There are countless examples of church leaders who commit sins and then use the transgression as a learning moment for the congregation. No church is immune to this.
A time for grief and tears occurs when a church leader stands to confess guilt. Honesty, humility, and sorrow are what are needed for repentance—not keeping up appearances, shaping the story, or concealing the truth.
Leadership is much more to blame than members of the congregation. Frequently, these so-called “confessions” are staged to present the deposed priest in the best possible light. Facts are obscured. The whole tale is not told. Someone else is made to take the blame. One makes excuses.
It is classic manipulation. Unfortunately, people are trained to view their pastors in nearly godlike terms in many megachurches and elsewhere as well, so when they confess a sin, they immediately move to a redeeming story and receive tremendous applause.
But it needs to end. Confessions of sin should not be celebrated. Ovations are not spiritually beneficial, and they are especially harmful in these circumstances.
A sinner who is truly repentant does not seek praise. He doesn’t deserve it if he isn’t sincere in his repentance. Most of the time, a church has only been given a portion of the story or a polished version of it, usually the one that is most favourable to the pastor.
It’s not my place to judge, but I do have an opinion, it seems wrong to praise those who have sinned grievously and use the situation to their benefit. What do you think?
