Jerry terHorst resigned as US Press Secretary when his friend President Gerald Ford pardoned disgraced former President Richard Nixon. He told Ford that he didn’t know how he could “credibly defend” the President’s decision to pardon Nixon when common citizens were being punished for conscientiously refusing to serve in the Vietnam War. For his part, President Ford did not want to pardon his predecessor, but he thought it was necessary for America to put the “long national nightmare behind” and move on.
Isn’t that how it goes? The people on top get away with more than those at the bottom of the food chain. Entry-level staffers are imprisoned for their crimes, but prosecuting a President would be too difficult for a nation to endure. Workers lose their jobs and go bankrupt while large banks are bailed out because their failure would devastate the world’s economy.
We rage at the politics of such injustice, and yet we may do it too. We cover for a pastor to preserve the reputation of our church or dismiss the misconduct of our candidate in order to win the election. The bigger you are, the less likely you are to fail.
Not in God’s world. James said that leaders in the church “will be judged more strictly” (James 3:1) and Paul wrote that all leaders will be held accountable (1 Corinthians 4:2-5). Jesus reproached the religious elite for turning their converts “into twice the child of hell you yourselves are!” (Matthew 23:15). Rather than be intimidated into silent consent, let’s follow the example of Nathan who spoke truth to King David. He didn’t rationalize David’s adultery and murder, but boldly declared “You are that man!”
The bigger you are, the harder you will fall. Let’s lead others in integrity and honesty that honors God.
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: 2 Kings 5:1-27
More:
Read Matthew 23:1-39 to see how Jesus spoke truth to the powerful. What can you learn from His example?
Next:
Are you becoming “too big to fail”? How have you used your power to smudge the rules and get away with sins that you wouldn’t have tried before?
lindagma on April 25, 2011 at 6:02 am
And let us not fall short of the mark…and vote for someone who does not uphold our Christian values. Leaders may escape now but there will be a day of reckoning. If we do not stand for our beliefs, we will water down our testimony and those who might be saved through our witness will chalk us up as no better than the failed leadership. We all have responsibility no where we stand on the ladder, to live like Christ.
alegria on April 25, 2011 at 6:41 am
Our God is not a God of favoritism. How good it is to be reminded of that when you are not on the top of the food chain. God, though loving, is just. Amen!
eppistle on April 25, 2011 at 10:11 am
Sometimes Christian leaders justify sinful behavior because their good deeds offset that behavior. They consider that they have met a net gain in good deeds because of their sacrifices. But the Bible says, “To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams” (I Samuel 15:22).
Sonny on April 25, 2011 at 12:37 pm
Excellent post Mike, I too have wondered why such corruption and injustice is allowed to take place in our society and throughout the world! When these and other things happen I might not understand it all, but am reminded by God in His Word to: “Be still and know that (He is God) I am God:…(Psalms 46:10). Just knowing that He is in charge gives me overwhelming peace of mind. Lindagma, here is a simple prayer I’ve said before voting: “Father in heaven, I desire to vote intelligently in all elections. I pray that You will bring to light the things I need to know so I may vote in line with Your plan, will and purpose. Dear Father, in the name of Jesus, may the citizens of our nation become so weary of sin and degradation in our nation’s leaders that they will begin to seek out godly leaders to represent them on every level of government. Give such leaders favor with the public and the media. And Father, make our nation a fragrance in the earth, a force to be reckonedd with, a hand extended to those in need.” In Jesus name we pray, Amen! May all who read today’s post be blessed beyond measure is my prayer.
mike wittmer on April 25, 2011 at 2:30 pm
Thanks for these comments. The other week I found out that one of my friends, a retired missionary, had been sent home from his field of service decades ago because of inappropriate relations with some of the women in that country. The mission board covered it up for decades, in part because they feared the bad press they would receive, but now that the sin and the cover-up are coming out, there is actually more damage done to the name of Christ than if they had come clean initially. It’s a sad reminder that we need to confess our sin, no matter how big we think we are.
winn collier on April 25, 2011 at 3:40 pm
I’m immensely thankful that we are now in Easter, that Resurrection has come – and that God’s world Mike reminded us of, where justice is the norm, has already been set in motion. I’m eager for it to come fully.
zero_g on April 25, 2011 at 7:31 pm
As a Christian I do not feel I should judge someone. So, if a pastor has claimed to be a pedophile, then I would notmally feel OK if they repented. However, after reading this, I think we have to hold these people to a higher standard and step in and take them out of their position. Keeping them in a position of reverence makes us all look like hypocrits, and that is not the message the Lord wants us to spread.