When pastors go crazy

Churches can be brutal. A few stories the last few days reminded me of the reality of violence within churches, amongst pastors, members of boards and ministries. The question is whether we are willing to own up to it, whether we are able to transform ourselves to be communities of healing and hope. Maybe for some congregations its then better to die, disgracefully.

Anyway, this cannot go on. We may not simply hope for the best or at worst, hide it from the public eye. Whilst we pontificate and open up the big canon of law, ready to throw it at people, we ourselves are stand to be judge. So, let's own up to our dark sides and become genuine and honest, vulnerable.

Of course, we are not only refering to physical violence, but also the subtle emotional and verbal attacks, the manipulation, the guilt trips, etc. We also refer to the silence in the face of guilt trips and reigns of fear, the biblical extremisms that holds ransom, life in abundance. This remains to be one of the most critical areas where we still need healing and restoration, grace to be transformed.