I agree with Kent that we don’t always provide environoments for people to “fess up.” I have spent a lot of time thinking about this subject over the past several months.  Where can a minister go when they need to confess their sins and possibly get help.  For associates, you can’t go to your Sr. Minister or you could lose your job....people talk, so it’s not smart to go to someone in the church, and you have to be very careful who you go to in the community.  As an associate, I really struggle with this b/c my accountability group is 1200 miles away.  I think there is also the idea of our congregation thinking we walk on water (or at least giving us that perception).  So the thought of us “fessing up” is unthinkable b/c we don’t want to disappoint them.  Anyway, I would love to hear anyone thoughts....maybe some advice for a new associate.

as an example, I could repent of being a mean, green, one eyed ogre every day until the end of time.

or I could start counseling to find out why I am so mean.  And discover in my efforts to please everyone I have worn myself out and I am bitter that no one seems to care about pleasing me.  I could explore why I find it so important to please everyone and address the fear of disapproval that drives the behavior.  I could learn about healthy boundaries, and as I learn, slowly, to draw boundaries in a healthy and assertive say, I might find that I am not nearly as mean or green as I used to be.

Or I could go to my accountablilty partner and confess I’m mean, ask them to hold me accountable for being nice, ask Jesus to cleanse me of my mean greenness...and apply more caulk to any of those unlovely behavior cracks.

Although the context of the question is to prevent pastors falling into sin or having the ability to ‘come clean’ when they do I think the discussion should also extend to just having someone to talk to period.  Also, I think it also extends to pastors’ wives.  As a woman I feel I need to talk to other women about problems and struggles (even though I have a loving husband who would listen to me all day long), but because of my position (and I’m ‘only’ an asst. P. wife) I feel like there is no one in my immediate circle that I can turn to without the fear of being judged or at a later date it being held against me.  How much more does a Sr. Pastor of any sized church, more much a large, national church feel?  Yes I think some kind of anonymous place he could go to to talk and share his fears and problems would be invaluable; I’m just not sure how many would really use it.  Pride is always an issue whether you’re talking to people who know you or not.  Doesn’t Focus provide an anonymous forum for pastors and their wives who struggle with pornography?  I wonder how many use that… I can almost bet that Haggard was involved with porn long before he took it to the next level.  Why didn’t he seek help at that point?  Perhaps at some point down the line he’ll open up and give us answers to these questions and maybe then some other pastors (or wives) will seek the help they need.

One of the essential traits of sin is shame and loneliness. Those liessaying “you are the only one who has ever thought that before’” or “people will condemn you and judge you for that thought or act”. It brings death within you long before the effects are felt on the outside within our community. As protestants we have left the roots of our faith that included confession and repentance with each other. We are Christian leaders only by the grace of God and not by our moral superiority. I too often forget that. Our communities grow and the expectation is that any sin is the revelation of our old life. And that part of our life is gone. Instead we should realize that my old life pops up more often than I like and in continually different ways. Instead of being impulsively carnal I turn to become impulsively religious. I continue to need to please the audience, to feel loved by others. The position of pastor is a struggle with self, God and our community. The “I can do it myself” mindset is the same as before I grow in Christ, but with a different set of outward exercises. “Being a good Christain leader” syndrom is applauded. And I begin to see myself through the eyes of others instead of seeing myself through the eyes of Christ. I am at a war with myself. God’s incredible grace is there for me, but I do not follow it as often as I should. This draws me back to prayer with God and reading the sacred scripture and old saints who readily confessed their sins in public. They did not consider themselves saints of God. Only broken people in search of serving and obeying God. I hope to always be aware of my sin and its revelation. And so I can deal with it honestly and with openness. Not much fun but without that I do not fully appreciate the grace of God. Which is more than abundant for my needs.

I love the church but I have to say we are brutal on people.  Not just evangelicals or liberals.  I am talking about Christians.  If were going to help people come clean we must create a safer environment where people can.  That safe environment exists in few churches I have visited or been a part of. 

Before some of you get your panties in a wad, A safe environment is not about winking at sin, ignoring sin, renaming sin or failing to preach truth.  A safe environment is one in which a person can be honest about their sin and be given a plan and process of repentance and restoration, not just a kick in their backside with a now grow!

If the pastor in the post that follows this one had a safe place, not one that condones sins, but will redemptively deal with it and move toward restoration, he might be alive today.

Bernie, not every world is as clean cut as yours.

Hi Lance, not sure what you are getting at.  I fell in a ditch.  I guess that what blind guides do when they follow blind guides.  Your Woe was a bit too late for me, I hope others caught it soon enough.  If you want to know, vile means disgusting.

This just in.

Says it all really.

“By Steve Gushee

Palm Beach Post Staff writer

Friday, November 10, 2006

Pastor Ted Haggard admitted committing “sexual immorality” last week, but he should not be the poster boy for wrongdoing in the evangelical movement.

That dubious honor belongs to the likes of present-day Pharisees such as the Rev. John Hagee, former Christian Coalition leader Ralph Reed, Focus on the Family founder James Dobson and others.

They prostitute their faith for political gain, misrepresent God’s Word and invoke their Lord to judge people with whom they disagree.

Haggard had a sexual escapade and tried to conceal it. He was dismissed as pastor of the 14,000-member New Life Church he founded and resigned as president of the 30 million-member National Association of Evangelicals. He has fallen far, but, despite his indiscretions, he is a mere mortal in immoral activities.

The Olympians of sin are those who distort the faith, manipulate scripture and make a mockery of Christianity to gain power.

Jesus scolded those caught in sexual misdemeanors, but he castigated with unusual force those who championed their faith even as they misused it, trampled on the poor even as they said their prayers and incited violence even as they called upon the Prince of Peace.

He rebuked the woman taken in adultery. However, he railed against those who wallowed in religious sanctity but twisted it to use against others. Most of Matthew Chapter 23 and parts of Mark and Luke are devoted to his anger at such hypocrites.

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisee, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice, mercy and faith” (Matthew 23:23).

Hagee was a cheerleader for the war between Israel and Lebanon last summer. He proclaimed that massive bloodshed in the Middle East might trigger the return of the Messiah and encouraged the massacre in the name of Jesus.

Ralph Reed, once the head of the Christian Coalition, was implicated in abetting a scheme that involved dishonesty, gambling and defrauding Indian tribes for gain with Washington lobbyist Jack Abramoff.

Dobson energetically bargains his faith — and that of his followers — for political advantage to enforce his religious bias on the law for all Americans.

Haggard is pitiable. The others are dangerous. Haggard resigned in disgrace. The others flourish.

Jesus would weep.”

From http://www.palmbeachpost.com/opinion/content/accent/epaper/2006/11/10/a3e_gushee_1110.html

Lance,

I’m not Dobson fan, but I think your comment on him is a little strong.

BUT… you are SO right about the church often white-washing the sins of greed, et al, over sexual sin. I think, in this ridiculous American society, that we can’t even RECOGNIZE greed when we have it.

Lance quoted:
“Dobson energetically bargains his faith — and that of his followers — for political advantage to enforce his religious bias on the law for all Americans. “

I’d say, give an example to back up this claim.  I heard Dobson yesterday, and he was clearly stating his beliefs on moral issues in politics, and was not pushing either political party.  As a democracy and as Christians, we should voice our opinions on moral issues.  How stupid to be experts in the light but keep our mouth shut when it comes to forming community rules (which is what politics is all about).

True, we can’t legislate morality, to some extent, but we shouldn’t legislate immorality either!

...Bernie