of great help.

I don’t mean they mean it more than anyone else, but I do mean they need it.  I do mean they are to be related as brothers and sisters who are prone to wander from the paths of righteousness.  I do mean they are to be prayed for and cared for so that they won’t fall into temptation – especially the great temptation of pride that sees them believe the hype.

There are no super Christians.  The more we know about Christ is the more we know how little we know about Christ.  The more we express the character of Christ the more aware we are of how much in need we are of the mercy of Christ because of our failings.  Mature Christians exhibiting the fruit of the Spirit will be open and available to serve and be served as much as anyone else.  It’s in our best interests as the people of Christ to be aware of this and help each other out in this journey.

Be careful lest they fall.

For His Name’s Sake

Shalom

dmcd