Dealing with tragedy in its many forms

Source: Bartlesville (Okla.)
Examiner-Enterprise

"Jesus said to his disciples: 'Things that cause people to sin are bound to come, but woe to that person through whom they come. It would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around his neck than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin.'" - Luke 17:1-2 (NIV)

During the last week, we heard the news of the passing of Tom White, the executive director of Voice of the Martyrs, a Bartlesville, Okla.-based group that serves to help and raise awareness of the persecuted church. White was 64 years old.

What's particularly troubling about the death of the man who had led VOM for the last 20 years are the circumstances surrounding it. According to news reports, Bartlesville police had begun an investigation into allegations that White, who led VOM following his own release from a Cuban prison for distributing the Bible and other Christian literature there, had molested a young girl. White was reported missing Tuesday night and found Wednesday morning in a warehouse at VOM's headquarters.  A statement released by VOM on Friday stated that "rather than face those allegations, and all of the resulting fallout for his family and this ministry and himself, Tom appears to have chosen to take his own life."

This is tragic, to say the least. The biting comments and slander from people came fast and furious on the story on the website of KOTV-TV6 in Tulsa, which reported the story, slamming him for being a pedophile. They would be correct, assuming the charges are true. We'll never really know now because of White's death.

But how to respond to such a tragedy?

Christianity Today had a great editorial on this they released on their website late Friday night. Citing other cases where Christian leaders were accused of these horrible crimes (some later admitting to them), it said the Christian church should first and foremost take measures to protect the innocent among them. It cited background checks for youth workers, something many Catholic churches have done in light of molestation scandals involving priests. It also said there was a need for parents to take the steps necessary to protect their children, helping them identify what is inappropriate behavior.

Also, and this is a more unpopular move, Christianity Today's editorial suggested Christians need to extend the gospel of Christ to child sex abusers. While that does not mean allowing convicted child sex abusers to work in youth ministry or to be fully integrated in church life, it does mean working to restore them to a place where they can experience the forgiveness of Jesus Christ.

Certainly, convicted child sex abusers need to be punished with jail time, and to receive the therapy and counseling they need to make a full recovery and to fully repent. But, much like the murderer, the thief, and the rest of us, God's grace needs to be made new and for their victims to be made new by God's power and divine grace, the editorial said.

"'Christ died for the murderer and the thief—did he not also die for the child molester?' asks William Struthers, a neuroscientist at Wheaton (Ill.) College in Christianity Today's editorial. 'Or am I going to create categories of people who are no longer able to be saved by the blood of Christ?'"

'Do as I say, not as I do...'

"You have not lied to men but to God.” – Acts 5:4b (NIV)

One of the major criticisms of the Christian church is that Christian are hypocrites, preaching that people should behave one way, but then the Christians themselves do the complete opposite of what they had been advocating. It is like they are saying, “Do as I say, not as I do.”.

The early church, shortly after Jesus had risen from the dead and had been taken back up to Heaven, had to deal with this in the case of Ananias and his wife, Sapphira. It was the practice of members of the early church to take their personal possessions, sell them, and then give the money to the church leaders who would then distribute it for the work of spreading the message of Jesus Christ and helping the poor.

Ananias had a piece of property that he pledged to sell and give all of the proceeds to the church. However, with the full knowledge of his wife, he sold the property, but kept part of the profits for himself (see Acts 5:2). Peter caught him at this, saying he had been lying to God when he pledged the full proceeds to the church but did not keep his bargain. Ananias dropped dead on the spot, stricken by God. Sapphira had a chance to tell the truth, but instead also lied, and she soon dropped dead as well (see Acts 5: 7-10).

Sadly, far too many times, Christians also have committed the same sin, pushing for one thing, but then doing the complete opposite of they have been advocating. In recent years, there have been high-profile cases of Christian leaders, ministers and priests who had taught on the need to be sexually pure, for instance, but then were caught committing the very sin they had spoken against. Needless to say, they had been caught, and had to not only reconcile themselves with God, but also work to repair the damage done by their acts, if possible.

Throughout the Gospels, Jesus Christ never condemned regular people for their sins, such as the woman caught in adultery (see John 8:3-11), reserving his harshest words for the religious leaders of the day, the Pharisees. The Pharisees regularly ordered the people to be humble and serve the synagogue in the name of God, but then pursued their own power while appearing to still be serving God. Jesus said “woe” on them, saying they were clean on the outside, but dirty on the inside (see Matthew 23:23-28).

Simply put, Christians should always examine their own hearts as to whether they are truly following Christ (see 2 Corinthians 13:5). Then we will be able to present ourselves as worthy representatives of Christ, and the rest of the world will know what Jesus is like.

Today's links - March 20, 2012

-- Want to know how your Congressional Representative and Senator ranks in terms of promoting religious freedom? Open Doors USA has created a nifty scorecard for all 535 members of Congress.

-- Mixing politics and religion has tended to turn young people away from church, according to the Christian Post.

-- Contrary to stats often cited by pastors, Christians do NOT have just as high as divorce rate as the rest of the population, according to a new study.

-- Even the official churches in Iran (those allowed to exist by the Islamic government there) are facing a crackdown by the authorities.