Don’t let the past come back to haunt you
I have a ministry friend of mine who ran for a public office a few years ago. He did quite well and progressed far in the process before he was beaten out by the winner of the office. He did a lot of great things well along the way and gained a lot of support during the election. However, there were a few of us who were close to him who would often joke that we hoped he didn’t get too far along because we knew that if anyone ever dug up just a little bit of dirt on him and some of his antics as a youth (even as a youth group leader), he would be in a lot of trouble. It wouldn’t be “legal” trouble, but it would be embarrassing and he probably wouldn’t been able to survive a public airing of his dirty laundry.
Well someone else’s dirty laundry came to light in the past few weeks that did get aired in public. And, because of what Capt. Owen P. Honors did 3-4 years ago, it ended up costing him his command with the U.S. Navy on the USS Enterprise. In a statement released by Adm. John C. Harvey Jr., commander of the U.S. Fleet Forces Command, he said, “While Capt. Honors’s performance as commanding officer of the USS Enterprise has been without incident, his profound lack of good judgment and professionalism while previously serving as executive officer on Enterprise calls into question his character and completely undermines his credibility to serve effectively in command.” What a huge statement! You can read the article here from the Washington Post.
So how do these two stories have to do with ministry? Here’s how. That means that your judgment and professionalism will be counted for you or against you at all times. It doesn’t matter if you are “young” or “just a volunteer”, your actions will be judged for or against you. How many times can you recall people bringing out the past when they are deciding whether or not a person is fit to serve in public office? It happens in every local, state or national election. So here’s the point, we will be judged for what we do and how we do it. And, to be honest, that is how it should be. As believers we are held accountable to a higher standard. As leaders that standard is even higher!
Romans 13:13 – “Because we belong to the day, we must live decent lives for all to see. Don’t participate in the darkness of wild parties and drunkenness, or in sexual promiscuity and immoral living, or in quarreling and jealousy.” (NLT)
Ephesians 5:8 – “For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light!” (NLT)
Matthew 5:16 – “In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” (NIV)
1 Peter 2:12 – “Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.” (NIV)
We are called to a higher standard and we must act according to that standard – no matter what “stage” of life we are in. So, TAKE A MINUTE and think through how you are living your life. Is it in a way that is glorifying to God? Are all your interactions with your friends, family and people you are ministering too holy and pleasing to God? Are they drawing people closer to Christ or further away?
Examine what you are doing and how you are doing it so that the past doesn’t come back to haunt you.
