Church and Power: A report has uncovered horrific sexual abuse over the past 20 years (and of course, further back, but the report was focused on the year 2000 and after) in the Southern Baptist Convention along with those in power covering it up. The victims were women and children. What is most sad is the pain that they endured and will continue to endure until they get the help they need and find some sort of healing. One thought is that Protestants definitely can’t stand around any longer and pretend that this is only the type of thing that happens in Roman Catholic churches. Priest or pastor, collar or no collar, sinful nature including the willingness to abuse power equals anti-Christ results. A truly sad day, as the anti-institutional attitude in the West will no doubt continue to cast the church in a negative light as “just another institution” that is power-hungry and not trustworthy. God have mercy. The church is the Bride of Christ. We need leaders with character, not charisma.
I don’t feel like typing anything else after the above comments. Instead, here is something from God’s Word—not a platitude or mere saying—that is a promise from the One that NEVER abuses His power: “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds” (Psalms 147:3 NIV). May God help and heal each and every victim so that they do not judge the character of God based on the actions of those who were supposed to be representing Him.
BJ Condrey, Ph.D. 