The recent accusations of four young men toward Bishop Eddie Long of sexual abuse has again raised questions about the church universal and it's character. Something should be noted about this case and that of Ted Haggard. Prior to the reports of each of these men's scandals, both men were outspoken against homosexuality and gay marriage. Even after allegations were made on ABC news, Bishop Eddie Long organized a march with his 25,000 member congregation through Atlanta with an opposition of gay marriage as the main message.Prior to the accusations against Long and Haggard, both men spoke openly about their masculinity. Haggard was fond of sharing from the pulpit about his sex life and how it's important to have great sex with one's wife. Not that every pastor who speaks about such things are really hiding something... just saying.
I remember growing up in church hearing messages about all the evils of the world, (alcohol, drugs, porn, etc.) and wondering if the preacher's job was to test those things and give reports on their results.
Like a lot of pastors, I've wondered that if I make a big mistake in life, if the Church would embrace or reject me. I wonder that simply because history tells us, when a pastor falls out of the saddle, the church hasn't shown a lot of grace. I think it's the pastor's fault.
First of all, if the pastor was honest in the beginning and just expressed some of their troubles and challenges in the first place, they stood a greater chance to be embraced by the church. In the case of Ted Haggard and many others who slammed homosexuality from their pulpits and was later found out to be involved in that life style, no wonder the congregation shot them down. They provided the weapons and the ammo of judgement to their congregations. It was Haggard who pushed a black and white view on homosexuality. Or as Donald Miller has said, "They got cut on the knife they sharpened."
Donald Miller, author of "Blue Like Jazz" also makes a great point, that churches have a "don't ask, don't tell" policy regarding homosexuality in the church. I agree, and add that this policy has created rampant hypocrisy in the church.
I write all this to say, if you have some junk you need to confess and if your church won't show you grace, (pastor or not) go find another church filled with real Jesus followers and share it with them and discover healing. Maybe a pastor's most prominent rant is their deepest struggle.
