Dusty

There’s a Whole Lot of Shaking Going On
The whole world watched as several religious scandals hit the news last week. It’s a time for outrage as well as for tears
My cell phone was jammed this week with messages from friends who had just heard shocking news reports about several prominent Christian leaders. All the callers asked the same question: “What in the world is happening to the church?”

I cringed along with everyone else when I learned that evangelist Juanita Bynum had allegedly been beaten by her bishop husband, Thomas Weeks III, after an argument outside an Atlanta hotel. Weeks was a fugitive from the police for three days, but he finally turned himself in after posting $40,000 bail. When he returned to his pulpit last Sunday, the folks at Global Destiny Church gave him thunderous applause

A few days later Florida pastors Randy and Paula White announced to their stunned congregation that they are divorcing. No clear reason was offered for the breakup—just an admission that counseling had not helped them. Randy said he would continue to pastor Without Walls International Church, while Paula pledged to visit the congregation often. She says she will base her ministry out of several locations including San Antonio, where she’s purchased a house and has taken a part-time leadership position with a church.


“We should sincerely grieve over how far the church has fallen from biblical holiness.”


If all this news wasn’t bad enough, former Colorado pastor Ted Haggard was dragged back into public view over the weekend when leaders overseeing his rehabilitation process accused him of seeking donations without their approval. Then the Colorado Springs Gazette reported that the man Haggard had allegedly designated to handle the funds is a registered sex offender

For those of us watching this painful drama, it’s tempting to become cynical, discouraged or judgmental. After all, Christian leaders are not supposed to be linked to domestic violence, irreconcilable differences or gay sex scandals. Ideally they should be role models of integrity who live what they preach

But godly people sometimes do ungodly things—and these scandals are a clear indication of deeper issues God wants to address. In this time of unprecedented spiritual shaking we must respond properly. Here are some steps you can take:

1. It’s OK to be angry. Counselors say forgiveness can’t be expressed until you are honest about your anger toward the person who hurt you. In these recent scandals the name of Jesus has been reproached. That makes God angry, and we can expect Him to intervene with His correction at the right time. (As folks say in rural Alabama, somebody is going to the woodshed!)

]Holy anger should boil inside us as we see how the name of Jesus is maligned and misused in today’s church. We must aggressively seek accountability and integrity at a time when we have been compromised by hyper-prosperity preaching, carnal showmanship and self-absorbed charlatans. America’s pastors should lift their voices in this hour and denounce this shameful charade before the false prophets of Jezebel completely hijack the American church. The people of God need bold prophets who are not afraid to draw lines and call down the fire of holiness from heaven
2. It’s necessary to grieve. I know an intercessor in Texas who told me she has been crying for days because of the news about Bynum and the Whites. Her tears reflect God’s compassion for these people as well as His burden for all unbelievers who might reject the gospel because they now view Christians as hypocrites. As the prophet Jeremiah wept over faithless Israel, we should sincerely grieve over how far the church has fallen. Our anger cannot achieve its result if it is not tempered by brokenness.


It might seem schizophrenic to suggest that we can be angry and grieved at the same time. But God feels both anger and deep compassion. The apostle Paul declared: “Behold then the kindness and the severity of God” (Rom. 11:22, NASB]
3. It’s essential to pray rather than criticize. Ultimately we must come to a place of humility as we face this crisis. We must admit that we too might stumble into compromise or moral failure if we held a stressful leadership position. How would you act if you had Juanita Bynum’s preaching skills, Randy White’s huge congregation or Ted Haggard’s access to the White House

Leaders are targets of Satan. The devil once offered to give Jesus the glory of the world’s kingdoms if He would worship him. Today our adversary is still striking similar deals and demanding devotion in exchange for deceptive favors. Many leaders are being hypnotized by wealth and fame or seduced by pornography and perversion. We must pray that pastors and other ministers will stand firmly on the Word, as Jesus did in the wilderness, to resist every subtle demonic strategy

Try this exercise: Before you say anything negative about Randy White, Bishop Thomas Weeks, Ted Haggard or any other leader who may have disappointed you, pray for them by name and ask God to grant them His loving correction, His amazing forgiveness and His full restoration

J. Lee Grady is editor of Charisma

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Trials prove a Christian

Love confirms a Christian

But death crowns a Christian

Boanerges

Two things apply here


Luk 12:3 Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops.

1Pe 4:17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?


God judges His church in order to free them from all that hinder their growth in relationship with Him, this is a natural event and seems to happen periodically.
As far as church leaders they are human and can walk in fleshly lusts and desires like anyone else- so no surprise here.

Dusty

Thanks , Brother Larry. I believe this is a "real cleansing of the churches time." Our God will not be mocked and although it is shocking it is a lesson to others, that God is still on the throne and in control.

__________________

Trials prove a Christian

Love confirms a Christian

But death crowns a Christian

adoptivemommy

Good morning all!

This definitely does not surprise me! You know I listen to Joyce Meyer a lot! (If you do not like or approve of her, please do not be offended! I just want to use what I heard her say many times that I think applies here!) One of the things she always says in her teachings is that Jesus is much more interested in the "inner life" that in whatever masks we put on in front of people! Someone can look on the outside like the most "spiritual" and "godly" person there is but God knows the truth of who they are in their hearts and what happens behind closed doors in their homes. That being said, no one is exempt from falling into temptation! I would say especially those who are preaching and teaching the Word of God and leading people to accept Jesus as their Lord every day! If there is anyone satan love to see falling then it would be a church leader, wouldn't it? I believe that, as it's already been said by others here, we need to be understanding of these people and the pressure they are under constantly. We need to pray for them because none of us know how we would act if we were all of the sudden in the lime light, wealthy and known and loved by so many people! If their hearts are right these people will be OK and they will be forgiven and restored just as so many others who have the right heart and love the Lord but have fallen into temptation, have been restored and forgiven. I have only heard of Juanita Bynum and Paula White, so I don't know anything specific about them, but is still is sad to hear this!

Laura

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Forgiveness is His Signature!

violet

violet

Dusty

Violet and Laura..... Good points.... We all must be in prayer for these leaders of the church and the leaders of our country. Satan is out to attack and devour more so now than ever cause he knows his time is almost over.

And Laura..... I love Joyce Meyer.... She is so open and frank and to the point.

__________________

Trials prove a Christian

Love confirms a Christian

But death crowns a Christian

adoptivemommy

Oh, I'm so glad! The truth is, I stumbled upon one of her television programs about 12 years ago, when she first started having them. From the start I loved her style of preaching and I started listening to her and buying teaching tapes right away. I have to say that even though over the years I belonged to 3 or 4 churches (my hubby and I moved twice to 2 different cities since we got married) and learned from their pastors, she has been my one stable and steady teacher and I owe my spiritual growth to the way the Lord used her in my life! I wish more people got passed the fact that she is a woman and tends to be a little flashy in her use of clothing and such, and truly listened to her message because the Lord is truly using her to bring freedom to a lot of people!

Laura

__________________
Forgiveness is His Signature!

Boanerges

Here is a timely excerpt from a church newsletter I reeived this morning:

We are living in an important season for the Kingdom of God . We have entered the beginning of shakings in the physical and spiritual world prophesied in Haggai 2:6-7. The shakings will result in the greatest harvest our nation has ever seen. Even though there is a “casual� surface level Christianity that is popular and common today, there are signs of renewed hunger for God in His people. We are on the edge of a Great Awakening that will impact all of our lives in unprecedented ways. I pray that you are pressing in for the great days ahead.

Blessings to you and your family from the Presence of God,


Frank Bailey
Senior Pastor