In one of the conference meetings organized by my late mentor in ministry, he shared a touching story with us about why it is not good to lead a revolt in God's house even If the reason seems justified.
He told us about a promiscuous minister who slept with anything in skirt. Some of his associates knew about his immoral lifestyle so they decided to lead a revolt except one of them.
Those who led a revolt decided to leave the ministry but before they left, this man cursed each of them. Probably, they thought it was a causeless curse but his words stood. Each of them struggled in ministry. They had it rough and tough. They suffered.
However, there was another associate who knew about the immoral lifestyle of this man. Instead of joining the revolt and making noise about it, he submitted a letter of resignation. He went to the man and asked to be prayed for. He still discerned the hand of God upon him.
The man blessed him and released him to stand on his own in ministry. The young man has the most successful ministry among all others who left in anger. God still honoured the blessings he released on the man who left peacefully.
Was the preacher right to be living in immorality? No. Was a revolt necessary to call the man to order? Not necessary.
There are better ways to handle a leader that has failed or might be failing. The default mode of many is to become 'militant' against such people while trying to fight for righteousness. The 'battle' for righteousness in such a case must honour the anointing on the anointed without supporting his/ her errors. It takes wisdom to do this so as not to offend God while you think you are fighting for him.
One day, I fasted and prayed from morning till evening seeking God's face for somethings. When my fast ended, the Holy Spirit told me to apologize to a pastor I once spoke harshly against because of his immoral actions while on campus. His victim told me what he did. That was hard for me to do because I thought I rebuked an erring preacher. I thought I was fighting the battle of righteousness but I was wrong.
I was trying to bring correction in a militant and dishonourable way. More so, what happened was in the past and there is a high tendency he had amended his ways and settled with God but I held his errors against him. God dealt with me on that. I mustered courage and apologized to him.
We are called to live at peace with all men including backsliding brethren. We have no right whatsoever to rebel or lead a revolt because a man is not keeping in step with God. We can sever ties If the fruit of repentance is not showing forth, albeit, peacefully.
As bad as Saul was, David still called him "The Lord's anointed". How come a backsliden king who was tormented by a demon was regarded as "anointed" by David? Could he be wrong?
Much of the online anger and ascerbic rebuttals against preachers can be likened to a virtual revolt against the church, please, don't join them.
Don't forget that Christ died for the church and he is washing his bride by the water of the word. He is not sleeping over his church. He is working to ensure his bride is fit and made ready for his coming. He does that gently and systematically. He won't tear down what he is building.
While it seems justifiable to many that someone is exposing the rot in the system but the way and manner it is done is tearing down and not building up. After some of those posts by online polemicists, I see comments like: "I am not going to church again. Church is scam", "All preachers are fake",etc. It shows Satan is succeeding.
True correction build up, a revolt tears down. The moment you try to correct a perceived wrong and you bring down what God is doing in the lives of people and his church or you distance your listeners/ readers from the cross, you are working for Satan not God.
