Good article! I thought this illustration was very well phrased: "So if I abused Lisa, I suspect that there will be enough people who, if they get a whiff of the story, will look past it, or ignore it, or disregard it, or forgive me and let it go, or dismiss it, because they appreciate the work I’m doing. My hope is that they would realize I’m just a man with my own needs, and that sometimes in moments of weakness I do bad things just like they do. I would accept some responsibility, but I will somehow portray myself as a victim who acted out of my own deep need for love and understanding, and that I was desperately trying to stay alive personally and professionally. I would also suggest that to take me down would be to take down the important mission I’m on, and we don’t want that. I would also remind people to not believe false reports, but if they did they should forgive me so I could get back to my calling. I think most people would because I already have a space in their heads and hearts. Lisa, on the other hand, is unknown to them so she has no leeway. "
And then this in the comments section: "I would add that we leaders have the privilege of using the 'I know something but I cannot tell you' card ... Wherever there is power, including politics, the 'secret information' card is used as a conversation stopper." Been there, heard that. But you know what? Truth doesn't need protected, God's reputation doesn't need protected, and sin SHOULD NOT BE protected (I'd make a terrible politician).
I have spent the majority of my 20 years with NTM working in the US, and have had many opportunities to observe many in other ministries, in addition to my NTM co-workers. And perhaps that is why this comment got my attention: "I finally got to the point ... that I started seeing pastors as people who don't live in a real world and have little to teach me concerning being a Christian in the real world." In my opinion, that is just as powerful a statement as the original article. After all, if those in ministry cannot relate to the "real world" then do they really have a ministry -- or do they just fulfill a position?? The litmus test, for me, comes in two areas. #1 The (preacher/missionary) has spent their entire adult working career in 'ministry' and cannot relate to the average working person. The concept of commuting to work, mandatory overtime, punching a time clock, or only getting the 4th of July, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years days off as holidays is totally foreign. And if you take a day off, you don't get paid for it? How unreasonable is that?! #2 If you need more money (and who doesn't think they do??) then it's time to "share your needs" as "prayer requests." I actually heard an NTM missionary say, "If you need something, you just have to squeeze your supporters a bit harder."
I don't intend to be harsh. I'm of the opinion that one can be a realist without being jaded. One can legitimately observe and draw conclusions without having a critical attitude. These are my conclusions.
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