Christian leaders with a significant amount of clout need to recognize that, for better or for worse, many Christians look up to them. Not only actions and words but also inaction and silence play a formative role on people these leaders may never see face to face.
This is especially important for Christian leaders to consider if they think that they can make necessary change simply "behind closed doors" without the need of a prophetic and public voice. When you do not speak the truth boldly and publicly, you perpetuate cycles of abuse and
injustice.
If you remain publicly associated with institutions that have a track record of damaging the witness of the gospel without voicing opposition, you are helping the institutions continue to wreak havoc.
I say these things as someone who has had conversations with
influential Christian leaders who "behind closed doors" would talk of the need for change and support for ending injustices within the church and Christian institutions but then would continue to remain connected to ministries that protected spiritual abusers, racists, and other
deep injustices.
I've seen young and eager Christians wanting to follow the footsteps of influential Christian leaders by attending seminaries and churches associated with the Christian leaders, and then ended up on the receiving end of horrendous spiritual abuse, abuse of
power, and vitriolic and unchecked racism. Some have even left the faith because of their experiences.
I hope and pray for Christian leaders who would at the bare minimum would be willing to be like Paul who confronted Peter publicly when things were not in step with the gospel.
I hope and pray for Christian leaders who are willing to take a stand against the "super apostles" in their midst in solidarity with the abused and beaten. I hope and pray for Christian leaders who will call out other leaders in sin, like Nathan to David.
We can talk about
"celebrity pastors" and the danger of platform for Christian leaders all we want, but the solution isn't to pretend that influential leadership doesn't exist. We need to foster an "imitate me as I imitate Christ" spiritual formation. This will breathe life into the deep void of
godly Christian leadership.
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