Recently, I discovered a discussion between prominent pastors captured on camera over 10 years ago. My curiosity got the best of me the other day, and I googled these men just to find out where they are today. After a few minutes of searching, and reading articles, my heart was heavy. Some of the men’s lives have really changed since the original recording in 2011. Some of them, were removed from their pulpits due to moral failures; this of course got me thinking. Not just about pastors who fall, but of all of us believers who fall. Where, at what point, during the slickness of the slippery slope do we, lean-in, and allow ourselves to fall?
I’ve heard the term “back-slide” before, but, I’ve always been torn with that concept because I feel like the closer we walk with Christ the more impossible a “back-slide” occurs. But reading about these men’s individual “falls” makes me think that the moral failure is less of a “back-slide” and simply more of a slide.
Just a slide.
Not necessarily back to where we were before walking with Christ but sliding into a new temptation. For instance, a person who never struggled with pride suddenly finds themselves in charge of many people. Making all types of decisions for the members of their organization, providing counseling, being used by God to teach and lead many. At what point does the truth get twisted? “You will not surely die”… A slight twist of truth is all the serpent does with Eve: Why do we believe the tactics have evolved?
Follow me here, we’re told in scripture that each of us have a gift or gifts. Looking at the beautiful gift given to a pastor, right? They should have a heart for the lost, love God, love people, be a person of order, walk in truth, live above reproach, be faithful to their wife, be a good father, etc. Meeting all the qualifications laid out in 1st Timothy, right? Then… the gift is used, and God blesses the servant. Beautiful things can happen when we trust and follow the Lord and when we allow HIM to lead… man, the evidence of HIM is palpable.
But then…
Slowly but surely pride creeps in, ever so slightly, of course. Satan is nothing but subtle when it comes to a believer. Little mini, micro compromises… But how can you not be filled with pride over what’s been built? Right? I mean, you’re being used by God to build this amazing thing, of course. But, He chose to use you… surely, you’re boasting in Christ alone… right? It is Christ… alone? Are you still submitting to HIM? Submitting to the elders? Submitting to correction given in love? Or, have you begun to submit to the version of Christ that is most convenient? Perhaps doubting an elder’s faithfulness to you, as the leader? Hmmm.
Ok… what about the gift of musicianship? You are beyond blessed with this beautiful gift of leading others to worship, to lift their hands on-high, to facilitate believers encounters with the spirit of God in holy adoration. What creeps in there? How uncomfortable are you with newer music styles, I mean, YOU don’t think it best suits your vocal range and therefore you don’t sound good, after all, you bring your best to the Lord, right? YOU are not comfortable leading that style of music, regardless of the words being biblically sound… it’s just not what YOU do. Sure, scripture “indicates” to bring the Lord a new song but… what’s the big deal, right? At what point did you stop worshipping Christ? Is it still really all about HIM?
The gift of teaching is beautiful. As a woman you can lead and teach younger women, embody Titus 2. Develop into a sounding board, wise counsel, a friend and a sister to others. How could Satan possibly twist that? Right? One of the elders’ wives, after months of walking through scripture alongside you, confides in you a very personal situation, she needs your prayers and support. You wholeheartedly give that, and share every intimate detail with others because well, you’re asking them to pray for her too, right? It’s not gossip if you’re coupling that with a prayer request, right?
My point is… we slide, guys. If we are not diligent in our intimate walks with Christ, if we’re not real with ourselves, and transparent with someone who loves us enough to call us out… then, we are all susceptible. None of us are inaccessible to a slight twist of the truth. We may not struggle with lust, or thoughts of hate, but we may have a propensity to be prideful, a little bit greedy or gluttonous, enjoy gossip a little too much, or simply covet what others have achieved.
I don’t know when the men on that video started to slide, there’s no articles written about the small invisible compromises or thoughts that were allowed to creep in and fester, no, they only wright about the falling part. I thought watching the conversations amongst renowned pastors was interesting, no, it’s turned out to be more than that. A cautionary tale showing the evidence of spiritual battles that go on daily. Subtle spiritual battles that attack every believer. Nudges to compromise, to hold grudges, to be assholes.
We are to renew our minds, every day… know why? Because everyday there is a prowling lion who can taste your demise. He can taste my demise.
Let us pray for one another, let us be transparent with each other, and let us never grow weary of doing the right thing.