When do you speak up when it may cost you?
by: Bob Reccord
It seems like there is a lot of half-truths, misinformation and accusations being thrown around these days in Christian circles. I am aware of it happening in some interdenominational ministries I know, at numerous churches, and in several denominations…let alone the work place, neighborhoods, and relationships. And too often too few seem to be willing to stand up for what is right…and true. They seem content to let the half-truths, misinformation and accusations go and justify it by something like “God will take care of it.”
And indeed He will. But He also uses people in flesh and blood to stand up for what is right, even at their own personal risk. He often wants to set the record straight here and now, but finds it tough I believe to find willing defenders.
I recently had a friend in a key ministry in the United States say it had come to his attention that someone in leadership where he works had politically trounced on some people and allowed half-truths, misinformation and accusations to go uncorrected. And he had been told that if some facts about this leader’s personal life/ ministry were ever to be known he would probably lose the role he held. When I asked him what he was going to do, he responded, “I guess I’ll just let God handle it.”
I have recently had an article written by a writer who has no love lost with conservative Christian leadership that had numerous points of half-truths, misinformation and accusations thrown my way. And to my surprise and thanks, two strong leaders (Bob Tenery and Dr. Randy White) stepped up and corrected the writer. Will he apologize? I will be shocked. But who knows, maybe I will be amazed.
Remember well the words of Martin Niemoller who wished he had stood up to Herr Hitler much sooner….
First they came for the Jews and I did not speak out for I was not a Jew.
Then they came for the Communists and I did not speak out for I was not a Communist.
Then they came for the trade unionists and I did not speak out because I was not a trade unionist.
Then…they came for me and there was no one lift to speak out for me!
But what about you? When did you stand up on behalf of another…even when it is uncomfortable for you? Tell me about it and what made you believe it was the right thing to do. Or, do you feel it is best to “mind your own business?” If so, when and why?
April 7th, 2007 at 2:32 pm
Dr. Reccord,
I’m amazed at how pastors and other church leaders will trash the name of another believer. If I wasn’t a Christian I don’t know if I would want to become one.
April 9th, 2007 at 5:20 pm
Dr. Reccord,
I know exactly where you are saying. The older I get I realize more that God really does just work these things out on his own. It seems to me that every time someone “wrongs me”, God always seems to take care of it in his own way. It might be immediate or it might be years down the road. I also agree with Kevin’s comment and can relate to it as well. Christianity has no appeal for non Christians anymore because we are turning Christianity into something that it wasn’t meant to be. This is sad. It seems to me that the churches of today or what we call the “traditional” church is starting to share many similarities to the pharisees churches of Jesus’s day. It seems like we are often more interested in keeping/making rules and traditions than we are with our individual relationships with Jesus and maintaining and building the relationships that we share with others (Christians/non-Christians) around us. I hope that you had a wonderful Easter and I can’t wait to see you at SLU!
Zach
April 10th, 2007 at 7:51 pm
Kevin and Zach
Thanks for both of your responses. I couldn’t agree more. One of the key issues for every believer is not to believe everything we hear or read. A few questions I have found to be very helpful when “junk” is flying around either in words or print….
Do you know by proven fact that what is being claimed is absolutely true?
I would assume you are totally comfortable with me crediting YOU as the source of this?
Have you spoken directly to the person who is the subject of the “junk” and gotten their side of the story?
May I quote you when I speak to the person who is being criticized?
I have also found that TRUE FRIENDS are those who when others walk out, they walk in, pull up a chair and sit down and ask, “How are we going to get through this together?” Sadly, there are too few like that.
A well known Christian leader recently said to me, “While Christ spoke avout what we are to believe, for sure, it is interesting that when you read all of his words he spoke much more about how we treat each other.” For the church to regain its impact in today’s world I believe we must recover that truth or the church is in trouble.
March 24th, 2008 at 12:34 pm
It sure seems that sometimes people in the church don’t take the kinds of stands they should–waiting for God. But, I agree–God uses us. I’m so glad that Randy White and Bob Tenery spoke up. The rest of us can learn from them.