It’s been a rough few months in the Christian community.
It is hard, as a believer, when we see our public figures fail. It may be the Pastor who admitted to an affair, or the revelation of a tv family’s son history of molestation… but the biggest catapult has been the Ashley Madison website hack, and leak.
Well known Christian pastors, Christian celebrities, and Christian bloggers are being exposed for their involvement with the sight.
I read an article today, where one Christian professional is anticipating that over the next few weeks, we may see over 400 Pastors and leaders resigning from their positions.
And, I am at a loss.
I have never held leaders up to a standard of perfection, and I am not issuing them a pass at all.
But, I want to address something else….
How was their name found and made public? Did these Pastors and leaders come right to their spouse and church leadership and confess the minute they found out about the leak? Did someone hunt their name out and expose them?
Yes, every sin will be exposed… and I am not saying it shouldn’t be. I am not suggesting there shouldn’t be accountability for their choices.
However, I am a bit broken at the thought that people were going through the Ashely Madison lists looking for names they recognized. Looking for names of people they could rat out, of lives that they could destroy.
I know that there are some folks who have an agenda against the church, that may have been looking for the big names in the Christian world. I’m less surprised about that, because we know that is sort of the norm when you step out in the public as a Christian.
But… what really bothers me… the idea that one or more members from any given church, may have been looking up the names of the men in their church and their church leadership.
I don’t begrudge a wife looking up the name of her husband. But, in my opinion, that is the extent of where our curiosity should extend. Our own homes, our own families. When I first saw the article and the link to check names/email addresses… it never once occurred to me to check for my Pastor or any of our staff members.
Yet, I know in my heart… for this many churches to be affected…. someone was.
In one of my seminary classes, we were warned that there would be people, who sit with us weekend after weekend … worshiping with us, praising with us, learning with us… who were just looking for the opportunity to stir up trouble. This was not a warning to paranoia, but rather to just make sure we are aware it happens.
It was so hard for me to believe… but now, not so hard at all.
Gena McCown 