Jeremiah 10:21, “For the pastors are become brutish, and have not sought the LORD: therefore they shall not prosper, and all their flocks shall be scattered.”
Jeremiah 23:1-2, "Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the LORD. 2 Therefore thus saith the LORD God of Israel against the pastors that feed my people; Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them: behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith the LORD.”
*In all of my articles, when I spell the word church with a capital 'C,' I am referring to the Main-Stream, Corporate Entity Institutional 'Church." When I spell church in all lower case, I am referring to Christ's model for His authentic, home based, organic church.
So many of us who were a part of an Institutional 'Church' are guilty of putting the "man of God" on a pedestal. I've seen it reach near-cultist status in some instances. The congregation would almost deify these men and would hope just to be able to touch the hem of their Botany 500 suits. But, it wouldn't stop there. The pedigree is important too. If this disciple came from the right 'camp' or college, and we found out that he studied under 'Dr. Better-Than-U', he'd be considered a great catch as a pastor!
There is a serious Problem going on as of late in our secular Universities. Penn State and Syracuse University are in the news over pedophile scandals. These perverts are finally being exposed for the pond scum they really are. Their atrocities are being dealt with, so is the word in the Main Stream Media. We'll see if justice is carried out. But I want to turn our attention to something I believe is even more vial. The act isn't in question as to it's degree of abomination; it is it's source. It is happening within the Institutional 'Churches' across America and the world.
This nauseous occurrence isn't new. It started long ago on a different continent. I want to focus in our own backyard for a few moments to address this issue while some still have the stomach to hear it. The media has conditioned our ear gates with this type of news of late, so I might as well seize the opportunity to speak out now while people are able to hear it.
For too long we have had members of the clergy in the mainstream 'Church' system prey sexually on pre-teens and teens of both genders. These are men who, week after week, instruct their flocks in the finer points of living for the glory of God, and are the same ones who infiltrate their congregation seeking out their victims. I am not focusing on all pastors. I am focusing on the ones who are out there viciously grooming young boys to be their own playthings. 'Grooming' is a police term used to describe a mature man who prepares (or trains) young boys to become his sex-slave.
We probably don't want to admit it, but most of us have heard the stories of past pastors who have been guilty of, or suspected of, committing these crimes. There is an ex-pastor I knew who 'groomed' several boys at my old 'Church' a year after I left there. Fortunately he wasn't my pastor. If he were, I would feel the need to wash myself with a Brillo pad just to get the inference that he was "my pastor" off of my skin. Just knowing that people knew that I had my name attached to that particular 'Church' is enough to make me shudder with embarrassment. A young couple with very good hearts attended that 'Church,' and uplifted the Senior pastor and his replacement with great fervor. I remember them even displaying a poster with their photos on it with a verse of Scripture which read, "Obey them that have the rule over you." Their hearts were in the right place, but they were deceived by the Junior pastor who was to take over the helm of that 'Church' and taint it with the perversions of his heart and mind. He ended up being the 'Groomer' mentioned above.
I know of another seemingly gentle and kind man accused of this same behavior in the news as recently as two months ago. His alleged crimes occurred some twenty years ago. The victims are just now coming forward to tell their horrible tales to the authorities in the hope to gain some closure. In another occurrence, a dear friend of mine has three teenage boys who wanted to go to summer camp at a well known Baptist campground run by a ministry of a 'Church' a summer or two ago. At this camp, the boys were attacked by a counselor and another overgrown teen boy who was following his lead. My friend's boys knew how to defend themselves and a more serious altercation was averted. The event was brought up before the lead counselors and then the head pastor, but nothing was done about the incident. Not even a refund of over $400.00 was extended.
We know these events have been going on in the Catholic 'Church' system for years. But in recent years, Baptist pastors have been accused over and over again. These are 'Groomers' associated with mainstream 'Church.' They were supposedly working on behalf of the Bride Groom, Jesus Christ. But, something is very wrong here. Christ is never associated with this type of behavior. How could His church be the lair of such men lying in wait? The answer is, this breeding ground for such vermin doesn't belong to Jesus! These rat holes are the possession of Satan's model of 'Church.' It doesn't matter if the name over the door is of Catholic or Baptist persuasion. Name your denomination, it doesn't matter. It's happening all over this nation in the Corporate entities known as the Organizational-Institutional 'Church.'
In our text, our LORD is not happy with these wolves in sheep's clothing. Earlier in Jeremiah He was to give His people, "pastors after His heart." The rest of the Scriptural references describe these men as a blight on the name 'pastor.' They became brutish. They scattered their flocks. They gave their Master a bad name because of their behavior. The LORD Promises retribution for their lewd behavior. Today these men have attached our Lord's good name above the doors of their private Institutions. And, they have the nerve to bring His holy name into the middle of their sick perversions for the world to see. He is NOT a 'groomer!' He is the Groom! His church is NOT the place where this behavior carries on. The place where this behavior goes on is manufactured in the shadows of hell itself. The Head-engineer is Satan. His staff of engineers are those who pastor his 'Church.'
If you fear this is going on in your Institute, be aware. On the other hand, Jesus' assembly nurtures families. They do not debase them. They are wholesome and clean. Family is Properly supervised by family. Jesus is the Head. He is our Bride Groom. He is the Groom. With Him, we don't have to be afraid of the 'groomers.' I urge those who are aware of any improprieties going on in their 'Church,' that they seek out a home church. Don't expect to find one in the phone book. We're not there. Ask the Holy Spirit for His leading and guidance to find out where you should fellowship. This new fellowship will not have a 'Church' building with a name above the doors. This is NOT the model of church founded by our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. His is Not a Corporate-run, Institutional 'Church' that is infested with groomers. May you come to your senses and realize that some 'Churches,' that may contain 'groomers' is not an acceptable environment for your kids. Don't allow yourselves to think you have to take the good with the bad in a 'Church' milieu. Steer away from the evils of the Institute and into the safety of the Lord's model for church.
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