What happens when we do so? How to do it without offending?
In Hosea… 1-3 God sends the prophet to do ungodly things as a sign that Israel had defied God’s covenant and picked up the perverted ways of the nations God Himself had cast out before them. This is most of us, Christians who end up right back into our sinful life due to certain problems and scenarios in life. The prophet was a warning signal God sent to Israelites. And if you follow along, eventually Israel (Christians) are cast out of the promised land and out of God’s favour. Just as it happened to Adam and Eve when they sinned.
And so is that fallen pastor, brother or sister of yours at your church or online. The call is not to shame them but to help pray for them to reconsider their ways and perhaps God might be merciful and welcome them back again into His grace. Who knows if it will not be you in that same position tomorrow?
Thus says the Lord:
“For three transgressions of Edom, and for four,I will not turn away its punishment,Because he pursued his brother with the sword, And cast off all pity; His anger tore perpetually, And he kept his wrath forever.
12 But I will send a fire upon Teman, which shall devour the palaces of Bozrah.”
This is God making an oath to punish Edom for taking advantage of Israel’s fall instead of reconsidering in their hearts. There are many instances along Amos 1-2, God says to punish all those nations that beat Israel. Are you among those scorning and laughing at fallen pastors? You had better reconsider and repent before God’s wrath is poured out for the mockery of His beloved.
But isn’t it their sin that made them fall?
Notice in Amos 3 and in Hosea… 1-3 God is warning Israel to turn away from sin, which they failed hence fell out of His favour and got cast out of the promised land. They had become like a harlot due to their sinfulness. (Hosea 2:4)
“I will not have mercy on her children, For they are the children of harlotry.5 For their mother has played the harlot; She who conceived them has behaved shamefully”
Those fallen christians may have sinned but they are still God’s people because of the Abraham covenant God made. It was an eternal covenant, meaning anyone under that line of Abraham(Israel-Christian) has that covering. Or do you want to forget the promises He made to Israel that whoever curses them shall be cursed and whomever blesses shall get blessed. These promises still hold and are the very reason you should use your tongue when talking about fallen christians and pastors.
Joel 3:2 I will also gather all nations,
And bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat;
And I will enter into judgment with them there
On account of My people, My heritage Israel,
Whom they have scattered among the nations;
They have also divided up My land.
Israel is God’s beloved and His people are His treasure.
What might happen to those who mock his people?
In Amos, 1-2. God personally resounds His warning and punishments towards not only His people for the upcoming punishment but explicitly indicates why those who defeated and captured Israel will be punished: each for their mistakes towards harming God’s beloved, pastors. He goes on and on, throughout the passage picking them by name and how specific He will punish them. Showing how much fury He has against their mockery of His people. Now if you are the person cursing and abusing God’s people for their personal flaws and mistakes-nobody is perfect. God has a keen eye on you.
This is not to scare you or make you think that calling out misleading leaders is sin but to show you that God knows whichever pastor or religious leader is not acting as He is supposed to. And He normally punishes or judges them His way.
So what should we do?
It’s very helpful to call out inappropriate behaviour among your spiritual leaders but be careful not to take it out of context or make it personal, that’s not the right way.
Call them out for their wrong behaviour and sit back— if they don’t listen, address them again. And if they won’t listen, let God take care of the rest and stop concerning yourself with their business. And what has it got to do with you anyway?
Note: Am not a pastor or spiritual leader of any sort. Am just elaborating on this matter which has become a vice amongst most Christians.
Paul warns, in Philippians 2:14
“Do all things without [d]complaining and disputing,[e] 15 that you may become blameless and [f]harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world”
Christ tells you to carry your own cross and follow Him, not micro-manage His leaders. 2 Timothy 2:4 makes it clear. “No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer.”
Shouldn’t you be more concerned with your walk with God rather than someone else’s shortcomings?
If it be your church leader or pastor, just cut them off from your life if they continually hearken unto their inappropriate ways. Be it your pastor at your local church, leave. Lest you also be snared and led astray. For when the shepherd is lost, how much more will the sheep?
