Four words in the title of this article are
defined for the sake of clarity. I want the reader to understand the
thrust of this essay.
"Teacher" is used here of one who publicly
imparts knowledge; an instructor who exerts a broad influence in the
church and outside the church; a gospel worker such as a bishop or an
evangelist. I include deacons under this term, although teaching is not
necessarily a function of such servants.
"Community" refers to the people outside the
body of Christ who reside in the particular area where a congregation is
located; the general population of the town, neighborhood, or vicinity.
I am not referring to the community of believers but to the people
sharing common interests due to geographic location..
"Impact" means the force of impression; the
effect or influence; power over the minds and conduct of others.
"Sin" is to be understood in the sense of a
misdeed or wrong that attracts public attention. I am not referring to a
secret or private transgression. I speak of sin in terms of a trespass,
offense, or violation of God's law that involves others or is known
generally; such an act as drunkenness, adultery, theft, child
molestation, or embezzlement.
Teachers As Examples
Teachers in the church fill a role making it
doubly important that a good influence be exerted. Outsiders tend to
expect more of a leader than they do of others in the church. God
expects preachers, deacons, elders, and teachers (such as class
instructors) to guard against conduct that is unbecoming, and to
remember that their force of impression on the public is weighty.
A bishop "must have a good report of them
that are without" (1 Tim. 3:7). This is essential, not only at the time
of his appointment, but throughout his years of service. If he acts so
that his reputation in the community is damaged, the congregation's
effectiveness in outreach is hindered. Corruption in the conduct of a
shepherd gives the flock a bad name.
Paul admonished the preacher Timothy to keep
himself pure (1 Tim. 5:22). He told the young evangelist to take heed to
himself and the teaching, for in so doing he would save himself and his
hearers (1 Tim. 4:16). Titus was told to be "a pattern of good works"
(Tit. 1:7). That would leave no evil thing for others to say of him.
Obviously, the preacher's influence on outsiders as well as believers is
brought into focus in these passages.
Teachers Who Sin Leave Ugly Scars
When a teacher or church leader goes bad it
may take years for the congregation to overcome the evil effect produced
on the minds of people in the community. A teacher who sins openly has
disgraced himself and the cause he represents in the public mind. The
community may not be as charitable as the Lord in forgiving and
forgetting. It is true that the whole church should not be judged by the
misdeeds of an immoral preacher, or a deacon who acts unrighteously, or
an elder who falls into sin, but a community often talks more about one
rotten leader than the good folks who have not disgraced the Lord's
name. This is the case especially in smaller towns where everybody knows
everything that occurs.
W.E. Brightwell once said in his succinct
style:
A dishonest or cowardly preacher is the most
inconsistent, excuseless, and senseless thing of which one can conceive.
Few start crooked. Should we force every one entering the ministry to
sign a pledge that if he ever feels himself slipping in faith or moral
integrity he will voluntarily give up preaching? He could do that much
for religion - he could quit preaching! Anybody who has ever preached
should have that much respect for religion.
It is too much to expect preachers to be
stronger than other Christians. I suppose they can be forgiven as
readily as others for disgracing themselves. But what a terrible doom
must await the preacher who disgraces his religion along with himself!
("The Notion Counter," Gospel Advocate, Dec. 9, 1937). Years ago, quite
by accident, I learned of a preacher who had run up bill in a certain
city then left without paying them or making any arrangements. He moved
to work with a congregation with which I had formerly worked. I felt
compelled to write to one of the brethren and inform him of this, but
for some reason he withheld the information from the rest of the church.
I understand that the preacher pulled the same stunt in that community,
leaving the church with a marred reputation.
Overcoming the Impact on the Community
How does a congregation overcome the
influence of an ungodly teacher? If a deacon is arrested for a felony
and the newspaper publicizes the affair, how does the church handle the
problem? If a preacher commits adultery, how can the church deal with
the situation to minimize the bad impact on the community? If an elder
who happens to be the church treasurer appropriates church funds to his
personal account, what course shall be followed for the sake of
preserving honor in the community?
These questions are easier to ask than to
answer. The reader is offered the following suggestions to consider:
(1) Make efforts to bring about repentance
and restoration. Any Christian who sins needs to repent. The teacher or
leader may need admonition, rebuke, and warning just as anyone else may
need help from others in being brought to repentance. Concerning elders,
Paul said, "Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear"
(1 Tim. 5:20).
(2) Forgive the penitent. Our obligation to
extend forgiveness applies to all who have repented. The sins of
teachers are not to be treated as if unpardonable. A congregation may be
stunned and shocked if it becomes known that an elder has committed
adultery with one of the sisters, but if they repent we must forgive
them.
(3) Withdraw from the unrepentant. The
brother who sins and refuses to repent, whether church leader or not,
must be marked and avoided if we are to carry out the -teaching of the
Scriptures. Teachers are not exempt from the rules of discipline
outlined in the New Testament. If the sinful person skips town, as some
preachers have done when they refused to meet their financial
obligations, the church should warn others of their misdeeds.
(4) Do not resort to cover-up. A preacher
who becomes immoral always hurts the church. The impact of his
wickedness on the community will not be lessened by attempting to sweep
the whole mess under the carpet. If the church acts according to the
Scriptures in disciplining him, this will help to preserve the honor of
God's people. If withdrawal becomes necessary, it should not be done in
secret. The church must let the community know that sin is not condoned,
even in the lives of leaders who have been highly respected.
(5) Re-evaluate qualifications for
leadership. The teacher who sins may repent and be forgiven, but the
effects of his wickedness are not automatically erased. One's damaged
reputation may make it inadvisable that he continue in the position of
leadership which he has occupied. For example, a preacher who commits
adultery may be forgiven and restored to the Lord, but if his reputation
in the community is ruined he is wise to (1) quit preaching publicly, or
(2) move to some place far-away. Forgiveness of a sin does not blot out
the consequences of the act, and forgiveness will not cancel injury to
reputation that bears on eligibility for effective impact on a
community.
When a teacher goes bad, and it is happening
over and over, the faithful must re-double efforts to maintain purity.
Let us all walk humbly and circumspectly, considering ourselves lest we
be tempted.
Guardian of Truth - January 5, 1984
Other Articles by Irvin Himmel
Belief and Truth
Soul
Nourishment
Bearing Fruit and Winning Souls
By Many or by Few
The Church at Work in
Benevolence
A Few Ominous Isms
The Sufferings of Christ Prior to His Death
Pearls From Proverbs - A Seeming Right Course
Pearls in Proverbs: Glorying in Glory
We Wait by Faith
The Suffering of Jesus Prior to His Death
Unity in the Church
Maturity
The Grace of God that Brings Salvation
- Caffin,
B.C. (1950), II Peter – Pulpit Commentary, H.D.M. Spence
and Joseph Exell, eds. (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans).
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