Scandal

Scandal - scan·dal ˈskandl/

noun

an action or event regarded as morally or legally wrong.

With what we do sadly there is rarely a week that goes by that we do not hear of a minister who has been released, fired, let go, allowed to resign. And there is most always a cloud around it. And there are always at least two sides when it happens. And it seems some always thrive on the hint of a scandal. What happened? What’d he do? Do you know why? 

May I share something personal with you? I’ve done scandalize stuff. There are things I’ve done that my elders have found out about that, were I one of my elders, I would have fired me over. There are things I’ve shamefully done that I pray they do not find out about. But, as much as I hate to discuss it, it gets worse. I’ve done some things that I deserve to go to hell over. Now, before your mouth gapes open to wide, YOU HAVE TOO. My life is an open scandal. And I certainly wish that was all in the past. But like Paul I must confess, “oh, wretched man that I am.” Note that in Romans 7 the word is “ἐγώ”and is when with the verb (in this case, am) always emphatic and have force. So Paul, here is NOT talking about his past life of sin. 

Prayerfully our sins will not be crimes that will push us out of ministry or onto the front page news that will drag the reputation of the church in a bad direction. But the next time you hear ______ was fired. Before picking up a stone to throw it his way remember, the scandal in your life is worthy of hell, but the grace of God through the cleansing power of the love of Christ gives me hope. Before you believe, or spread, or suspect, remember you too need saving. So be cautious, love (remember 1 Corinthians 13 love believes the best and expects the best), reach out to support and to assure that God can still use scandalous folks like them - and me - and you. Please don't rejoice in the train-wreck or apparent fall of any of God's servants. And, thank God, that regardless of how much of a failure you may feel, God can still use you. Don't quit over your failure - Jesus died so you could recover from that.