I STILL BELIEVE
Social media has been flooded with heart breaking testimonies from various individuals who have experienced horrendous sexual abuse in the church. Ranging from questionable and inappropriate behaviors to outright abuse and assault, these stories have not only greatly wounded many individuals and their families, but have caused some to even walk away from their faith in God. Because of the lack of proper oversight and accountability, some of these victims have totally lost their trust in a loving Heavenly Father. Feeling betrayed and broken, they have walked away from their relationship with Christ along with any dreams of spiritual destiny. For many of these victims, much of what they were taught concerning God’s gifts, miracles, and encounters with the Holy Spirit have become empty and meaningless in the light of the compromise, hypocrisy, and downright deceptive practices.
As I read the online comments and responses to these stories, my heart is grieved. I read the shocking details and am dumbfounded how these sinful and corrupted practices could actually take place within any house of God. It is no wonder that a righteous indignation is stirring and many are crying out for justice and reform.
But even as I acknowledge the realities of these sins and the need for proper accountability and justice, I see another reality. It is the need for true and authentic faith in God to rise up and overcome the disappointments and unbelief that are being rooted in our collective psyche because of all these exposures. We must guard our hearts and minds from getting sucked into a bottomless pit of discontent and failure. Many who have been disappointed and disenfranchised are entering these conversations with valid questions as well as stinging criticisms. I do not fault them for their pain. I don’t blame them for their anger. I believe the sins being exposed have such far reaching effects, we will probably be dealing with them for another generation. It’s that messy.
As a leader in the Body of Christ, I want to acknowledge the questions, the challenges, and even the critical commentaries. As leaders, this is part of the package. This is part of our call. To listen. To acknowledge. Regardless of how uncomfortable we may feel or how agonizing the truths are to hear, we must be willing to listen to those voices that have felt silenced and shamed. Even when falsely accused or blamed for things we have no personal control over, we must acknowledge the wrongs in hopes that trust can be reestablished. Trust among the saints, as well as trust with true and godly leaders in the Body of Christ. But mostly, we must help reestablish trust in God Himself. This must be the ultimate goal. To stop focusing so much on our preaching points and prophetic declarations and realize our responsibility in winning these wounded hearts back to their Healer.
This is why in the midst of these skeptical narratives and challenging conversations, those who STILL BELIEVE must give voice to our Hope and the reason for which we stand. Regardless of the level of depravity being uncovered in the house of God, we must never apologize for our faith in a supernatural God who is altogether good and passionate for justice. Even as I weep for those who were uncovered and unprotected in their hour of need, I still believe in a God of Perfect Love who delivers us from all evil. Even as I acknowledge the false messengers and those who have defamed and defrauded God’s people, I still believe in God’s plan for anointed men and women to equip and empower the saints in knowing the realities of His unseen Kingdom.
Even as our experiences are examined and our encounters are scrutinized, I still believe in a miraculous God. He moves without permission and shows Himself without consent. He is bigger than our setbacks and far more powerful than our persecutors. Even as the enemy seeks to discredit His rule and censure His power, my God will never stop being God. Yes, we are being tested and have been found wanting. But our God does not lack. He is more than enough to bring us out of these pits and breathe life into these dead bones once again.
For those who have lost hope and faith, I hear you. But hear me. God is better than you know. He is not defined by His leaders. He is not constrained by compromised shepherds or silenced by false prophets. He is not deterred by the wolves or caught unawares by the counterfeit. He sees our collective pain and has understood our plight. He is the One shining the light on these atrocities and coming with recompense in His hands. But we must choose to believe. Even in our hurt and disappointment, we can choose to believe in His goodness and walk through these fires to come out on the other side as refined gold.
More exposures may come and the cries of injustice may continue to ring. But, I will not allow the weaknesses of men or failures of the Church to rob me of my faith. I choose this. I still believe.
