Picture for a moment a patient visits with a doctor with a serious cough.  The coughing has been going on for weeks and has escalated to the point that there is now bleeding with the coughing.  In addition to the bleeding with the coughing, the patient explains that they have lost their appetite and have lost 30 pounds in the past two weeks. 

After talking to the patient the doctor reaches into a cabinet, pulls out a bottle of cough medicine and hands it to the patient and tells him “here, drink this three times a day and the coughing will go away.”  Anyone in their right mind would know, even without a medical degree that this doctor was treating the SYMPTOM…and NOT the problem.  In all likelihood the patient needs more testing to determine what is causing the coughing, bleeding, loss of appetite and weight loss.  A further assessment might reflect the problem is cancer and it needs to be removed.

Over the past several weeks and even months there has been much attention on the various sex scandals brewing across the world.  It is my belief that much of the liberal media is having a field day with this because it is allowing them to prove in their own way that religion is a farce.  And while the liberal media is spending time trying to dig up all the dirt they can, Christians themselves are involved in some of their own “mud-slinging” and it sounds a little like this “Our church would never have that problem” or “Our denomination just does not have those issues.”  And rather that identify what the true problem is, the liberal media as well as Bible-believing Christians are waging a war and focusing on the symptom. 

It seems that everyone has the answer as to what has caused this.  I have read article upon article that talks about why certain groups should mandate marriage, as if being married might alleviate the true problem.  I even read one article that seemed to suggest that the core problem at hand was because there are not women at highest level of leadership (see article http://www.commonwealmagazine.org/blog/?p=7873). 

So you ask, if I am concerned about a liberal bent or unnecessary attacks, why then would ICSARM be involved in providing links to some of these articles?  The truth is that I have prayed and attempted to be as discerning as possible, yet no doubt at times I will fail.  What I have tried to do is what I believe that one particular media giant has tried to do, and that is to present the facts and allow the readers to decide.  If someone is charged with an offense, that is a fact.  I am not suggesting guilt or innocence by posting an article.  I am simply trying to present the facts.   And with facts is the need for there to be a balance.  In fact, that reminds me of another article I read on that subject  (see http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/life/faith/too-little-balance-shown-in-reporting-on-catholic-church-91179789.html).

Thus, what then does this have to do with the sub-title above, “Treating the Problem…Not the Symptom”?  Simply put I believe the problem behind the sex scandal is the same problem that is behind all deplorable crimes in our world…a small three letter word..S.I.N.  We have so watered down what sin is that we have focused on treating the symptom and not the problem.  The Bible is very clear “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” Romans 3:23.  And last I checked, “all” means “all” and “that’s all that all means.” 

Until we come to the realization that sin is present even in our churches and even in our church leadership, we will never overcome this dilemma.  And coupled with that is the requirement to hold such spiritual leaders with a higher level of accountability.  After all this is what the Apostle Paul writes about to young Timothy and Titus when he outlines some of the qualifications of what is required for one to be a spiritual leader.  And if one does not meet these requirements, then they ought not be serving.  This is not to suggest they need to be perfect, but they must be held to a higher standard.  And if they can not handle that accountability, then they ought not serve.  I am not suggesting that they be without sin because that is impossible.  However, there are clear criteria to establish as a standard (see 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:7-15). 

In closing, I believe the core problem is sin and then the secondary problem is either we have individuals who are not qualified to serve as spiritual leaders based on 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1 or churches and individuals that will not allow for a stringent accountability practice that measures performance not based on numbers, but based on Christian character as measured by these verses already cited.  That’s right, we need to treat the problem…not the symptom and quit offering “cough syrup” when we need surgery!