[Author’s Note]

Though I normally avoid social media (including YouTube), I recently saw one post and one video (by different Bible teachers) concerning situations that appear to be the same. 

One, “Pastor X,”  named names and said he was pulling his endorsements of someone (ministry member accused of something) pending investigations. 

The other, let’s call him “Brother,” didn’t provide specifics and may have actually been talking in general, and not about the aforementioned accused. But he did address “canceling” ministry members.

As you may know, one of my special interests is “holiness,” with a side dish of “mercy and grace.”

So of course I just had to post comments on each of their pages; I’ve modified and “redacted” my own comments and formatted them a bit, but have not removed anything I wrote to them. 

I include these here in order to request that all believers In Jesus, our Living GOD and LORD Of LOVE, would remember His Teachings when considering “fallen” teachers Of His Word. They are, after all, His Kids before they’re His Ministry Peeps. 

<3 

Much love and happy reading, from your sister

Sally B.

1 (To Pastor X)

I understand the desire for any person (and especially a new Christian or someone who is not yet part of the fam) to be able to trust someone, not just on a personal level, but also and especially with regard to interpretations or explanations or theories or teachings about our precious, perfect, matchless, mighty, and merciful LORD Jesus and living this life For Him.  

That said—and regardless of what the alleged crimes are in this case or any other member of ministry—pastors are mouthpieces For Our LORD and His Thrilling Word. 

Truth is truth regardless of who says it. 

(Being able to trust that what they are explaining so well is, in fact, in line with the Bible is easy to prove, not just by the biblically literate, but even via Google search. I Do not say this out of insensitivity to the alleged victims in any such case, or even because I believe that the alleged perpetrators need to be supported or rehabilitated or shown mercy or boycotted or forced to stop preaching (or whatever) forever. 

Sure, they need to be neutralized, rendered harmless to any potential temptations, let’s call it. (Whether of the personal or financial variety, among other things.) 

And obviously, the biggest problem in their life isn’t betrayal or infidelity or sinning against humans in any way shape, form, or fashion, but rather, a break in their fellowship With The LORD of all.

I’m not going to bring up King David or Saul-to-Paul, and how God DID Use and Redeem them, because that isn’t my main point here. (It’s true, tho, praise To His Holy Name! :) 

Hopefully He Will Use me, the chief of sinners, to present this here viewpoint to some friends who may never have considered it. 

This viewpoint is, again, the same thing I submit to you about Dr. Ravi Zachariah, who provided some of the very best teachings on apologetics these past fifty years (along with dear pastor X!). 

This viewpoint is akin to “love the player, hate the game,” or “love the sinner, hate the sin.” 

Except I’d call this one “love the teaching, hate the ‘test,’” or the mess, or I don’t know how to say it properly without saying “hate the teacher.” 

But I pray that you dear friends who have read this far, and whose first or default reaction is to boycott the teachings or resources of someone in such a situation, would think again. 

Dr. Ravi’s work helped to bring countless moslems To Faith In Jesus, for example. 

So of COURSE the loser enemy satan wanted to shush him—and I am in no position to say whether it was by a smear campaign or demonic attacks or just plain old temptation of the sort that we all feel (regardless of how it manifests and whether other sins are involved Aka consent, cash, etc.). 

In closing, pastor X has the right to feel and believe and behave in any manner he chooses to. 

So do you. So do I. 

We also have the right—and the responsibility—to pray for everyone involved in this case and every one like it. 

But most of all, we ALL have noticed the state of the world today, and felt that deep-in-the-cockles-of-our-hearts dread and certainty that supernatural warfare is way, WAY up now; His Bride is under all kinds of attack… which is a crying shame, since His Blessed Gospel Is The BESTEST News EVER and could fix stuff. Aka everything. 

But It Can only fix “His babies and the world” IF we:

Open our ears, our hearts, and our minds TO Him, that we hear and see and learn what He Is Saying to us (whether lessons or instructions or just plain “hey babe, what’s up! I LOVE YOU! Let’s hang out today!”).

Lift our hands To Him, in praise and surrender, of course, but also in a symbolic statement of “There! I’ve let everything go, and my hands are open and ready to receive Your Word, Your Blessings, Your Decisions, Your Instructions, Your Plans, Your WILL for me and “my” life, which I have given To You forever and ever! And which I affirm and choose again, every single day I draw breath!”

Bow our heads To Him, in both prayer and worship and submission—AND to receive our anointing and our Assignments (just like in that one painting with the knight (The Accolade).

And then, we look up—way, WAY up!—fixing our eyes On HIM and His Message, instead of worrying about His mouthpieces, aka messengers. 

Much love and many prayers over you, dear friend… In The HOLY Name Of Jesus! ♥️🙏✝️

2 (To “Brother”)

I saw that video of the guy on the bus, too! So poignant. But so very much how He Wants us to live. 

A huge yes and amen about not “canceling” people, especially ministry, accused of shady stuff. 

Apart from “is it even true,” there’s also the whole “I ain’t perfect” thing and the “Saul used to harangue Christians” thing. 

No, we don’t support the sin, and especially not the danger or misuse or charlatan stuff of any sort (but especially, by those in “authority,” and more so, by those in a ministry-related authority).

Preventing future such instances is vital. 

But it’s not just about protecting potential victims of grossness and or bilkingness, but about protecting the perpetrators themselves. (From falling again, at all, but especially from “being tempted at all, and particularly when said temptation/s are facilitated by where they serve or “who they are.”)

It’s also about rehabilitating them. Supporting them. Loving them through it. 

Weird and gross stuff against others (abuse, etc.) is so often “inherited.” (Whether this “inheritance” was a traumatic thing, or a family demon–or a trauma-opened door that let some unclean spirits in.)

Hurt people DO (so often) hurt people! 

But some haven’t been hurt in the ways they hurt others. 

Some succumb to temptation, or their own flesh. Some have no accountability, or have never been trained or mentored or warned against habits or practices that “often do lead” to beastly behaviour. 

And then, there’s the people who “called themselves into” ministry–or “influencing” (ahem), drawn by the siren song of “what the world offers.” 

That’s not all, though; some start in earnest, but fall away after being seduced by “Too much” power or money or fame (aka entitlement innahaus). 

Some just be weak, though. 

Or their relationship With Him is weak. 

They’re not alone in these instances, though; we have ALL sinned and fall short Of His Blinding Gloriousness! 

But when someone on a platform falls… the crash is louder. (Or maybe that’s just the din of people around.) And when someone falls BECAUSE of their platform… 

Sigh. It’s tragic. 

Especially when people looked to them, not for a model OF morality, but for teaching ABOUT morality! 

And for teachings About The One Whose Word ESTABLISHED what “good morals” even MEANS.

Phew… I’ve been writing about this topic all morning, it makes me really sad. 

Not the transgressions (tho I am), but the reactions TO the transgressions. 

Because just as the “perp” (ostensibly) broke fellowship With Our Precious LORD Jesus, so, too, do WE–every time we throw someone in jail for owing us $50 (right after the judge forgave us $500).

Every time we stand around, burying our talent in the ground instead of doing something with it.

Every time we walk past someone laying bruised and bloody along the road–in full view of the passersby, so many of whom seem to be more interested in stealing glances and shaking their heads than they are in stepping up to the fallen “friend” and helping him up onto his feet. 

In guiding him towards healing for himself and his family, and the many people that he’s impacted in different ways (including less-pleasant ones). 

Anyway, brother, I’m so glad that you stood up for one of the family—and exhorted your faithful and Devoted audience to do the same. Blessings upon you In The Holy, MIGHTY Name of our PRECIOUS LORD JESUS ♥️🙏✝️