My Heart Is Broken

My heart is broken this morning because as I’ve been reading news about some church leaders, it’s just plain to see that the church, as a whole, is more in a mess than most Christians want to believe. There are three stories I am going to share this morning, and all I can say is that in every single case it “appears” that no one is being asked to step down, or is being disciplined by their church leadership. I should also be very clear that I do not support women pastors in the pulpit, nor do I agree with the prosperity gospel and some theological positions of the people I’m about to write about. However, knowing there are millions of people who follow these ministers, it is even more sad to me that many will continue to worship and follow these ministers of the gospel. Since if you can’t keep your own house in order, you should have no business leading a church.

First, we have “Pastors” Paula White and Randy White getting a divorce.. This is tragic on so many levels, but it’s really tragic when you are a pastor, or as in Paula’s case, a person who is preaching that “You Can Have It All” - just visit “Pastor” Paula’s website and see exactly what I mean. Obviously in her case, she can’t have it all if she’s getting a divorce. And it appears from the news reports, that both of these pastors has been married before, and apparently there is some “infidelity” issues going on, which is what is leading to their divorce.

The question is will either one of them have the integrity to step down and leave ministry. I doubt it, because as anyone who follows these prosperity teachers knows, not only are they relatively unbiblical in their teaching, but they are also captive to their money. And the sheep that follow them are so naive as to think that what they preach is truth, that even when their lives are falling apart, they will remain and continue to give them money. It’s very sad and tragic.

My hope would be that this couple would get themselves into some serious biblical counseling and step down until their marriage is restored. Then again, that’s me. Most Christians don’t want to do the hard work it takes to build their marriages. As you know, the divorce rate in the church tells us this.

The second story is of another women “prophetess” Juanita Bynum and her husband Bishop Thomas Weeks. Apparently they were also separated and recently they went out to dinner and afterwards, the Bishop, decided to assault his wife, choke her, leave bruises on her and threaten to kill her. Nice Christian witness Bishop.

Again, this is a high powered Christian couple, in prophetic and prosperity ministry, that has come crashing down. I feel sorry for Juanita Bynum as she is the pure victim in this case. And yet, as I said earlier, I don’t agree with women in the pulpit or the gospel message they preach about prosperity and money.

Meanwhile, you have the Bishop, in other news reports, saying that he will return to the pastorate. Yeah right…all I can say is that if his church leadership allows him to return to the leadership role in that church, then they are being foolish and putting that church in even more harms way. He should be removed and booted out of leadership. Pure and simple.

The last report is about a Pastor who has admitted to sending sexual test messages to a teenager. I’ve posted a video at my other site that you can watch. And again, note how this guy is playing the victim and making himself out to be like he was set up or something. The “pastor” clearly admits he sent inappropriate text messages to a minor, and then has the nerve to equate himself as being persecuted like Jesus.

This guy needs to be promptly removed from leadership and given the right foot of fellowship, because apparently he isn’t repentant.

In fact, it appears that in all three cases, there is not any sense or evidence of repentance by anyone.

You have a power couple getting a divorce and the attitude is “who really cares…” - You have a pastor beating the heck out of his wife and choking her, threatening her with death and “who really cares….” and of course you have a Pastor being sexually inappropriate….and he’s being persecuted like Jesus.

I’ll tell you this - God cares deeply about the condition of His people. And judgment begins with the house of God. My hope and prayer is that healing will come to all involved in these sad situations, and that those who are in their churches would desire to walk in biblical truth and either call for discipline, or leave these toxic congregations. Because I will tell you this, a church is only as healthy as her leadership.

Enough said.