Saturday, November 04, 2006

Beyond Reproach

What does it take to, as Paul says, "be above reproach" as a Christian (1 TIM 3:2)? Paul's word is specifically toward leaders in the church, but in the grassroots of the church, everyone has the potential to be a leader as God calls, and no one is exempt from the calculating eye of the Prowling Lion (1 PET 5:8)who seeks ever to accuse (JOB 1:7-2:4), even through those who unwittingly serve him (NEH 6:5-9).

This past week, Ted Haggard of Colorado Springs, CO, has been under scrutiny from the mad public eye over allegations that he had three years of business with a male prostitute who gave him both sex and drugs. I don't think I'll pretend to bring too much up on this one. I don't know, unfortunately, of Pastor Haggard's innocence or guilt. And, on that note, please don't try and decide on his innocence or guilt for yourself based on partial information. I am probably more partial than anyone else to judge quickly, so I say this mostly to myself, but right now, Haggard, his family, and his church need more prayer than anything. Meanwhile, Mark Driscoll provides us with a biblical look at being a Christian leader in a world full of sexual predacity. "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." (EPH 6:12)

1 Comments:

and Blogger A. Whipple addressed the Senate...

I'm confused, do you mean Mark or Ted is being corrected in the blogging world?

Furthermore, his suggestions are all about restraining himself. His accountability to others is a very biblical idea (confess your sins one to another, restore [your brother] gently, by your love they will know that you're my disciples). The Christian life is not meant to be lived alone, in a vacuum of faulty human will. If anything, his quest for accountability is an acknowledgement that we are all susceptible to darkness. Indeed, Jesus himself was tempted by and capable of sin, lest the fact of his sinless life be without meaning. Most men are very visually motivated, so suggestions like Mark's about email are very pertinent.

Furthermore, I don't particularly find sole indentification with one's sexuality - something our society is quite fond of - to be a harbinger of self-restraint. Turn on any channel to see the subliminal (and overt) sale of sex by a world that is, obsessed with it. And if you need to be convinced of the sinful prodigality of the world, turn on the news.

I don't understand how any of his suggestions are "garbage," especially the first: "...stay close to Jesus."

His emphasis is also on the fact that will-worship becomes self-worship. Our God is strong because we are weak, not because he's trying to inspire us to toughen up and go it alone.

8:34 PM, November 05, 2006  

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