A CERTAIN young intern learned a good lesson the hard way during his first pastorate. The brethren held him responsible for a church until the conference evangelist took over the reins of leadership several months later. During those few weeks, progress was made by trial and error. At best it was a hit-and-miss administration. College days didn't share with him the practical answers to many problems faced. Even if they did, many beginners would not know how to always match the proper solution with a particular problem. In his case total unawareness of his "greenness" was the biggest problem of all.
More "Ego" Than "I'll Go"
No doubt many of us, as we look back upon our early days, marvel at the patience exhibited by our congregations. Recently the editors gave me a note which reads, ". . . I have been concerned with the tenor of the famous author Runyan in recent Ministries. I feel that enough has been said to boost the morale of interns. Let's boost the men who will risk the loss of Christianity to put up with their antics and excuses for lack of performance. My intern has sufficient 'ego' but not enough I'll go.' "
Brain Jails
As was the case with many of us in our youthful days, the intern of our little story had plenty of the ego but perhaps a little too much misguided "I'll go."
One of his leading church officers, whom we shall call Brother Ben, was relieved of his duties because of smoking. He was not disfellowshiped. He gained the victory and maintained church connections. But his smoking episode made it a bit difficult for the young preacher to reach the same level of confidence in him as before. I'm sure we have all at one time or another mentally imprisoned people for wrong acts. It is so difficult to release offenders from our brain jails even when repentance and reformation are obvious. When will we as Christians believe in one another until positive, honest evidence dictates otherwise?
The Role of Secret Agent
Brother Ben's wife died during the in tern's short term of service as pastor. A bit later rumors began to circulate regarding his association with a certain lady in her early forties whom we will call Mrs. Jones. As far as was known she was married to a tottering non-Adventist octogenarian. Mrs. Jones was baptized during the young intern's ministry. She requested that he use her maiden name of Mildred Moore and not Mrs. Jones on her baptismal certificate. This naturally raised some eyebrows. It was taken for granted that she was married and certainly had no right to be running around with Brother Ben.
As soon as the rumors developed, the minister counseled with his local elders. One strongly urged that they begin a spy program to "get the facts straight." This understandably appealed to the adventurous spirit. Playing the part of a secret agent would be thoroughly exciting. After all, the apostle Peter had a snoopy spirit. Didn't he ask Jesus about John's future?
So the local elder and the inexperienced young preacher began to stalk their prey. Later he looked back on this miserable experience and wondered why, if he had any love for the man's soul, he did not follow the Bible injunction and go to him directly first of all alone (see Matt. 18:15)! This admonition was a far cry from what was done. Imagine a minister and a local church officer sneaking around trying to catch a man in sin! The Pharisees had nothing on them!
They were successful in cornering their prey. Now they had the evidence! Now was the time for action! Not an action that would attempt to get all the facts in the case, and certainly not an action that would seek to help restore the fallen. The next move was to see Mrs. Jones and share with her the important news that if she didn't break off this association with Brother Ben, she would have to be disfellowshiped!
Her only defense was tears. Since she gave no explanation for her actions, it seemed certain that the judgment in the case was correct. Of course, the most honor able thing to have done at this point would have been to contact Brother Ben first and then Mrs. Jones.
Treasured Letter
Several days later the young minister received the following letter from Brother Ben; a letter he has treasured highly through the years and one which he now, many years later, shares with us. Only the names have been changed.
DEAR BROTHER ______: It is with a profound sense of sympathy and respect that I address you in this capacity. I am somewhat disturbed over the attitude that you have apparently assumed in regard to a matter that I consider altogether personal.
There is so much injustice done to various individuals simply because someone took action without first making sure that he had gathered all the facts in the case before passing judgment. It seems that you have received, and may I say without due consideration, a lot of gossip concerning myself and one other individual known to you as Mrs. Jones.
In the first place, there is so much that you do not know concerning this matter that I feel you are wholly without right or justice in passing judgment in the case. Furthermore, the tactics you employed in gathering what you considered such damaging evidence was not in keeping with the high and holy calling to which you have aspired. I am sorry indeed if you have mistaken your office or position as a vantage point from which you seek to spy out and sabotage what Christian ethics still remain in the heart and lives of some of your church members. It does not require a very great amount of intelligence to pick the flaws in one's character but to look for and find only the good qualities requires the ability that so few possess.
This information may be somewhat of a shock to you insofar as you had no knowledge of it previously. The person known to you as Mrs. Jones is not and never was Mrs. Jones. However, in order to understand the reason for this situation, you will recall that she was baptized not as Mrs. Jones but as Mildred Moore. Having been disillusioned as a result of infidelity on the part of her husband, from whom she had obtained a divorce, she felt very much alone and dependent upon someone for protection. As a result, she accepted what seemed to her a degree of protection and security, the position of housekeeper to a Mr. Jones. It soon became obvious that if she was to avoid the cruel criticism and ostracism that such a position subjected her to, she would have to be come known as Mrs. Jones merely as a matter of expediency.
I feel that of all people a minister of the gospel should at least have an understanding, sympathetic point of view regarding a situation of this kind and be willing to abide by the scriptural admonition which says in part that if a brother be overtaken in a fault let us bear with him and lift him up lest we also be overtaken. Certainly you cannot but agree that such an attitude is the only Christian method that can be employed. How much better this is than issuing ultimatums and threats of disfellowshiping from the church.
You need not point out any Biblical advice regarding marriage and divorce as far as I am concerned. This is common knowledge to any ordinary Adventist. However, if we are going to abide by what the Bible says in regard to one matter, let us adhere to its teachings in regard to all matters. Those men who brought the woman caught in open adultery before the Saviour and desired that she be stoned to death were very pious gentlemen in their own estimation. Christ's answer was a very stinging rebuke. "He that is without sin among you, let him cast the first stone." After they had very shamefully departed from the presence of the accused one, the Saviour simply inquired of the woman, "Where are those thine accusers?" Since they had all departed, leaving no one to condemn her, Christ said, "Neither do I condemn thee; go, and sin no more."
For your own information, I am happy to tell you that I intend to marry this accused woman, and I know that in so doing I am in full accord and harmony with the scriptural teaching concerning such matters. Sincerely yours, BROTHER BEN.
Somehow, after the reading of this, the playing of the part of a sleuth or secret agent doesn't have much appeal.
