The Abuses of the Cover-Up Culture in the Church
Here Are My Thoughts... For What it is Worth- Part 1
By Mike Beckett
I have spent more than 30 years involved in ministry to some level. Whether being a volunteer, or paid staff member, I have had the opportunity to see some really wonderful accomplishments made for the Lord. I have also seen some things that are really disturbing in the churches I have been a part of. I am hoping to in writing this blog topic, discuss the inconsistencies within church leadership and how we as leaders of the church of Jesus Christ need to be above the part of corporate America. More recently, we have seen the abuses in the church, especially in the New Apostolic Reformation circles (NAR), where so-called Apostles and Prophets abuse their power over their congregants and behave in a manner that is outside of biblical structures for someone functioning in a biblical role of a prophet or apostle. People who have fallen from grace, due to cover-ups in the church, such as Robert Morris of Gateway Church, John McKinzie of Hope Fellowship Church, Tony Evans from Oak Cliff Bible Church, and Shawn Bolz from Bethel. In one of my podcast series “Making A LeaderSHIFT” (6-episodes available at the dead prophet - YouTube) where John Symanski came on the show and we talked about what pastors are really experiencing in the churches they serve, we realized that this issue of Leadership is a systemic problem. When associate pastors are forced to work under senior pastors who are out of control, show no Christlikeness in their behavior, and have for far too long been able to say and do what they want, leaning more towards narcissistic behaviors, we have got a problem.
In our churches today there is an issue with integrity in leadership, and it goes far beyond just sexual abuse. One of the experiences I once had in a church was far beyond what anyone should have experienced in their first few months of serving as an associate pastor. I know I am not alone. There are several people in ministry, serving under tyrants who for far too long have been able to get away with erratic behavior and not been held accountable to a higher standard. It is usually those who feel they build the church from nothing to what it is today. They remove the fact that Christ is at work in His church and assume that without them, the “their” church cannot survive. In approaching ministry this way, they oppress those who are underneath them, become over critical of their staff, and act as if they are the only one who has the say. I am reminded of what Proverbs 10:9 says, “He who walks in integrity walks securely. But he who makes his ways crooked, will be found out.” For those leaders who walk in integrity, who really live out what they believe, exist without fear of some evil being discovered.
You see men’s integrity will be their security. He that walks uprightly towards God and man, that is faithful to both means as he says, walks surely; he is then safe under divine protection. That person goes on his way with a humble boldness, being well armed against the temptations of Satan, the troubles of the world and the reproaches of men. However, men’s dishonestly will be their shame. He that perverts his way, that dissembles with God and man, though he may for a time pass current, shall be known to be what he is.
Let me say this, and say it without reservation, when pastor’s do not act with the humility of Christ and tend to be abusive towards others, they are in ministry with, this is NOY alright! There are too many people in ministry who are suffering in silence due to what corporate America would call verbal harassment and verbal abuse. It is not alright to suffer in silence. 1 Timothy is very clear when it says that “an overseer, then must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, sensible, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not addicted to wine, or pugnacious, but considerate, peaceable, free from the love on money, leading his own household well, having his children in submission with all dignity.”
While there is a lot to unpack, I want to focus on a few things here. The word must here is the use of the Greek particle that stresses emphatically that living a blameless life is absolutely necessary for church leaders. The phrase “above reproach” literally means “not able to be held” in a criminal sense. There is no valid accusation of wrongdoing that can be made against him. No overt, flagrant sin can mar the life of one who must be an example for his people to follow. Leasers are to be blameless. Titus 1:7 even goes on to say, “not self-willed, not quick tempered… not found of dishonest gain.” The stories I have heard of friends in ministry, where this is not the case of the senior pastor they serve under not only grieves me, but I would for certain not only grieves but angers the Lord.
The problem with our churches
today, is we function as a business. We look for better ways to grow our
churches numerically, and not spiritually. We compare our church with the other
churches down the street. We overlook the spiritual growth of true
discipleship, and push our vision, mission, and programs, while letting our
spiritual guard down for the enemy of our soul to come in and create disorder.
However, those who are in situations that are unhealthy, do need to speak up.
You do need to get someone who will advocate for you, even if that means
getting connected with an employment lawyer. Too often, we just dismiss the
abuses in the church as “God will handle it” or “God will work it out.” The
reality is if these types of abuses and situations were going on at a secular
job, these leaders would be put on improvement plans or fired. So why, do we
excuse the behaviors of leadership, who do not line up with the scriptural
qualifications of an overseer? Please don’t read into this ideal that everyone
needs to be perfect. For we “all sin and fall short of the glory of God,”
Romans 3:23. However, for those in leadership in the church Paul is very clear
of the leadership requirements to be a pastor, leader, overseer. If those we
work with are falling short way too often, that behavior needs to be addressed,
and it needs to be addressed immediately. Chances are if you are experiencing
those erratic behaviors from those leaders, you work under in the church, you
are most likely not alone, and there is a lengthy trail, whether covered up or
not. It is time the church starts to weed out the garden. We have got to have
leadership that is “above reproach” leadership that is focused on spiritual
growth over numerical growth, leadership who will begin to act like Christ and
not let their emotional insecurities run ramped like a disease infecting those
they work with.
As we continue with my thoughts on the sad excuse of leadership leading our churches today, I will draw on some of my own experiences, in hopes it will help others to rise above the "status quo" of sweeping church abuse on all levels underneath the carpet.
Part 2 upcoming soon!
If you would like to share your story of recent church abuse, please reach out to Mike directly at thedeadprophet75@gmail.com.
