Today’s Daily Lesson comes from 1 Timothy chapter 5 verses 19 through 22:
19Never accept any accusation against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses. 20As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest also may stand in fear. 21In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of the elect angels, I warn you to keep these instructions without prejudice, doing nothing on the basis of partiality. 22Do not ordain anyone hastily, and do not participate in the sins of others; keep yourself pure.
The Lesson this morning is sobering advice on misconduct in the church, and practical advice for addressing misconduct in other places as well.
Addressed specifically are the triplet dangers of rushing to judgment, judging with prejudice and partiality, and coverup of patterned behavior.
I have shared much in the last year on the evil we as a church — most visibly Baptist and Catholic expressions — have tolerated and even abetted. I believe we are under a judgment from God for the things we have done and the things we have left undone in regards to our obligations to protect the most vulnerable. Instead, we so often chose to protect the institution and even the offender.
In the words of today’s Lesson we have participated in the sins of others. The common word for this is complicity. And the question we as Baptists might ask is how could a people so supposedly dedicated to the Bible for a guide to faith and practice so grossly fail to follow so important a word as this?
We strain gnats and swallow camels, throw out churches for ordaining women pastors and having gay members while at the same time having no say whatsoever when multiple victims come forward with allegations against prominent denominational leaders and clergy.
The Lesson calls us to go and read again, study again, study and put this wisdom into practice and also into policy.
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