Subjects of Extortion

Why are there so many ministers these days becoming subjects of law suits and extortion? I just saw in the news where Bishop Eddie Long, a pastor of an Atlanta megachurch, was accused of keeping company with 3 teen boys for sex and took "good care" of them financially. Whether or not the allegations are true, this minister has put himself into a position of vulnerability. Not to mention the well-known ministers that have fallen in the past years. There is a hook that the devil uses to get these people. But the devil puts a nice bait on the hook . First of all, some of the bait that nicely covers the hook include extreme wealth, without proper accountability, too much power and fame, to name a few. How is it that some preachers and ministers of the gospel become so focused and entrenched with the wrong things and then become prey? I believe that it is a lack of wisdom and lack of the fear of God. We see in 1Tim. 3, 4, 5, qualifications for church leaders. In these chapters lay treasures of wisdom that will keep a minister on the right path. Some of the requirements are as follows: 1. He must be above reproach. 2. Self-controlled 3.Well-behaved 4. Sensible(This means that he should have enough sense not to allow himself to become vulnerable) 5. Hospitable and a friend to the believers 6. Not a lover of insatiable wealth. These are just a few nuggets in Chapter 3 that will keep a minister out of trouble. (There is still a wealth of wisdom and knowledge in the rest of the book.) Chapter 4 mentions that in the last days there will be some who will turn away from the faith through hypocrisy and pretensions of liars. We should be on guard! Pretention and lying is a trap! In Chapter 5:24-25 we see where some of the sins of men are conspicuous going before them to the judgement and proclaiming their sentence in advance. But, the sin of others appear later following the offender to the bar of judgement and coming into view there. This should be a scary thing if you are living a "secret" life. It's also an encouraging thing to know in vs 25 that even when our good deeds aren't evident now, they will not remain hidden forever! All will be revealed>(1 Cor. 4:5). God is holding all of us accountable for our life's deeds, good or bad. What makes Christians think that somehow a life of disobedience is ok with God? I've heard "Christians" say, "God understands..." "He knows I'm not perfect..." This is true, and He is merciful to immature Christians for awhile>(Heb 10:23-29), but when ministers, who are supposed to be mature (1 Tim 3:6) fall headlong into a lifestyle of sins, they will be found out...eventually at least, and they will be judged! I pray for Ted Haggard and others through the years who have brought a reproach to the Kingdom of God. I know that they can sometimes repent and we must forgive, but to be reinstated into ministry? I'm not so sure that this is always right. I think the Biblical path to restoration should be a life of humility. The restoration should be toward their relationship with God, not toward a ministry that could very well take that person down the wrong path again! There must be a fear of God and a fear of falling into the same sins again>1 Cor. 10:12. I pray for these ministers to have their eyes opened to the fact that they could very well be on their way to hell. This reminds me of the old hymn, "I'd Rather Have Jesus". Having Jesus is far more important than anything else! Oh how I love Him! I know that there are wonderful "famous" ministers that have faired well, to the glory of God (Billy Graham, Joel Osteen, Reindhart Bonke to name a few), but they must be doing what they should. My prayer is for the Lord to guard me, keep me, and cause me to be faithful all the days of my life. Whatever it takes Lord, discipline, deliver, protect. Do this for me...for all of us who love you!