Stephen McAlpine nails it: https://stephenmcalpine.com/why-the-temple-is-the-best-place-to-hide-an-idol/
The killer quote in the article: “A [ministry] leader whose heart has been captured by other things doesn’t forsake ministry to pursue other things; he uses ministry position, power, authority and trust to get those things.”
Once, a missionary in Kenya observed to me that a number of people (thankfully, there are many who are not in this category) go to the mission field, or enter Christian ministry in general, because it gives them the opportunity to satisfy sinful and proud cravings that they'd never be allowed to get away with in the secular world, or in a bigger pond. Being lifted up high, away from scrutiny, controlling the information that goes to other places about yourself and your brilliance, controlling the mechanisms of accountability, and having open green fields in which to do things you couldn't do working alongside and under others - this offers such opportunities for the person who loves or is ensnared by something that they shouldn't.
The conservative evangelical church in the UK, and particularly Anglican conservative evangelicals, is being rocked (again) by scandal caused by appalling wickedness amongst well-known leaders, and the questions "who knew this?" and "for how long?", "when there were signs, why does it again look like the response was a cover-up, and how has it taken so long to come to light?" and, most damningly, "why did this have to be exposed by people outside the church, when the church is told to love justice, exercise repentance, and live in the light of the day of judgment when everything we declined to do and should have done will be revealed?"
Though there need to be specific answers for the specific cases, there's one big factor that is present in scandal after scandal. A lot of people love their reputation, position, influence, platform, conferences, networks, book endorsements, etcetera, at least as much as they love Jesus, and there are few signs we can see that this is changing. "Big cheese disease" seems to be present in every age: and thus, all the more reason why it needs dealing with.
But when did you last hear a prominent leader lay out, in detail, why evangelical celebrity cults and celebrity cultures are wicked, and a huge problem, and what in particular needs to be done to resist them and their evil influence? "Judgement must begin first at the household of God." "Physician, heal thyself." "Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy."
If you're not pointing out that the Emperor lacks clothes, is it because you yourself are still hoping to receive the Empire's favours? When you read the gospels and see how Christ acted faced with wickedness in God's temple, can you conclude that your silence is Christ-likeness, or is it actually something else?
Lord, may I live no longer than you give me grace to walk every day in repentance and serve in a way that gives honour, only, to your Son. May I see his glory, and in that light, my unworthiness. May he increase, and I decrease, every day. Amen.
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