He made known his ways to Moses, His deeds to the people of Israel: – Psalms 103:7
When faced with significant or challenging moments in our lives, we tend to focus exclusively on the immediate circumstances at hand. Having them as the only reference point, we try to analyze and judge, in our quest for answers.
As a result, all we come up with are partial or inaccurate solutions when it’s a problem, failing to see the root cause of the issue or because of our narrow view, we are held back from walking in and inheriting all that God calls us to.
We need God’s perspective, the bigger picture on what we face. It is only from that place we can comprehend His plans and intentions properly and then respond as He expects from us. This is what provides proper answers in all our pathways
The perspective of the children of Israel, was limited only to the immediate blessings or difficulties they faced. They didn’t have a proper reference point to judge from correctly. They failed to see past or understand the reasons for their trials, tests and difficulties and so they never gave room for the changes that God intended to bring in their lives before leading them into the Promised Land. As a result, they constantly failed when it mattered, not being able to see the many things that God was trying to accomplish in them and through them for generations to come.
Moses on the other hand knew why God chose the pathway He did for the Israelites. He knew what He was trying to teach them through that journey and more specifically (probably) the great spiritual significance of that journey; one that was a precursor to what every believer would need to walk in Christ.
It’s imperative we have this above perspective, regarding the recent exposures in the body of Christ. If we look at it only from the perception of ‘a leader sinning and his sins being exposed’; our view will be narrow, one dimensional and we will most likely miss all that God wants us to learn this season. We need to take a step back and ask God for His wisdom and understanding behind His workings or what He intends to accomplish through what the enemy may have brought for evil. Remember, His wisdom is manifold!
Now, regarding the circumstances behind Robert Moris’ resignation from the ministry, there are several key areas of concern that the Spirit wants to bring our attention to.
A system that is overdue for a complete overhaul:
Over the years God has raised many leaders; men and women (though not perfect) who have been a great blessing to the body. Firstly, we need to be firm in our understanding that God’s model of leadership as seen in scripture is for all ages and it will never change regardless of how much corruption may exist in it. If it survived the corruption during the dark ages, it would certainly survive what is happening now. We will do well to have this in mind, as if not knowingly or unknowingly we may end up encouraging rebellion in His body against God appointed authorities. This could eventually lead to a leadership void, worsening the situation.
Remember, we are now laying foundations for the next generation and for those to come afterward and if disrespect and hatred is behind our responses when leaders fall or stumble; those after us will continue with that attitude after this phase of exposure. And it will become increasingly difficult to lead such a generation in the end. A generation that disrespects its ‘Fathers and Mothers’? As I am typing this, I feel a great concern in the Spirit regarding this. Will this lead to the coming of false prophets deceiving many, as people are offended and there has been a leadership vacuum? Time will tell…
Also, the ongoing crisis within the body of Christ cannot be solely attributed to leadership failures, although it has greatly contributed to it. It is also primarily due to the absence of competent leadership, capable of effectively addressing these shortcomings and leading by example in these situations. This is not to say that there are no able leaders and that no one addressed these situations with God’s heart. However, the question to ask here is whose voice is being heard the loudest during these times? Amidst all the noise and clamor it seems the voices of those that need to be heard have been drowned. And what is the use of the ‘7000’ if they are still hiding when they need to come out in the open and take a stand?? It’s past time already!!
O Lord’ help us to rise above all our fears of rejection and intimidation. Rise with your heart of compassion, having experienced the depths of Your grace; having beheld the beauty of Your Holiness, purified by the coals from Your altar.
Now, the reason for God ordaining leaders (Ephesians 4) is so that every single person in His body reaches full maturity and are fully equipped for ministry; according to the same measure of Christ Himself. In short’ a leader’s success is determined by the success of those under them! Many leaders may not have had this light properly earlier in their journey, but it is obvious today from the current workings of the Spirit that He is zealously leading us in that direction. He is exposing the unhealthy focus on leaders with the intention of changing it to where it should rightly be; on Him and on His maturing Body; His Bride.
Over the years, many ministries have been built ‘centered around the leader’, than on Christ or His sheep they had been called to shepherd
When a system is built around a leader and if he or she is selfish or manipulative (which all of us are to some degree, knowingly or unknowingly), the entire system becomes corrupt with selfishness and control to varying degrees, serving the leader’s wishes. In such a scenario, the sins of the leaders are easily hidden, and abuse usually goes unnoticed or easily covered. Those who try and bring things to light are easily intimidated or manipulated because their obligation is also towards the leader as they have been part of the system themselves.
In the best-case scenario, even if the leader’s sin is exposed and others in the system proceed to deal with it, the focus is on the leader, his well-being and his restoration and many times insensitive to the victims, their feelings and the pathway they have had to walk during and after the abuse. Again, this is because everything is geared towards serving the leader and not towards Christ and the people, He has called them to SERVE.
If a church or organization is built with the believer’s or people’s best interests and their welfare at heart as Christ intends, then their well-being would be the priority in situations of abuse. Decisions would be taken to protect and bring healing to them at the cost of the abuser/leader (if that is the only way), not the other way around. This is not to say we ignore the leaders, or we treat them badly by being insensitive to them. We must understand and prioritize people as God wants us to. This is the established biblical order. Looking at it from another perspective, the weak and the feeble need our greater attention, not the ones who are called to take care of them!
In the situation with Robert Morris and Cindy, it seems that this proper biblical order is greatly lacking.! Forty years ago, from what is known, when things came to light, all decisions by the church and its leaders were focused on Robert and his restoration. And in my understanding the young child was left to handle the trauma and the pain of the abuse all by herself and the fact that she has carried it all these years is a great tragedy. It is obvious, not only in this case but from many other similar ones, that the whole system is greatly unbalanced and needs a complete overhaul.
In this situation, as much as the focus was on Robert to see him restored, the focus ( if not) should have been even more (much greater) on the child to see her healed and restored. Great efforts should have been put into, to help the child overcome its trauma.
God’s heart and His eyes are on the weak, the helpless and those that cannot speak for themselves to see them healed and restored and empowered. Our heart should also be aligned with His.
Now, we cannot speak to events from 40 years back as we are not privy to it but if there ever was some reconciliation; can true reconciliation be possible without restitution? O Lord, when will we ever witness the ‘repentance of Zacheus’ amongst us?
Today, in general, people wrong others and they just go on with their lives with little or no remorse. Even when remorseful, it seems that there are no corresponding actions to set things right. Efforts are sometimes made, but they fall way short of being sufficient. This seems to be the norm today and it shows us as to how far we have strayed from the truth. If so then, how can we receive His grace and forgiveness fully and walk in it? We certainly cannot!
May God rend our hearts and may His Spirit strip us of all pride that we are willing to go any extent to set things right. May His Spirit free us from deep-rooted selfishness and pride. May we walk truly like Christ having the welfare of others over our own! May the compassion and the depths of the love of Christ, bring complete healing and restoration to all those that have been abused.
In the next article on this situation, we will examine the lack of the Holy Spirit’s work amongst us. Before we nod our heads and start focusing solely on a person’s lack of repentance when in sin or when sin is exposed; it also relates to people not knowing where their limits are when trying to bring things to light. It also relates to them crossing all lines to hold someone guilty. It also relates to victims continuing in their pain and abuse for many years even though they have been in church all the time. It clearly shows one thing: the Spirit is greatly grieved and far away from us and we don’t even know or realize it…. or else how can all of these things continue in His body???
