"A person has to get fed up with the ways of the world before he, before she, acquires an appetite for the world of grace." - Eugene Peterson, A Long Obedience in the Same Direction, p.25
Another pastor has been caught in a prostitution scandal. And I'm ready for another one to be caught tomorrow. My profession is no longer equated with morality or trustworthiness. "Slimey" is how one person recently described "pastors". I know many people who have had more pastors who failed to be faithful than who actually lived what they preached.
I actually hesitated this week to help with something in our community because I thought the other people involved might not trust a pastor among them. Sad. My title might actually be creating a barrier to the Gospel these days. Something has to change!
Most pastors, I believe, entered into their "careers" out of a passionate calling from God, or at least a passionate devotion to God and others. But after some time, the passion can wear off, for numerous reasons. Their initial passion for God and their congregation can wane against the constant barrage of pressures in the ministry. And passionate people who lose their first love are seriously apt to seek the love of another, even if it is contrary to their belief and vision for life. And thus, another pastor gets caught in a sex scandal.
Until pastors get sick of sick stuff, I'm not sure they'll acquire an appetite for the world of grace.
Just to prove my point, here's the lyrics to Appetite for Destruction by Guns N Roses (1987):
| Guns N' Roses Appetite for Destruction (1987) Welcome to the Jungle Welcome to the jungle We've got fun 'n' games We got everything you want Honey, we know the names We are the people that can find Whatever you may need If you got the money, honey We got your disease CHORUS: In the jungle Welcome to the jungle Watch it bring you to your knees, knees I wanna watch you bleed Welcome to the jungle We take it day by day If you want it you're gonna bleed But it's the price you pay And you're a very sexy girl That's very hard to please You can taste the bright lights But you won't get them for free In the jungle Welcome to the jungle Feel my, my, my serpentine I, I wanna hear you scream Welcome to the jungle It gets worse here everyday Ya learn ta live like an animal In the jungle where we play If you got a hunger for what you see You'll take it eventually You can have anything you want But you better not take it from me CHORUS And when you're high you never Ever want to come down, YEAH! You know where you are You're in the jungle baby You're gonna die In the jungle Welcome to the jungle Watch it bring you to your knees, knees In the jungle Welcome to the jungle Feel my, my, my serpentine In the jungle Welcome to the jungle Watch it bring you to your knees, knees In the jungle Welcome to the jungle Watch it bring you to your It' gonna bring you down-HA! |
