I have seen some disturbing trends in the media of late. Ministers are resigning due to moral failure … and ministers are trying to raise millions of dollars to buy jets. Now, I realize clergy are no different than anyone else when it comes to failure or falling short. If you are human, it doesn’t matter what you do as an occupation, you will be susceptible to sin. When clergy sins, it’s much more public, and it comes with more of a ‘shame on you’ attitude by those who trusted in the integrity of the calling.
The Catholic Church is an example of this when their clergy were being exposed for misconduct with minors in their congregations. It is ugly and quite disgusting to know your priest is also a child predator. Protestants have also had their scandals, and more recently had two nationally known ministers accused of pedophilia. Recently, two more popular clergy resigned due to moral failure. These were men who had nationally-known ministries, millions of followers online, and thousands attending their churches. So, the elephant in the room is the question we all want to know … why? Why do men who know how to give moral advice from their pulpits, personally fail due to the same kinds of sins they have regularly preached against to others? King Solomon had the same issue:
Proverbs 7:1 “Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,” and to insight, “You are my relative.” They will keep you from the adulterous woman, from the wayward woman with her seductive words.
King Solomon had a lot to say about the promiscuous lifestyle but failed to secure the same advice for himself. Every time a preacher speaks about Solomon’s 700 wives and 300 concubines there is a snicker in the audience. But it wasn’t just the opulence of having access to many women, it was the power they had to influence Solomon. It was this influence that changed Solomon to think differently about who He worshipped and honored as God. All his wives had different gods and all of them influenced Solomon according to their preferences of worship.
We know from Scripture that humans are influenced by things that bring influence and power. I have heard them called, ‘the 3 M’s’ … morals, money, and might; which all deal with the allure of power. They have a sinful nature to them because there is a twofold influence with each of them. First, they influence with the temptation of having power over circumstances, and then they have the influence of controlling others. Both elements are the greatest temptations known to mankind. Eve was tempted with having the same knowledge as God if she ate of the fruit. She wanted the influence of God’s power. Satan wanted the power and the influence of being worshipped as he slipped into sin before God.
So, the ‘why’ is less mysterious when you look closer at it through the lens of the powerful temptation of power and control. Once a person is afforded the responsibility to communicate to thousands or millions of people, it begins the process of that person being tempted by the ‘3 Ms.’ All three of these temptations are powerful influencers, and they will corrupt quickly … and the ruin will be swift.
What does a person who has a ministry of influence do to protect against such temptations?
Understand that with influence there is a different set of rules to invoke, and they start with self-awareness.
God must be first, second, and third. He must break you of the need for anything but Him.
The need for close communication with people you are accountable to, that can speak into your life, and have the authority to shut you down.
The fear of knowing that the influence you have is given by God, and it will be taken by God if violated.
Your emotional needs cannot control the direction of your life. Your direction must be greater than any personal need.
These are the simple rules that must be a part of any leader who has influence. Without them, clergy leaders are vulnerable to the temptations that come to rob, steal, and destroy.
Challenging the Culture with Truth … Larry Kutzler