Deuteronomy 16:18-20; 17:14-20
2 Corinthians 8:1-16
Luke 18:1-8
Evening: Psalm 81:1-16
We have a charismatic pastor of a mega church in town who is front page news. He's under investigation for his questionable money handling of the church's resources. Now the feds are on him, and some of his former members have been publicly critical of his "empire," while he emphatically denies any wrongdoing. It seems he's failed to disclose the books, accused of diverting money from one ministry to another, while driving fancy cars and living in a fine home. You know the drill. We read about this kind of financial misconduct all the time with corporations. But it's sad when a Christian leader is caught with his hand in the cookie jar of "creative accounting." And it's sadder yet, that the church has let it happen; some members are still defending the behavior - or at least denying that justice has been thwarted. Members who like the poor churches in Macedonia (2 Corinthians reading today) gave in generosity from their poverty. This is a justice issue, big time.
From my point of view, a mainline, female pastor, this church has other justice issues as well - barring women from leadership, and blasting the mainline churches from the pulpit - and their pastors by name - for being "apostate." It goes on from here - spiritual pride and arrogance, ego, power. Sad thing is, the man can preach. And he often gets it right about Jesus. But the behavior doesn't match up. We are called to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ in word and deed, folks.
The Deuteronomy reading today anticipates the possibility that there will be unjust leaders, and so the law is clear. Read it for yourself:
8You shall appoint judges and officials throughout your tribes, in all your towns that the LORD your God is giving you, and they shall render just decisions for the people. 19You must not distort justice; you must not show partiality; and you must not accept bribes, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and subverts the cause of those who are in the right. 20Justice, and only justice, you shall pursue, so that you may live and occupy the land that the LORD your God is giving you.
17:14When you have come into the land that the LORD your God is giving you, and have taken possession of it and settled in it, and you say, "I will set a king over me, like all the nations that are around me," 15you may indeed set over you a king whom the LORD your God will choose. One of your own community you may set as king over you; you are not permitted to put a foreigner over you, who is not of your own community. 16Even so, he must not acquire many horses for himself, or return the people to Egypt in order to acquire more horses, since the LORD has said to you, "You must never return that way again." 17And he must not acquire many wives for himself, or else his heart will turn away; also silver and gold he must not acquire in great quantity for himself. 18 When he has taken the throne of his kingdom, he shall have a copy of this law written for him in the presence of the levitical priests. 19It shall remain with him and he shall read in it all the days of his life, so that he may learn to fear the LORD his God, diligently observing all the words of this law and these statutes, 20neither exalting himself above other members of the community nor turning aside from the commandment, either to the right or to the left, so that he and his descendants may reign long over his kingdom in Israel.
Ongoing accountability is crucial in the life of a leader, lest "his heart will turn away" from justice for all. This is the inevitable path of lust and desire that gets the best of even good humans: sin reigns and we become numb and blind to it. It becomes the reality, and we do everything to protect the gold and silver we have hoarded for ourselves. This is idolatry. It is rooted in pride and arrogance, and a belief that we are above God.Contrast Paul who like Jesus, lived a poor life, humbled and generous in spirit - Paul writes, For you know the generous act of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich. (2 Cor. 8:9)
Rich in faith and justice and service and love, compassion and good works. With open books and open arms. Let it be with us who call on the Lord and are called by the Lord to lead to justice and prosperity for all.
2 comments:
I knew Jerry Johnston when he was a teenager and preaching already, often under the leadership of Youth for Christ. We all agreed that he was a very charismatic preacher and would go far, but that he also was one of the most arrogant, obnoxious teenage "prodigies" anyone would ever want to meet. I'm just so glad that we don't have leadership like that in this church!
It is all about accountability. Whether you are in leadership, or someone sitting quietly in a pew, we all need to be accountable to someone who will ask us tough questions sometimes. I am grateful I have people in my life whom I trust who will ask me what I'm up to and how I am doing. How much more do our pastors and leaders need that. I can think of no better reason to pray daily for our pastor, that she would be transparent in all that she does and be accountable in righteousness.
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