The Newest Lottery Game in Town

Let me first preface my writing by stating that I give nor offer any excuse for the past sins of any church for its leaders being involved in sexual misconduct and/or for covering it up. 

But now I believe we will begin to see folks come out of the woodwork even worse than long-lost relatives after a family member wins a $250 million lottery.  What I am referring to is the recent (and I believe soon to be increased) claims of abuse against clergy for sexual abuse.  While I do realize and accept the fact that this has been and continues to be a concern in ALL groups of faith, I am also convinced as with someone winning the lottery, once folks begin to hear of these large settlements and verdicts, it will be worse then all the relatives that come out of the woodwork after someone wins the lottery.

Why? because by human nature mankind is greedy and envious.  Especially we here in America.  We have so much and yet want so much more. 

For those who have legitimate claims and have been legitimately damage, I understand the need to come forward.  I can also accept and appreciate that they may have stayed silent out of shame.  Since I have not had to go through that, I can understand.   But I can say that I personally have gone through other hardships.  While I will not use this as my soapbox to seek sympathy, I will say that each of us goes through various forms of struggles.  The great news is that as believers in Jesus Christ we get to claim the promises of 1 Corinthians 10:13: “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”  The Greek word translated “temptation” here is not the typical word we think of regarding being tempted.  This word literally means “adversity” and in context suggests any sort of attack against one, physical and/or spiritual.  Thus, it is a promise that whatever it is that we might go through, if we are truly a believer in Jesus Christ, we can and must trust in the fact that God can and desires to bring us through those times.  If for some reason he does not, then we need to look at ourselves and ask if we are truly a believer or if there is something else hindering this promise.

Again, please do not misunderstand me.  I am not suggesting there is no pain or difficulty.  In fact, I would acknowledge the opposite.  It is like how we explain the process of purifying gold or silver.  The metals have to be heated to such extreme temperatures so that the impurities can float to the top and be scraped away.  This process is described in Zechariah 13:9: “And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The Lord is my God.” 

Trust me, I realize the process of these trials and tribulations is NOT easy and it can be very painful.  But back to the promise of 1 Corinthians 10:13, it will NEVER be more than God knows we can bear.  And with that, we must understand it has its purpose.

So, back to my point.  It is my fear that we are about to see a tremendous groundswell of attacks and accusations against the church leaders like we have never seen before.  And I believe much of this will be due to the issue of greed and a desire to have more.  May God’s people stay strong and pray fervently for their church leaders.