Waxing on Wisdom

Woe to those who call evil good and good evil,who put darkness for lightand light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter! (Isa 5:20)

Another pastor has made the headlines by his alleged sexual misconduct. His church reacted swiftly and decisively, asking for, and receiving the minister's resignation. It is a sad ending to a sad story...but the "standard of righteousness" had to be raised, according to the Senior Pastor. I agree.

It is sad that when a minister sins it gets so much publicity but shouldn't ministers be held to such a high standard of righteousness? And what is that standard? Is it only the decrees of those who have the microphone when reputations and budgets are at stake? Is it not the Spirit of the Lord who raises the standard of righteousness when the enemy comes in like a flood (Isaiah 59:19)?
Is the sword of the Spirit not the word of God? And if this is the standard, would He not raise the whole of it? Is it only sexual sin that is against the righteous standard of God's word? Are there sins of neglect and omission that have become so accepted in the Church that we, in our own wisdom, no longer see them as sin?
"Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight” (Isaiah 5:21)
On his blog today, Mart De Haan of RBC Ministries (formally Radio Bible Class) talked about the comparison of the sin of Jerusalem to the sin of Sodom in Ezekiel's day...but it was not only sexual sin...Listen to part of God's word given through His prophet Ezekiel way back around 600BC.... Not only did you walk in their ways and do according to their abominations; within a very little time you were more corrupt than they in all your ways. As I live, declares the Lord God, your sister Sodom and her daughters have not done as you and your daughters have done. Behold, this was the guilt of your sister Sodom: she and her daughters had pride, excess of food, and prosperous ease, but did not aid the poor and needy. They were haughty and did an abomination before me. So I removed them, when I saw it. (Ezekiel 16:47-50)
Ouch!! Nothing fun about pulling "wisdom teeth" but thinking that they will become un-impacted by themselves is much more painful in the long run! Yeah, definitely something "to think about!" Thanks Mart!