I have probably written about this before but I am a crazy about this topic. I try not to be judgemental toward non-believers, I mean I recognize sin and all but it’s not my place to be the Holy Spirit and judge their salvation. Inside the church is a whole different matter. I am a beast when it comes to pastors. Paul did say that the “saints” should appraise all things. He also indicated there was a much higher standard for those that preach the gospel.

I was in a church when I was a kid about 12-13 and a pastor got caught running around with not one, not two, but three women. Left the church got a girl pregnant in another church. I remember thinking at that time, “if this is the way Christians are I don’t want any part of it.” It took me another 6 years to reengage and only then after I found some guys who I thought were the real deal. Those guys led me to places where I could hear and understand the gospel for the first time because I saw it lived and communicated. Anyway I moved away from GA for a long time. When we came back my wife and I were riding around with this real estate agent and he started telling me about his pastor and how he was running around with the secretary and such. Out of the blue I said I bet I know his name. I nailed it. 25 years later this guy was still pulling the same stuff on churches and women.  

Anyway at lunch the other day a name came up. All three of us had stories about this person and his reputation that he has left behind wherever he has gone. I don’t know how people keep trusting pastors like this. One time anyone can fall, but when it is repeated two or three times, it is time to remove guys from the pastorate.

There’s the judgement. Oh, well. Guys if you don’t have integrity then leave the ministry.  Don’t harm the name of Jesus, the church, your family, and destroy the faith of some young kid because you can’t keep your pants on in the presence of other women, can’t keep your hands out of the offering basket, or whatever it is that haunts you. My wife will tell you I’m no “saint” in the worldly sense. She can list a whole bunch of stuff in my life that is sin. But I tell you when it comes to church and public ministry I put all sorts of protection around me when it comes to other women and money.  If you’ve got any integrity you’ll do the same. If you don’t care about your name, protect the name of Jesus.