HANDLE WITH CARE

One of the most difficult things a pastor's wife deals with is jokes or heartbreaking stories of fallen pastors or their children that have made sinful choices. The Christians reaction to sinful choices that destroy lives should be one of grief and sadness for those left in the wake of sin. I have heard other Christians repeat these stories in my presence, without regard that my husband is a pastor himself.

When people share such stories with others they are causing more damage and also setting themselves up to be the next victim. Scripture instructs us in Galations 6:1 to "restore" those that have wrecked their lives. My study bible states that the word restore is used when speaking of mending fish nets or of people mending their ways, bringing a person back to his former moral condition. The word is used in the secular Greek for setting broken bones, which has to be done "gently." The grievous and sensitive wounds caused by sin must be handled delicately. Unfortunately, in today's churches, we shoot the wounded and repeat the story to many others, leaving behind what looks like the aftermath of a tsunami for others to clean up.

If and when we hear of these things, we should immediately cry out to God on behalf of the wounded family. I'm talking sackcloth and ashes here, not "Lord bless these people." I refuse to stereotype pastor's children and believe that they are destined to be wayward. I did not let my children grow up with that mentality, in fact, I expected the opposite to be true. I prayed for them ( and still do) and tried to give them a normal life within the confines of a Christian home.

Why not love and encourage the pastor and his family? Create an environment that they feel they can be a part of without being watched for any wrong move. Rearing children is not easy for anyone. Let's not put impossible expectations on mere humans. Teach them to please God and all else will fall into place.

Don't be caught off guard. All Christians homes have a target on their back and the enemy is relentless. He will do what he can to hurt the name of Christ. "Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." (JA. 5:16)