Give In or Fight

         In the last few months at least two hugely influential ministries in the conservative Christian community have been shaken from the roots. Doug Phillips of Vision Forum Ministries stepped down from his position after confessing very serious sin and, consequently, Vision Forum closed down. Accusations have been made against Bill Gothard (Institute in Basic Life Principles) and he has since resigned his position as well. I don't know if the accusations against Mr. Gothard are true or not: that's not the point of this post. There is one thing I do know however: both of these men had great influence, especially among homeschoolers. Both did many good things. And both have enemies who've been watching their every move hoping that they would say or do something - anything - that could be used against them. Well, these people got what they wanted - and they've run with it. Both men have very likely been ruined. As I said before, I don't know if the allegations against Bill Gothard are even true. Doug Phillips confessed and repented of his sin and is now working toward amending his relationships with everyone who was hurt by his actions.
    So what have we in the Christian community done to help these Christian brothers in their times of conflict and attack? I've seen blog posts, forum threads, and facebook posts dealing with the issues and there's one prevalent thought weaving through them all: these men are dangerous, their teachings are dangerous, and they've finally been found out. Finally the homeschool community has been "rescued" from their contaminating influence. Really? I have one thing to say to this: STOP! Can't we see we're destroying them? And not only them: we're destroying ourselves! Jesus taught that a house divided can't stand. A nation divided against itself cannot stand. And so the Church, divided against itself, can't stand. Satan knows this but it seems like we've forgotten it. We are in a war and we can't forget it! Satan will do anything to rip us apart. At least one leader fell into sin and when he confessed and repented we, instead of forgiving him as we are called to do as followers of Christ, seem to have taken up arms against him. When another leader was accused did we actually try to find out if the accusations  were true or did we jump on the bandwagon with those who were against him in the first place and destroy a man who, as far as we know, is our brother in Christ? I'm not saying we should turn a blind eye to sin. I'm saying it's not our place to withhold forgiveness if a man seeks it. It is not our place to condemn him. Put yourself in his place. How would you hold up under the critical, fault-finding eye of those watching you as you take your place in the public spotlight?
     We all sin: no one has never sinned. Yet we look at a man who is influential among many people and if he does wrong we condemn him and down play everything he says and has said in the past. Remember the apostle Paul? He murdered Christians. And yet he became one of the great Writers of the Bible. Everyone has sinned but despite that, sometimes even because of that God can use us powerfully - if we let Him. I've heard that phrase used so many times in reference to each of us personally holding ourselves back from God's Will. But couldn't it also be referring to those around us? How many times might God have raised up a mighty warrior for Himself but the people around that servant of our God, even those in the Church, made him and his work of no affect? Jesus himself was hindered in his own hometown because of the people who knew him and discounted His words - and this was Jesus, the one Man who never sinned! If God sends one of His servants who may have a past, or who may make a grievous mistake while he's following God's call, how can we tear that man down, ruin him and perhaps even  his family's reputations forever?
    We are under attack and it will get worse. The question is, will we give in and do what Satan wants us to: destroy ourselves and our relationships, or are we going to rise up and stand strong together against the devil? Are we going to continue to ruin great men of God because of sin for which they've repented and asked forgiveness? Or are we going to love, forgive and pray for them? Will we let Satan in the door or will we give him the boot and slam the door in his face?

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