I have a question:
If a Christian organization (school, parachurch, or even church) has a staff person in an authoritative position who lies, gossips, and slanders about other staff people, and the same staff person bullies the weak and vulnerable, and the primary shepherd looks the other way and does not want to hear about it - when all this happens, when does that organization stop being a Christian organization?
This is not just an academic question but one which we encounter and sometimes have to answer in the process of making a decision. We have all, I sadly suspect, run into such a situation and have puzzled over what to do. Rarely are we in a position to do much about it, lacking the authority to address either the bully or the permissive boss; usually we are only indirectly involved, although sometimes we are on the receiving end of the bullying, lies, etc.
Yet no church, school, ministry, or parachurch organization is without sin: even on its best day it is falling short because it consists of fallen, redeemed people. If God were to adopt a zero-tolerance policy, i.e., if he were to stop looking at Christ’s blood and instead evaluate us directly, there would be no Christian organizations. It is his grace and the purifying work of the Holy Spirit that makes any of our efforts acceptable.
Nevertheless, there is a limit, is there not? Christ warned the church of Ephesus,
Do the deeds you did at the first; if not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place – that is, if you do not repent.” - Rev 2.5b, (NET)
If we must make decisions in such situations - whether to attend, support, etc. - how do we know when the line has been crossed? Do we stay with an organization even though it is engaged in chronic, willful sin? Do we leave or pull our support until they repent?
What’s a brother to do?
