Idols With Clay Feet

Pixabay

I just finished throwing out two books. There was nothing wrong with the books, or the information that they contained. I also made a mental note to go through some study material that I wrote and taught several years ago to remove references to one of the books I have just consigned to the garbage.

It's not the books, or the material. It's the author who wrote the books. I won't say that he has ever been an idol of mine. But I know that he has been the idol of others, world-famous in fact. He started a movement and became a guru among evangelicals, much quoted and much emulated. And perhaps everything he said and did (at least in his ministerial role) was exemplary and worthy to be followed. But it turns out he is an idol with clay feet, who has systematically abused his power over many years while in the ministry,  This abuse particularly relates to his relationship with women.

As a woman, and one who knows a little about abuse of power in ministry, I don't want to see his name on anything that sits on my bookshelves. His words mean nothing in the light of his actions.

That is sad.

He is not the first, and unhappily he will not be the last. There are probably others out there in evangelical circles who are quaking in their boots wondering when they will be discovered. Worse yet, there are others out there oblivious to the fact that their actions when it comes to how they use their authority, are reprehensible—not just to society, but to the One they claim to follow and to serve.

I was reminded as I processed this latest revelation of a phrase that has often been bandied about when something bad happens in our society. It's "this is not who we are." We try to distance ourselves from the "bad" guys. But given the number of evangelical organizations who are setting up committees to examine, then root out those who abuse their power, and hopefully to prevent that abuse, it seems like this really is who we are. The rot runs deeper than we would like to admit—all the way down to our own hearts.

If ever we needed the Spirit of God to sweep through our churches, to bring us to our knees in confession and repentance, it is now. If we think that the God who sent both Israel and Judah into captivity and punished them for their idolatry and abuse will not administer that same kind of judgment on us, we are sadly deceived.

His desire is for a glorious, pure "bride" and He will do what He has to do to achieve that.