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Reports of sin and corruption among religious leaders are on the increase. We read of preachers who beg constantly for money, often receiving generous donations representing great sacrifice from the poor, while they themselves bask in luxury and huge financial surpluses. We hear of adultery and theft, lying, and gambling. And in many cases the religious leaders are guilty. Then insult is added to injury when we read "Reverend" before their names. What a terrible day it will be when such men stand before the Lord in judgment!
While we are saddened by the misconduct itself, we are even more saddened by the fact that such misconduct causes many people to lose confidence in all religion. They turn their back on Christ, His word, and His church. They assume that everyone who claims to be a Christian is just like the corrupt religious leaders they have heard of. They assume there is no real value in Christianity. This constitutes a terrible loss to everyone concerned.
We make the following observations for your consideration:
1. Not all religion and religious leaders are corrupt. There are godly, dedicated, conscientious servants of Jesus Christ in your community and throughout the world. They don’t make the headlines. They go about their work quietly and without fanfare. But they are there and you need to be aware of their presence and example. Look for them. They may even be among your acquaintances.
2. Wickedness on the part of leaders in religion does not prove that the religion itself is false. The misconduct of one of Jesus’ apostles (Judas) was no proof that Jesus Himself was corrupt or that His religion was vain. In the same way, misconduct on the part of some of His professed followers today is no proof that His religion is corrupt and vain.
3. If you allow the misconduct of some leader in religion to turn away from the Lord and be lost eternally, you are a loser along with him. Your pointing the finger of blame at him will not make your eternal suffering any easier to bear.
4. Your faith must be in Jesus Christ, not in some man. Your loyalty must be to Christ. A man, even a good man, can let you down. But Jesus Christ will never let you down. He will never leave you nor forsake you as long as you maintain faithfulness and loyalty to Him.
5. You can go to heaven whatever others choose to do. While faithful service to the Lord brings us into fellowship with others in His church, faithfulness itself is an individual matter. You will stand before the Lord in judgment alone. You can go to heaven even if all others of your generation forsake Christ. Think about it. The question you must ponder is not where some religious leader will spend eternity, but where you will spend eternity. May the Lord help us all to rise above the world and its influences to serve Him in sincerity and truth.
Bill Hall
