So, you're a guy who struggles with porn. In your church, another fella was caught in a sexually-related sin that started with porn addiction, and his church leaders thought it would be best if this fella would just leave. You know you need help, but now there is no way you would ever seek help from your church.
Or, maybe your church seems to have just swept the issue under the rug. Nothing was done to help the guy who fell. Everyone just continues on in church life like nothing ever happened. Either way, you aren’t getting help, because this guy never got it! What motivation you might, at one time, had in telling someone in your church your struggles has just vanished.
WHAT?! If the church isn't the place to free folks from the power of sin, then what is? Professional counselors are needed. I’ve needed them. But I’m convinced that if the local church ever became what she has been called to be, then many professional counselors could be out of a job.
Ministry is people. I really like this passage from Matthew 9:
37Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. 38Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”
The harvest to which Jesus was referring was apparently lost Jewish people who had come to hear Him. What a plea from the Savior for us to pray to the Father to send out laborers to spread the good news of salvation! Yet, there is another principle in this passage from which we can take. It shows the compassion that Jesus has for people in general. The verses just before this recalls Jesus being overcome by emotion when He saw His hurting people.
There is a vast harvest in our churches today. A big part of this harvest contains Christian men who are on the road to destruction. We need laborers who are compassionate as Jesus is—compassionate enough to enter the world of these men and offer hope, peace, direction, and help them see the way out of their darkness. The Church needs laborers who have removed their fake masks and let others see them for who they really are—warts and all. For we all are stupid. But we are all precious. Christian men must see one another for who we really are. We must bring up the obvious and deal with it. But it begins with you. Someone in your church needs to champion this cause. Someone needs to be passionate about people like Jesus is, and begin this phenomenal thing called fellowship. Would it be right for this “someone” to be a pastor, elder, deacon, or some other church leader? I reckon so.
…to be continued…again.
(Look for my new book Journey to Freedom: The Pursuit of Authentic Fellowship Among Men, coming out soon!)
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