Dear [Mrs. C.],

Your comment(s): Yes,
What my husband said is true. If we take the time to listen to what one
is saying we can understand by the Holy Spirit without harming oneself
and the one we try to understand.

The pastor seems to be dedicated to the congregation but his flesh is
weak and therefore causes a conflict because of words being spread about
him. Whether the accusations are true or not one thing they have in
common is it always seems to target him in the same area each time. It
is not like it's one accusation saying he lied, then another saying he
stole and another saying he hit someone. All the accusations made
against him on different times and locations have been the same.

So yes he seems to be dedicated to his congregation but his behaviour is
not what it should be and inadvertently it affects the congregation
because he is the covering.

Lovingly submitted
[Mrs. C.]

My Response(s): Thank you for your comments. In responding to your husband questions, I felt it would be helpful to our dialogue that I point out his prior emailed comment about his pastor behavior. I then made the comment that a person can be dedicated and still commit sins or offenses. But the Christians must check this behavior that are in his circle of believers. Even in your comment about your pastor you use the phrase "seems to be dedicated", I mean am I to disregard these words and phrases in my answers to yours and others questions and / or comments. Would I not be neglect in carrying out my own duties to serve, which I am called to do in this present evil age? We as Christians should be resolved to hold all others better than ourselves. For there is no response I give that will be without offense or fault if one is looking to take offense rather than take advice and instructions. Yes, the Holy Scriptures clearly says, "If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check" (James 3:2 NIV). And this includes myself; today in this evil and adulterous world I strive to be perfect, as my Father in heaven is perfect (Matthew 5:48).

I took what your husband said to me as being true. I have no reason to not believe what your husband said. Yet, it appears you have taken offense to what I have said. Therefore, I say to you, if I have unintentionally, by any reason cause you or your husband to feel offended by my responses to your comments and questions then I ask for your forgiveness, as a brother in the faith of Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior. And I pray that you and your husband will humble yourselves to receive instructions. For it is written, "Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love" (Ephesians 4:2 NIV). In my weakness, yet through Christ Jesus, who strengthens me, I seek to cause no harm to anyone, but only to owe love to all because love, hope and faith are all that will remain after this present evil age. As it is written, love "believes all things, hopes all things" (1 Corinthians 13:6, 13).

However, in all that I do, I must at all times seek to serve your interests and not my own, and give you the whole counsel of God as He gives me understanding of His Holy Word. I can only speak what is given to me, my words come from a sincere heart; I sincerely speak what I know. For it is written, "Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers" (1 Timothy 4:16 NIV).

With that in mind, I must say first that your use of the phrase, "he is the covering" when referring to your pastor concerns me. I ask what is the meaning of this phrase? No pastor or man is a "covering" for other Christians except the Man, Christ Jesus our Savior who covers our sins with His sacrifice. As it is written, "there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus" (1 Timothy 2:5 NKJV). When one searches the Holy Scriptures, a "covering" almost always refers back to God’s saving grace, and His Christ "covering" our sins (Genesis 3:21). At no point do we see other men being a "covering" for others in a spiritual context. In Romans 4:7 (NIV), the Holy Spirit tells us, "Blessed are they whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered".

In James 5, it is said that if someone wanders from the truth, and then someone brings them back, they will "cover over a multitude of sins". Now, the question is whose sins? We see our answer in 1 Peter 4:8, where the Holy Spirit tells us that "love covers over a multitude of sins". Therefore, we cover over a multitude of our own sins by showing love to those Christians who have strayed from the straight path by helping them back to the path of the righteousness of God. And not the sins of the one whom strayed from the path, nor do the minister covers your sins because he preaches to you.

Now, Job being moved by the Spirit of God says to us that God covers our iniquities (sins). And in Romans 4:7 (NKJV), the Holy Spirit says, "Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered" meaning Christ has covered our sins.

17 My transgression is sealed up in a bag, And You cover my iniquity.

Now, concerning your comments about your pastor’s behavior, saying, "his flesh is weak", and he "seems to be dedicated". While it is true your pastor may be dedicated to his "job" as a pastor, he is still sinning, and causing strife in your congregation. You say the accusations about the pastor are always about the same thing, and in the same area. First, I say if the accusations about your pastor are causing conflict in your congregation then you should think seriously about following the instructions given to your husband in my previously emailed response. (See Galatians 2, Matthew 18 and Galatians 6 remembering also 1 John 1:8-10).

Next, I must point out that the Holy Spirit exhorts us to take note of those who claim to be a brother or sister, yet continue in sin (2 Thessalonians 3:14-15). And again, if your pastor behavior is sinful then, the Holy Scriptures clearly says, "you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such man do not even eat" (1 Corinthians 5:11 NIV). Therefore, you and your husband have no other choice, if these accusations are true then you must for the sake of conscience not associate with your pastor, let alone remain in his congregation. For if your other elders in the congregation will not exercise their duties as one called to service then you must seek another place to worship.

Furthermore, I say again, let the Scriptures guide you in living a life worthy of your calling. When we go to 1 Timothy 5:19-20 (NKJV), the Holy Spirit exhorts us as ministers in the faith saying, "Do not receive an accusation against an elder except from two or three witnesses. Those who are sinning rebuke in the presence of all, that the rest may fear". Now, if these people who are making these accusations against your pastor have actual information or facts concerning the sinful behavior of your pastor then it appears you have more than three witnesses who have made accusations against your pastor. Therefore, you have Holy Scripture supporting you here in 1 Timothy 5 that gives you the authority to confront your pastor openly with the other elders in your congregation. And if no one in your congregation is willing to confront your pastor on these accusations then either you should leave the congregation. Or ask his accusers to learn to hold their tongues if you want to stay in such a congregation. For it is written, "If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless" (James 1:26 NIV). But, if such sinful behavior about your pastor is true then you must openly confront him with your congregation elders or leave the congregation because you cannot continue to associate with such a person who proclaims to be a Christian. With these things in mind about your pastor, the Holy Spirit ask, do your pastor not teach himself? And again, you who teach and preach "’Do not commit adultery,’ do you commit adultery?" (Romans 2:21-24 NKJV).

Now, I say to you and your husband to love all men every, for this is the love of God, but hate all sinful behavior of men. And learn to make that distinction in your life. Seek to always walk in the faith of Christ Jesus, and remember we as Christians are judged by the conscience of others. I pray that our God and Father in heaven will bless you in understanding His holy word, and the things that I write to you. Amen. Praise God.

In Christ love,

Ron Davis, ministering

Update: See also my response to husband http://kushedifyingministries.org/WhatToDoAboutYourPastorBehaviorPart1Web.