When people fail

[Hashe]

A little while ago a friend of mine in ministry did something wrong – he sinned! The church he was working for asked him to step down from ministry and go find another job. I was sad for my friend that he had made a mistake, but more so for the church’s reaction. I wonder sometimes if people are too quick to come down ‘harsh on sin’.

Let’s consider Abraham. Twice (Gen 12:11-20, Gen 20) he lies about his wife Sarah. Twice Sarah is taken by a king. Twice Abraham is enriched by the king. Twice God intervenes to save the marriage. In these two stories, Abraham gets rich by lying about his wife. Was it a habitual sin?

I don’t think the lesson of the story is God wants us to lie to get rich! However, it does seem that God still shows his support and care for Abraham through bringing blessings out of his failures. It doesn’t seem like God is shaming Abraham. It doesn’t seem like God is undermining Abraham.

Now I know there are times where God is very strict with sin, in the Old and New Testaments. And sin is a serious problem. However it does make me wonder who much grace, care and support I give to people, whether in ministry or not, who struggle with a particular sin like Abraham did. Do I want to get rid of people who fall? Do I shame them? How does God want me to treat people who ‘fall’?

 

[TC4JC]

Will everyone who has failed God miserably raise their hand please? This story reminds me of the Pharisee and the tax collector parable. And the parable of the money owed to the King but couldn't be paid, so the debt was forgiven, but then he sees someone who owed a debt to him, and he wasn't so merciful.
We have to remember that a church is a hospital for sinners, not so much a hotel for saints.
There is a biblical way to confront those that are sinning from within a congregation. Maybe they need a refresher course. And maybe they can't see the damage done until they themselves are looking for mercy. God has a tendency to show us the error of our ways huh! Thank God for mercy and thank God for grace!! The humble will be exalted and the exalted will be humbled.