WINGS Note: It is positive to read of a worker publicly recognising the problems that need to be confronted and resolved. The fellowship is not OK right now.
Have you ever had a friend that you really, really wanted to help, but you couldn’t? Sometimes there are just no words, nothing you can do. We know Jesus can help. I don’t know how, I can’t. My friend suffered horribly. One person gave my friend what I thought was good advice… “You’ve spent too much time pretending to be okay. You just need to be what you are.”
It’s possible to pretend that we’re okay, when things aren’t okay. We become like the Pharisees, like hypocrites. The leaven of the Pharisees is hypocrisy. We need to be real. Be honest. Don’t pretend like everything’s okay when it’s not.
Isaiah 1. There are times in the bible when individuals sinned and got off track. And there are times when God’s people as a whole got off track. This was one of those times. It was very dark. I feel like we’re in one of those times right now. We can’t just pretend everything’s okay. I’m going to read most of the chapter, starting in vs. 2 (read through to vs. 21)
vs. 14 Even their whole structure of worship and sacrifice became an abomination to God. I feel like this is the state of the kingdom right now. Pretending to be okay when we’re not okay. Our prayers, our testimonies, our sacrifices could be an abomination to God. So what do you do about it? vs. 16 The evil has to be dealt with.
Judges 19. I apologize in advance that this isn’t a positive message, or if I’m off base at all. We workers try to speak what’s from the heart of God, but I’m sometimes not sure what percentage actually is. But we try.
In Judges 19, there was a Levite who had a concubine. I don’t pretend to understand why God’s people would ever have a concubine, but he did. His concubine ran away to her father’s house. This Levite went to go get her back. The father plead that they’d stay another day, so they did. And then he asked if she could stay another day, and so they did. And then asked them to stay another day, and so on. I think it was the 6th day they finally left to go back home. I wonder if this father had some intuition that she wasn’t safe, and he wanted to protect her by keeping her there. But finally he let them go. They travelled, and needed to stop for the night, but they didn’t want to stop in the city of the Jebusites (vs. 11), so they kept travelling until they got to Gibeah, which was a city of the tribe of Benjamin, their brethren. I think they didn’t want to stop in the foreign land because they thought it wouldn’t be safe… that’s one thing, there’s certain things we expect of the world, or are cautious about, because it’s the world. But when we’re with those we trust, we let our guard down. Because we expect to be able to trust them. Someone invited them to stay in their house, but then some men came and wanted to abuse him. I’m not sure why, but he gave them his concubine instead. And then they abused her all night. And then after all that, he said to her “get up, get up”, as if she could after all of that. Is that what we say to a victim? “Get up, get up”? She died, and he cut up her body into twelve pieces and sent a piece to each of the tribes of Israel.
And then in vs. 30 it says “Consider it, take advice, and speak your minds”. That’s what we need to do… “consider it, take advice, and speak your minds”. Then there was an uprising. Vs. 2 of the next chapter says there were 400,000 men that came up. It wasn’t an uprising of rebellion, but an uprising of righteousness. They were hurting and sad. They were wanting to take action. They didn’t go with a wicked motive, but with a good and righteous motive.
Going forward, we need to live in reality. This has been my reality the last little while, and my friend’s reality. God lives in reality. It’s not all blessing and rainbows and sunshine. God lives in reality and we want to be where He is. I wish I could skip to Isaiah 40 where he says “Comfort ye, comfort ye my people”, but we’re not there yet. We need to be honest about where we’re at.
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Thank you Clint. We do need to indeed be honest about where we are.
Eric
California
What a great message from Clint. Came at a good time. Only way forward is to admit there’s problems. Perhaps we are starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel.
Hopeful
Skip
I’ve read a lot of fine words on this site but I have yet to see any real evidence of change with the exception of removing some real bad offenders also with the exception of Dean Bruer, who went on unchecked for decades. I’m finding it increasingly difficult to believe that no one ever had a question about his behaviors. Another unanswered question is why did it take 8 months for his escapades to come to light after his death? I’ve been told that it only came to light after one of his victims spoke out. Is there anyone who can confirm or disprove this statement? I’ve also heard that Dean Bruer had approximately $67,000.00 on him when he was found… true or false? Many people, including elders are fearful of speaking out with identity known. I find that disturbing as they fear losing their position in the church rather than standing up for the right. I match actions against the spoken word and the farther apart they are, the less credibility I give them, conversely the closer they are the more credibility I give the person. Elders in hiding, do you really want to be an elder in a corrupt system or know in your heart of hearts that you have done what’s right regardless of the outcome. You all have to be better as well as the ministry. I’ve been in this way for 60 years, so I’m not someone making off the cuff statements. I also was touched inappropriately when I was a teenager. My name is William Johnson.
So sorry to hear of your inappropriate touch! I’m wondering about the list of victims Dean also kept…like a trophy list. True or false?
Thanks, Clint. I can echo what Eric Printz wrote. We are glad for the times you have been in our home. Your humility and wisdom still speaks to our family, and it adds to our joy.
Paul Svendsen
Oregon
Thank you. Sounds like he has his head on straight.
My heart has been heavy the past few months with all that has been coming to light.
We have conventions coming up and I have wondered what we would hear. Reading this morning what Clint spoke gives me hope. Hope that change is coming. It may not be as swift as we want, but I have faith that God’s spirit can move in the praying hearts of his people and can help us to be motivated to think, say, and do what is pleasing to the heart of God so that His will could be done in this troubling time.
I’m so glad to hear this. As a 16 year old, I was touched inappropriately by an older brother worker in our field. Fortunately. that experience didn’t rob me of years of joy in this way but hearing of all of the current situations brings back the shame & utter disbelief that someone in the ministry could betray our families trust in this way.
I fear for the next generation & I understand the unease they feel when thinking of putting their children in jeopardy within a group who historically haven’t exposed criminal behavior.
My purpose is to continue serving God & protect my family from anyone , Saint or servant, who could be in a position to harm them or exploit their trust. I’ve learned I cannot afford to be naive or blindly trusting to other humans, no matter what role they fill.
I love this way. I love the people in this way & I love the workers. But I am eager to see & hear of drastic changes & want to be helpful in encouraging those working diligently & honestly towards this end.
Amen, and thank you so much for understanding the burden that victims have had to endure to be asked to act like everything is okay when it is not. Exposing this sin and responding by consistent words and actions to enforce clear boundaries regarding CSA will help to build trust and promote an environment for healing to begin. I am desperately praying that more workers will be willing to speak up and speak boldly and take action.
Clint, you don’t know me. What you spoke about being OK has weighed heavily on my being for a long time. I will survive with a little help from my friends. If you read this give me a ring, I would like to speak with you. If anyone wants to facilitate contact, that is ok with me, I welcome it.
My heart aches and my stomach churns.
I appreciated your singing. Feeling privileged to have discovered it. #10. is perhaps my favorite because of the children’s voices. Thank-you!
This was the exact message I needed to hear from the Walla Walla Convention platform! Much appreciated, Clint. I hope you are finding the healing you need. We recently heard, that there’s no point in putting on the whole armor of God if you aren’t going to use it. I’ve just been so appreciative!