The sinning of church leaders not only reveal their nature and state, but also the nature and state of the church. Although many churches (worldwide) make changes and compromise and adjust the words of God and lower God’s standards, God and His Word will never change. We serve the Almighty God, Who is the Creator of heaven and earth and all there is within. God is the same, yesterday, today and forevermore. God shall never compromise and adjust His word and lower His standards. He still speaks and acts according to His Word that stands forever. God is very clear in the Bible about sin and the consequences of sinning willfully. Is it the will of God that fallen pastors and leaders stay appointed in the church and preach behind the pulpit or not? What does the intentional sinning of church leaders say about them?
Do pastors and other church leaders, who are sinning willfully, belong in the pulpit?
Church leaders who are sinning willfully don’t belong in the pulpit. If church leaders keep on sinning willfully after their repentance, regeneration, and during their leadership in church, they shouldn’t be appointed and teach in the pulpit and lead the church (the assembly of believers).
This may be hard to read and some people may find this ruthless. However, a sinning pastor or church leader has consciously made a choice to disobey God and His Word and serve the flesh and do something that opposes the will of God.
That’s why in the Old Covenant there was a difference in sin. Everything a person does that opposes the words and will of God is sin. However, there is a difference in the kinds of sin.
Someone can unconsciously say or do something that is not good and during or afterward be confronted and corrected by the Holy Spirit. But someone can also consciously say or do something with premeditated intent. This means that a person knows that it’s not good and not according to the will of God and diametrically opposes His Word, but the person does it anyway, because the love for the flesh is stronger than the love for God and His Word. (Read also: What is a sin not unto death and a sin unto death?)
Take for example adultery.
Is adultery a premeditated sin?
Adultery is a premeditated sin. Adultery doesn’t just happen. Pants don’t fall down themselves. No, a person has consciously made a choice to commit adultery, despite the knowledge of the truth and God’s will. Every Christian knows, that adultery is a sin.
Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God (Galatians 5:19-21)
Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them. But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all (Colossians 3:5-11)
adulterers don’t love God and their neighbor but themselves?
When a person commits adultery, the person doesn’t walk in love toward God. Not walking in love toward God means, that the person doesn’t keep God’s commandments (which are also The commandments of Jesus).
Only if you keep the commandments of God, you walk in love. Knowing this, if a person knows the truth (adultery is sin) and God’s will but consciously rejected God and His word, then the person doesn’t walk in love.
The person shows through his deed that he doesn’t love God with all his heart, soul, mind, and strength.
When a person commits adultery, the person loves himself, the strange woman (or man) and above all the lusts of the flesh.
The person doesn’t keep the second commandment either, which is, you shall love your neighbor as yourself, but rejected it. Since the adulterer didn’t remember his wife (or her husband) and the wedding vow he (or she) made.
When people commit adultery they don’t love their neighbor (their spouse) but themselves. They want to satisfy their (temporary) sexual feelings of the flesh.
When church leaders commit adultery they forget their responsibility for the precious souls of the saints
When a pastor or other church leaders commit adultery, they don’t remember the precious souls of the saints. They don’t remember their responsibility for the saints and the consequences of their selfish deed to the church. Since the uncleanness of sin defames (disgraces) the Name of Jesus, and defiles His church, and mocks His redemptive work. (Read also: Is Jesus a Promoter of sin?).
And so the adulterous pastor or other church leader despised God, by rejecting both the words of God and his wife (or her husband) and disobeying the words of God, breaking the wedding vow, not remembering the souls of the saints, and defiling the church.
God hated Esau, who sold his birthright to satisfy his hunger
It’s just like Esau, who didn’t consider his birthright from God a privilege and precious. Therefore, Esau sold his birthright to satisfy his temporary hunger. This act of Esau was abominable to God.
God didn’t say about Esau that He loved him but that He hated him. Why? Because of his deed that originated from his wicked heart. (Malachi 1:2-3, Romans 9:13, Hebrews 12:16-17 (Read also: Can you resist the temptation?)).
There are many Christians, who jeopardize their relationship with Jesus Christ and the Father and the abiding of the Holy Spirit and eternity, by prioritizing their feelings and the will, lusts, and desires of the flesh and putting them above the Word
The blind guides and white Sepulchers
It’s already bad that adultery happens among Christians, who don’t hold a leadership position in the church, but that adultery also takes place among church leaders is really bad.
Because how can they, who are spiritually blind themselves and led by their flesh and don’t live a disciplined life after the Spirit in obedience to God and His Word, but reject God and His Word and walk in disobedience in darkness and sin willfully, teach the members of the church and expect the believers to walk after the Spirit in obedience to God in holiness in the Light?
These pastors and church leaders are blind guides and white sepulchres, just like the Pharisees.
The Pharisees appeared beautiful, charismatic, piously and righteous on the outside. However, inwardly they were full of extortion, uncleanness, hypocrisy and iniquity (lawlessness).
Although the Pharisees taught the people in the Law and Prophets, and made God’s will known to them, they didn’t submit to the Law and the prophets and didn’t walk in the will of God. (Read also: Is the church seeing or blind?)
And so there are many pastors and church leaders, who have not truly repented and are not born again in Christ. They don’t walk after the Spirit in obedience to God.
Why do many pastors and other church leaders fall?
Many pastors and other church leaders fall, because they have not crucified their flesh in Christ. If they had crucified their flesh, they wouldn’t keep sinning and, for example, commit adultery. Adultery is a work of the flesh.
The work of their flesh shows that they walk after the flesh. They don’t fear the Lord and don’t take the Word seriously, because they consciously keep sinning (persevere in sin).
These church leaders assume they can keep sinning without consequences, since they remain appointed in the church anyway or they leave the church temporarily and after some time are reinstated in the same office again.
And the carnal church that makes decisions on the basis of feelings and emotions instead of the Word of God, substantiates this wicked behavior. The carnal church gives a foothold to the devil and accepts and supports sin, by keeping the fallen pastor or other leader in their office or reinstating the fallen leader in their office after some time. (Read also: What did Paul mean by lay hands suddenly on no man)
What is the will of God concerning His sons and daughters?
It is the will of God that all His sons and daughters, who are born of Him and have His nature and represent Him on earth, walk after the Spirit in holiness and not in uncleanness, fornication and the lust of concupiscence, as the Gentiles do, who don’t know God and are not born of Him and walk in disobedience to God and His Word in the will of their father in darkness.
For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God: That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified. For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness. He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us His Holy Spirit (1 Thessalonians 4:3-8)
Is God love, merciful and forgiving?
People say God is love, merciful and forgiving. But is that true? God is absolutely loving, merciful and forgiving if someone truly repents and not because someone is caught in the act and asks forgiveness out of a religious habit and after some time falls back into the same sin. However, God is also righteous and many times they leave that part out.
The love of God is a righteous love and not a new age love. (Read also: The Holy Spirit vs the new age spirit, which spirit dwells in you?)
Jesus said to the Pharisees (old carnal creation) that they obeyed the lust of their father and not of God. (Read also: The will of God vs the will of the devil).
Would God trust and appoint a worker of iniquity in the church?
How can God trust and appoint a leader in the church to raise His sons (this applies to both males and females) and teach them in the Word, so that they get to know the will of God and lead them into the truth and grow up into spiritual maturity in Christ after His image, if the leader is not spiritually mature?
How can God appoint a leader who doesn’t walk as a mature son of God after the Spirit and doesn’t submit to the Head Jesus Christ and don’t do what Jesus; the Word says, but is prideful, rebellious, carnal and does the will and the works of the flesh and keeps sinning willfully?
Would God trust His sons to someone, who claims to know God, but doesn’t listen to Him and doesn’t do what He says and deny God through His works? Does this worker of iniquity belong to God?
“He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints”
And He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the Body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into Him in all things, which is the Head, even Christ: From whom the whole Body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the Body unto the edifying of itself in love (Ephesians 4:11-16)
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works (2 Timothy 3:16)
What does the intentional sinning of a pastor or other church leaders say about them?
The intentional sinning of a pastor or other church leaders say that the pastor or other church leader is carnal and walks in darkness and does the will of the flesh. The intentional sinning of a pastor and other church leaders testify that they are a slave of sin. Sin still reigns as king in the life of the pastor or church leaders and the wicked one aka the devil still has a hold on the church leader. This should already be a warning to the church.
Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin (John 8:34)
They profess that they know God; but in works they deny Him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate (Titus 1:16)
For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee (Titus 2:11-15)
Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame (1 Corinthians 15:34)
We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keeps himself, and that wicked one touches him not (1 John 5:18)
What is the danger of appointing a fallen pastor or church leader in the church?
The danger of appointing a fallen pastor or other fallen church leaders in the church is that they not only despised God and His Word and defiled the church, but Christians will follow their example.
If a pastor or other leaders in the church, who should be born again and spiritually mature and should know the will of God, refuses to submit to God and His Word and therefore is prideful, rebellious, and disobedient, the sheep will follow the example of the fallen pastor or other fallen church leaders and shall also walk in pride, rebellion, and disobedience to God and His Word.
The same (unclean) spirit that dwells in the pastor (or other church leaders) shall come over the church.
As a result, the church members shall bear the same fruit as the church leader. They shall walk in wickedness and uncleanness. (Read also: Many pastors are leading the sheep into the abyss).
How can a fallen pastor or other fallen church leaders expect from the believers that they submit to God and obey His Word, when they don’t do it themselves?
If a preacher or other church leaders commits fornication and adultery, how can the preacher confront, warn, correct and chastise a church member in these areas and forbid fornication and adultery? Exactly the church leader can’t.
As a result, the church shall compromise and allow sin in the church and approve of Christians living in sin.
Putting the relationship with Jesus at stake and playing with eternity to fulfill the lusts of the flesh
Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears (Hebrews 12:14-17)
In the New Covenant, in the dispensation of the Holy Spirit, Paul mentioned the thoughts of God regarding the profanity and act of Esau, who despised the Lord by rejecting his birthright for the temporary carnal lusts and desires. Paul warned the believers. And yet, there are many pastors and church leaders, who say they have knowledge about God’s Word and claim to see, but don’t care about Paul’s warning and disregard this Scripture.
Many people object to women in ministry but don’t mind male church leaders who are sinning willfully
It is remarkable, that so many people object to women in ministry and substantiate their objection with two Scriptures. However, they forget the Scriptures about carnal leaders, who are sensual and unspiritual and have the mind of the world and are addicted to pornography, masturbation or involved with other sexual uncleanness and commit fornication, adultery, live together unmarried, have a homosexual relationship, are divorced and remarried and therefore the spouse of more than one women, commit idolatry, witchcraft, steal, fraud, (pathologic) lie, have an alcohol addiction, etc. These sinning male church leaders get free rein and are appointed in leadership without any objection.
No objections and Scriptures are cited with them, while there are many Scriptures in the Bible to exclude these males from ministry. (a.o Romans 1,2,6,7,8, 1 Corinthians 15:34, 2 Corinthians 6, Galatians 2:17-21;5:13-26, Ephesians 4,5, 1 Timothy 3; 5:19-25; 6:2b-12, 1 Titus 1:6-9, 2 Peter 2, 1 John 3,5).
Does the intentional sinning of church leaders have consequences
If an apostle, evangelist, prophet, pastor, teacher, elder, deacon, worship leader or anyone else, chooses deliberately to obey the will of the flesh above the will of God, then the person has made a conscious decision to reject God and His Word and shall bear the consequences thereof.
Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given Himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things comes the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Be not ye therefore partakers with them (Ephesians 5:1-7)
What does the Bible say about someone who habitually commits sin?
Whosoever commits sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. And ye know that He was manifested to take away our sins; and in Him is no sin. Whosoever abides in Him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen Him, neither known Him. Little children, let no man deceive you: he that does righteousness is righteous, even as He is righteous. He that commits sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning.
For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever does not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loves not his brother (1 John 3:4-10)
Even if the person is famous, influential, and powerful in the church world or bears the name of a famous father, mother or any other relative, or is a theologian, charismatic, an eloquent speaker, wealthy, and seems to be sincere and piously from the outside, God is not a respecter of persons.
God is not misled by words and outward appearances, but God looks at the heart, since all the works of a man derive from the heart.
When church leaders keep sinning willfully their flesh is alive and their heart unchanged
As long as church leaders willfully keep sinning it proves that the flesh is still alive and the heart unchanged. The intentional sins that derive from the heart testifies that the heart and nature of the person are not changed and the person is not born again and doesn’t walk after the Spirit.
The heart is still of stone and that person doesn’t belong in church leadership of the church of Jesus Christ.
‘Be the salt of the earth’
