2 Ways to Deal With “Religious Rock-Throwers”

By Jonathan Herron

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If your first response to someone’s failure isn’t forgiveness, then you have missed the gospel.

I hopped on the treadmill and fired up my iPad to catch up on today’s headlines. I wasn’t prepared for the news from The Washington Post: Billy Graham’s grandson steps down from Florida megachurch after admitting an affair. My heart dropped and I felt deep compassion for the family.
If your first response to someone’s failure isn’t forgiveness, then you have missed the gospel. Nobody is perfect. Nobody.
And what an unbelieving world doesn’t need are more religious rock throwers (by the way, God never blesses religious people throwing rocks in the Bible).

If your first response to someone’s failure isn’t forgiveness, then you have missed the gospel.

What makes the world take notice is radical forgiveness like what happened in a South Carolina courtroom late last week. When evil is met by grace, the gospel is displayed in all its beauty and power.
Here are two steps you can take to become more gospel-centered:
1. Pray for your pastor.
These stats should give you a place to start:

• 97 percent of pastors have been betrayed, falsely accused or hurt by trusted friends.
• 80 percent of pastors feel discouraged.
• 70 percent of pastors battle depression.
• 7,000 churches close each year.
• 1,500 pastors quit each month.
• Only 10 percent of pastors will retire as a pastor.
• 94 percent of pastors’ families feel the pressure of ministry.
• 78 percent of pastors have no close friends.
• 90 percent of pastors report working 55-70 hours per week.

Their load is heavy and the ministry needs never end. Give your pastor your prayers, not your complaints.

Give your pastor your prayers, not your complaints.