EXPOSING ERRANT MINISTERS ~ IS IT SLANDER? WHAT ABOUT MERCY?
Honestly...I just can't folks!🤦♀️🥴
I just finished messaging with a person (who I finally ended up blocking), who wanted to preach to me about how we need to have more "mercy and compassion" for these leaders who are falling. We need to make sure we aren't slandering them. Really? Slander is when we are purposefully sharing misinformation about someone, for the reason of causing them harm. Exposing people who are deceiving and abusing God's people is not slander or gossip. It is caring for the body of Christ...which should be the #2 job of the leaders in the body, just beside the #1 job of loving and serving our King.👑
So...you want me to have more mercy than Jesus? If He is allowing them to be exposed, and their sins and errant behaviors, then I can guarantee you, He has been having mercy and trying to bring them to repentance for some time. He always gives much grace and mercy. But if they are being exposed, and especially if there hasn't been true repentance, but it is continued behaviors of sin, lies, deception, debauchery, abuse, or any number of these things...then that is where I say, the HOUSE NEEDS TO BE CLEANED! There comes a time where we hold folks accountable for their CONTINUED behavior, and we stop using "mercy & grace" to allow them to abuse and harm others, and bring others into deception along with them!
As I told the lady when she asked...
There is a level of mercy and grace that is shown to those young in the Lord..and yes I do show much more mercy on those who are babes in Christ or who don't know Him. They don't know better, don't know the word, they are immature, and they aren't leading others astray and hurting others in the body.
I'm all about restoration when I see true repentance. Key word: TRUE, not fake repentance where "I'm sorry I got caught, and I want you to forgive me, so I can step back into ministry and continue by behavior". True repentance that is shown over time, and where the person has been known to have changed for some time, by many other leaders.
I have had no issue with Jim Bakker (and others) being restored, because he paid for what he did, seemed genuinely to have a repentant heart, and seems to have changed. He has had no other issues or bad behaviors being reported since then. I'm good with him being able to return to ministry to a degree, under the watchful eyes of other leaders.
What I'm not okay with, is the "give them a pass", "good ole' boys club", "we should just look the other way"...that I have seen for years among many ministers, and wanting to give more mercy and grace to the perpetrators, deceivers, and abusers, than we give love, compassion, and help to the ones they've hurt, maligned, and deceived.
We can't love those they've hurt, if we continue to show more mercy and grace to the abusers, the liars and deceivers. That means we are perpetuating their pain, and saying mercy for the abusive, sexually errant, or deceiving minister is more important than the healing of the wounded. How can we possibly think this is Jesus' heart?! His heart is and always has been for the wounded and abused. He is a just God!
It says in 1 Corin.5 (see below) that it is the job of leaders in the body to judge other leaders. That is what Paul did. That is why he called out Alexander the Coppersmith. He knew he needed to. He didn't call for mercy but marked him as a bad apple.
God has called me for years to be one who calls out evil, calls out error and those who are like the sons of Eli, doing horrible things in the house of the Lord.
He also told me many years ago that I was an Ezekiel prophet (and has confirmed it many times since). Ezekiel dug inside of the wall and found out the evil that was going on within...so that the sins (specifically of leaders) would be exposed. These things must be exposed, and believe me, it is Him doing it. Judgement always begins in the house of God!
I refuse to give more mercy than God does. Jesus took a whip and overturned tables for those who were using His house for that which it wasn't intended to...and because they were abusing and taking advantage of the people. He hates it when the people are used for deceptive means, or abused in any way. Where was Jesus' mercy with those in the temple? He used a WHIP folks! Many of you would have told Jesus that He wasn't being enough like...Jesus! 🤷♀️🤔
He is merciful and long-suffering. But He is still the same one who judged Annanias and Saphira in the early church! I've said it before and I'll say it again... don't say you want the book of Acts church back, without realizing that is part of it. Leaders are held to a higher standard, and we cannot allow them a pass, simple out of abused mercy, and because they are our "favorite" minister. Remember, giftings and callings are without repentance..He doesn't take it back. Which means that they can still be very wrong, and able to showcase some things very right.
Praying for His church as we walk through this further time of exposing and cleansing...
And praying for true repentance and the Fear of the Lord to return to His body! 🙏🔥
Holy Spirit...we need You!!
Concerned,
Amanda Shiflett ~ Prophetic Reformer
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