So glad you liked it, Anna!

Yes, I am sure it is just childishness on our parts to expect our preachers or Christian leaders who have inspired us to be perfect–and I know I often fall prey to that childishness myself, feeling deeply shocked when someone I have respected or been inspired by is revealed to have particularly egregious feet of clay.

Perhaps if we focus on God and just see Bakker etc as flutes through which the music of God is played we would feel less shocked and even wounded by the fall of our preachers.

“They have developed their intellect, or Bible knowledge or teaching or writing gifts at the expense of emotional health, or healthy relationships, or common humanity.”

YES!

Nouwen’s little book In the Name of Jesus says something along these lines — that those who are so absorbed in the heady world of thoughts and ideas are vulnerable to carnal sin. I’m sure that is not the only direction the error / imbalance can lie.

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2520.In_the_Name_of_Jesus

I believe that it is hard to criticise those that give up their lives to teaching the Word of God and the available salvation given freely through God’s grace and Jesus’ sacrifice, as they, above all, are in line to be attacked by the evil one, unlike those of us living safe comfortable lives.

I watched sadly at the media glee at the fall of these leaders, as I did at Jimmy Swaggart’s demise. But as Jesus himself said, “Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.” and I am sure I am not resistant to the feeble little temptations I get in my own life, and try to remember to rely entirely on the Holy Spirit for strength and guidance.

Thanks again for your interesting blog.

So glad you liked it, Lilly!

Matthew 7:3

“Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?

Lovely thought to ponder on the whole day

It’s hypocrisy that gets me. Jesus railed against that more than against any sin!

Yes, we are all flawed, and the Kingdom advances despite, around, above, and sometimes even through us. Thanks for commenting, Marcy!

Thanks, Bev. I have long been puzzled by seriously flawed, seriously gifted Christian leaders. I think the weakness is the mirror image of their strength. They have developed their intellect, or Bible knowledge or teaching or writing gifts at the expense of emotional health, or healthy relationships, or common humanity.
It’s amazing that you learned what not to do by watching the “rogues and ruffians.” I have often observed that churches take on the colouration and weaknesses of their leaders…
I almost didn’t want to write this post, but in the current Gothard scandal, I was impressed by how many people quietly say their lives and families have been changed through his teaching. I myself have long thought bits of his teaching were toxic, in being overly hierarchical.