Posted by John on April 04, 2001 at 16:00:30:
In Reply to: my somewhat expounded "Amen" posted by Pastor Steven on April 04, 2001 at 12:35:00:
And this is why I love Steve Meigs. From my first encounter with him it was as though I saw people being torn to shreds by this Being that was speaking through him... the crazy thing was that they liked it. I am not offended, you have only spoken what has been rolling in my head from the moment I chose not to speak. I deeply regret that I did not do what I knew I should have, and I am certain that I would not let myself do this again, the fact remains now that it must be addressed and will at the first opportunity... not because anyone says so, but because I cannot in good conscience allow it to go any longer than it has. Steve's post is merely all the more affirmation of what i knew I should do in the first place.
If we know the good we should do and do not do it, we sin. (James) How true. How much power is in this statement. No excuses, no gray area. This should be my mindset.
: I started to copy segments of previous posts to respond to, but ended up going for the simpler approach. Let me remind you that I am no good at beating about the bush, so you'll have to forgive me for my point-blank comments.
: This situation to which you refer has affected a number of people. The time has not been right during the last few days to address it, as you know.
: There are many issues to be considered. You mentioned a responsibility to be honest; the Bible calls it "speaking the truth in love." This responsibility is demanded three-fold: by the spiritual maturity level of the observer, by the profession of accountability by the offender, and by the damage being done to the weaker struggling observer.
: As far as the former issue, you really should be a leader for all your experience and all God has taught you and given you. (You are not the only one involved to whom this applies, as you know.) Your silence denies your spiritual maturity and the calling God has given you. Your silence justifies the other "should-be" leaders who also should be loving their brethren enough to speak, and do not.
: The issue of accountability is also a significant one. You are not talking about someone like Jason's Samantha character; you are talking about someone who has willingly placed himself/herself in a position of accountability, and then tried to hide from it, all the while maintaining a facade toward the pastors and elders to whom he/she should be accountable. Your silence tacitly endorses that cover-up as well as the action of the offender. Your silence says that your commitment to love may be less important than not looking "judgmental" and ruffling some feathers.
: Your silence also tacitly endorses the spiritual damage that was done to the weaker struggling Christian who was present, who was wounded and stumbled, both because of the exposure to something that had destroyed him/her in the past, and by everyone's seeming endorsement of it. Your silence says that you are willing to let the struggling Christian fall right back into the pit without lifting a finger to help. Now consider those who love this struggling person the most, who labored in his/her deliverance, who prayed everyday for a miracle, and who rejoiced the most in the healing and restoration of their loved one. If you think I am being harsh, tell me, what would they feel if they knew all about this?
: An important note:
: I am addressing you only because you had enough integrity and conscience to let this thing bother you at all. Consider it a bit of a compliment, if you can. I would have as much to say to certain others, had they indicated they cared. This will still have to be addressed with them, but it is so much easier when the Spirit has been doing the work in people's hearts already (as in yours); then I can simply voice my somewhat expounded "Amen" to what God is already saying and doing. I sincerely hope my somewhat expounded "Amen" in this case has not offended you.
: A final thought:
: It's easy for me to go to God and tell him that I was so wrong.
: It's easy for me to go to others and tell them that I was so wrong.
: If someone else should tell me that I was so wrong, I am deeply offended.