Coming Clean...

All of us at one time or another have done something we are not very proud of and many of those "somethings" we hope no one else ever finds out about.  Can you think of one of your own right now?  I know I can.  Now imagine your closest friend's reaction to finding out whatever it is you're thinking of.  Will they be shocked?  Will they feel betrayed?  Will they tell on me?  Who are they going to tell?"

Not a pleasant vision I suspect for many of us.

One thing that many lose sight of is the fact there is NOTHING (yeah, NOTHING) going on that God doesn't know about.  And by "know about" I mean He knows all about EVERYTHING - knowing more about this "something" than even you do.

Now imagine doing whatever "it" is IN FRONT OF someone you know.  WOAH!  If you had to do your "something" in front of an audience would you still have done it/continue to do it?  Remember this: we have all done our "somethings" with God sitting in the front row watching us.

Perhaps your "something" is an ongoing "something" and not just a "one hit wonder-something."  Do you continue doing the same "something" over and over again even though you know it's wrong but because you think no one will find out then who cares?  Do you lie to people every single day to hide your "something?"

Guess what, folks will find out about your "something."  Perhaps not today or tomorrow and maybe not even next year or the year after that.  But one day we can pretty much count on our "somethings" being brought to light for everyone to see and despite this, we still go on doing stupid things we try to cover up. And of course the extremes one goes to in order to cover up their "something" leads to having more "somethings" to be exposed later on too.

Take this example that made some serious news last year - Mark Driscoll.  Senior Pastor of a large church called Mars Hill.  Google him and get ready to read about multiple accounts of his abusive, narcissistic abuse of people in his (described by many as) cult church.  (One thing folks might not realize is a cult doesn't need to be as extreme as Jonestown to actually be a cult.)

While no one is ever perfect or blameless (even if they are a Christian), pastors are held to a higher standard of behavior.  It's in the bible!

1 Timothy 3:1-7

The Message (MSG)

Leadership in the Church

"If anyone wants to provide leadership in the church, good! But there are preconditions: A leader must be well-thought-of, committed to his wife, cool and collected, accessible, and hospitable. He must know what he’s talking about, not be overfond of wine, not pushy but gentle, not thin-skinned, not money-hungry. He must handle his own affairs well, attentive to his own children and having their respect. For if someone is unable to handle his own affairs, how can he take care of God’s church? He must not be a new believer, lest the position go to his head and the Devil trip him up. Outsiders must think well of him, or else the Devil will figure out a way to lure him into his trap."

(As an important aside, if you are a church attender and after reading that passage can't say without a shadow of a doubt your pastor(s) meet those qualifications,

I HIGHLY ENCOURAGE YOU to RUN, do not walk 

to your nearest exit and get the heck out of there.)

I bet Mark Driscoll never thought his secret behaviors behind closed doors would ever come to light, let alone DESTROY HIS CHURCH.  I will throw out the possibility that he might have thought because of his role, because he was the Senior Pastor that no one would believe the few with the courage to speak out.  I mean really, one would never really believe (or want to allow themselves to believe) someone preaching the Word of God was truly an abusive narcissist?

Pastors like him are everywhere and for the spiritual and emotional safety of those they lead, we can only hope and pray they are exposed for their true selves so they can either come clean, sincerely repent and truly seek to change or be evicted completely so a healthy and God honoring environment can flourish in their place.

All this to say that basically, I believe we need to learn to dance with the skeletons we're hiding in our closets.  We need to come clean with ourselves and with God. We need to examine what it is we're continuing to do on a daily basis that is perhaps deceitful or abusive towards others that we claim to lead or consider friends and STOP DOING IT.  Eventually, all the secrets are going to come out - one way or another.

Personally, I have 2 left feet when it comes to dancing, but I'm learning and I'm working on it! :)

Have a great day!