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Sunday, May 19, 2013

What Can We Learn from Pat Robertson's Comments About Cheating?



Attention all you current and aspiring Christian leaders. Don’t ever do this:



Despite the fact that the answer to this woman’s search for an answer is pretty chauvinistic and trivializing, the “this” I’m talking about is speaking out of your butt when a person comes to you with a genuine question.  For any Christian leader, one must realize that people are going to ask questions expecting the answer to be from a study of what God has said in His Word. However, what Abby got at this particular moment was solely coming from one man’s point of view and not God’s.

What does God have to say about cheating and adultery, anyway? I am pretty sure it has less to do with “men tend to wander” and more with sinfulness. Romans 13:9, “For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” Galatians 5:9, “Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness.” God seems to consider cheating on the same level of many other sins. Thus, in this particular situation, the sin of adultery should not cast be upon the poor Abby in this subject, but upon the man who has actually committed the sin.

Now, God’s point of view seems to be very far from what Pat Robertson said on the subject which highlights a sad fact of many Christian leaders today. Many leaders spread their own opinions instead of the Word’s opinions and this is not to be taken lightly by God. 1Timothy 3: 1-7: 

This is a true saying, if a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

This last part of the passage about having a good report is especially important because it has everything to do with teaching. Where does this good report come from? Does it come from the leader’s experience? Heck no, it comes from the Word of God. In other translations the phrase, good report, is the word, testimony, and testimony is found multiple times in the Word of God. Every time we see that word, it is in reference to the truth of God, the truth of Christ, or the truth of the Word. Revelation 1:2 is a great example, “Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.”   
God’s children are precious to Him and He wants His children to know Him. If the people who have made themselves leaders in the Church don’t carry a testimony concerning God’s Truth or Word, as we see in John 17:17, then what’s the purpose?

Lastly, a big problem in this world of social media is that something like this is a horrible witness for the Church because it will go viral in no time and the media is waiting to destroy any Christian it can. Talking out of your butt and not from God’s Word does absolutely nothing to help the Church and only hurts it as it gives the devil ample chance to ridicule a Christian. So, for any of you out there who want to someday be leaders in the Church, start studying God’s Word to align your opinions with God’s opinions and, thus, exhorting His children while building up the Church in a positive light backed by the testimony of God.

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