I recently fell down this rabbit hole while looking for a new church. I left the church I used to attend because the pastor got sucked into some of the corrupt mainstream narratives.
Pastors are human and make mistakes, just like me, and everyone else. However, they are also shepherds, with the very serious responsibility of guiding a flock, so that sets them apart from people like me, who do not have that role.
This post is a message to pastors, but also applies to the rest of us because anyone can be deceived and led down the wrong path, so how do we prevent that from happening?
Since I’m a researcher, I dive into the sources to find answers. My favorite source for moral and spiritual things is, of course, the Bible. The passage below is one all pastors should use to help them make the right decisions about guiding their flock through all the noise of the world. Psalm 94: 20-23 says,
Can a corrupt throne be allied with you – one that brings on misery by its decrees? They band together against the righteous and condemn the innocent to death. But the Lord has become my fortress, and my God the rock in whom I take refuge. He will repay them for their sins and destroy them for their wickedness, the Lord our God will destroy them.
Pastors should have the gift of discernment, but some pastors don’t listen to that discernment, or maybe it’s not clear, for whatever reason (sin, doubt, stress, etc.), so he can also use the verses above to help him decide which direction to go on a certain topic.
Other Christians who are not pastors can also use the above passage. In both cases, here are some suggested questions to start with:
- What are the decrees and advice coming from our “throne” (aka our president)?
- Is that person corrupt?
- What are the decrees and advice coming from other “throne” positions (i.e. CDC, NIAID, NIH, FDA, WHO, Governors, Congress, etc.)?
- Are those people corrupt?
Those questions usually make it instantly and abundantly clear whether I should listen to the people on those “thrones,” but in case I’m wrong, I seek the opinion of the one who sits on the ultimate and one true throne – the God who created the universe – to confirm or refute my opinion, with total surrender of any and all personal biases. I ask for His help in this because it’s impossible for me to truly surrender my biases.
Then I get quiet and listen.
Then if I’m still not sure, I go to His Word and spend enough time there to get an answer.
Usually, this works like a charm. Rarely, though, God tells me to wait and take no action for now. But when that happens, I have peace about it, which lets me know it’s really Him.
When I don’t use this procedure, I often make the wrong decision and regret it in a big way. Sometimes I get lucky and make the right decision, but that’s always a gamble.
It’s usually not that complicated though. Most of us have a pretty good idea of who is corrupt and who isn’t, especially those of us who do have the gift of discernment.
Then I go back to the verses above and decide who I want to listen to. That decision might have negative or even painful consequences, and if so, I must have the courage to follow through, despite any of that real or perceived risk or pain, which is the definition of courage.
I ask God for the courage required because He is the source for that too. He is my fortress and refuge. He will sustain me, no matter the pain, cost, or inconvenience of taking the harder road if required, as promised Psalm 91: 9-12,
If you say, “The LORD is my refuge,” and you make the Most High your dwelling, no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent. For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
It’s time to make the right decisions. It’s time to be strong and courageous. King Solomon had something to say about this too, in Proverbs 24: 10-12, which reads,
If you falter in a time of trouble, how small is your strength! Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter. If you say, “But we knew nothing about this,” does not He who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not He who guards your life know it? Will He not repay everyone according to what they have done?