RESTORING FALLEN MINISTERS

Quite a bit has been said recently about ministers that have fallen into sin.  The worst have been exposed for sexual sin, with some even facing jail or prison time and lifetime registration as an offender.  Others have used their media channels and meetings to raise large amounts of money, then used the tax free funds to buy luxurious homes for themselves.  Some have data-mined information from phone books, mailing lists, or social media to use that information to deliver false words of knowledge that they present as divinely supplied.

After the exposure, the fake preacher will move away from ministry.  Then some will come out calling for the person to be restored.

Now, we see some discussion on who can be restored, and how the restoration process should go.  I see something lacking in most of the proposals, something that Jesus spoke about.

Most have spoken about the need for forgiveness.  Of course, the victims and the Body of Christ need to forgive the offender.  But, in this call for forgiveness, I don't see anyone bringing up this passage:

Matthew 5:21-26 NASB1995

“You have heard that the ancients were told, ‘You shall not commit murder’ and ‘Whoever commits murder shall be liable to the court.’  But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever says to his brother, ‘You good-for-nothing,’ shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell.  Therefore if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you,  leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering.  Make friends quickly with your opponent at law while you are with him on the way, so that your opponent may not hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the officer, and you be thrown into prison.  Truly I say to you, you will not come out of there until you have paid up the last cent.

Jesus said quite a mouthful with just a few sentences!  On the surface, He doesn't seem to said that much.  But, let's look at the bigger picture, and let's start by considering who he was speaking to - Jews living in Galilee under the Roman Empire.  The Law of Moses was their primary guide, and it dominated the thinking of many.

First, Jesus reminds them of the commandment against murder.  Then, He amplifies the command to include insults.  He gives two examples of insults that will place the speaker under judgment.

The first example questions the target's character.  The second questions the target's mental capabilities.  Insults like these attack a person instead of any facts that might support their position.  Academics and attornies call them ad hominem attacks.  They regard such arguments invalid.

What Jesus did was expand murder to include the condition of the heart that would make someone murder.

Then, Jesus says something that doesn't seem to fit, a non sequitur, if you will.  He says, "...your brother has something against you," not that you have something against your brother.  Why would He say THAT?

I can understand understand why.  I have watched all of the Perry Mason series.  I have noticed that quite a few times, the murder victims were dispicable.  If I were a fictional character in those episodes, I might have killed them too.  But quite a few times, the victim was mostly inoffensive.  The motive isn't always apparent, and it becomes the biggest part of the mystery.  Most times, more than one person who knew the victim had a motive, and Perry had to eliminate each one.  So, even the nicest people could become murder victims.

Jesus, by telling a potential murder victim to seek reconciliation, He saves two lives!  God does not want anyone to murder or get murdered.

Then Jesus moves into civil affairs - lawsuits.  He favors reconciliation there too.  In those days, debtors could be imprisoned.  God doesn't want people imprisoned by debt, or to lose money over unpaid loans.

Now, how does this apply to fallen preachers?

Reconciliation between victim and defender is paramount.  Without it, the relationship will be destroyed.  This leaves an open door for other relationships to be destroyed.

The offender should be the first one to seek reconciliation.  Period.  I mean PERIOD!  Why? To prevent more offenses.

This is how the offender should seek reconciliation:

First, admit to the victim that you were wrong.  Don't be like Fonzi, go ahead and say, "I was wrong," not, "I was wr-uhhhh." You will probably feel better after you say it out loud.  God certainly will.  So will the victim.

Second, say you that are sorry, that you regret doing what you did, and you want to do better.

Finally, ask for forgiveness.  Forgiveness from the victim frees you from the worry that they might seek revenge.

Now, I do not want to forget the victim's part in the process.  The victim needs to forgive for their own spiritual health.

Without forgiveness by both, no reconciliation happens.

Without reconciliation, worship becomes meaningless.  Fallen ministers who have not reconciled with their victims remain false.  If they do get restored to ministry, then the public needs to be informed that their ministry is false also.