Guardrails

Cliffs prove dangerous, but guardrails are helpful to protect us from disaster.  The ideal placement for a guardrail is not right the edge of the cliff, but back aways. 

One of the great threats in ministry is the temptation for a pastor to develop an inappropriate relationship with a member of the opposite sex.  In order to keep away from this danger, the guardrails should be placed as follows, as it relates to the opposite sex:

1.    Do not meet with a woman on an ongoing basis (including prayer meetings).  Make the handoff to a counselor or another woman.

2.    Always meet in a public place, and during normal business hours.

3.    Do not sit next to them, and if possible, have a desk or table between you.  Sit with good posture, in a professional manner.

4.    Never meet at your home, or theirs, unless your spouse is present.  Never meet in an undisclosed location, or in secret.

5.    Do not give a frontal hug – only side-armed hugs.  If possible limit physical contact to a brief handshake, or none at all.

6.    Never say, “I love you” or “You are special to me,” etc.  Always make clear that any caring is from a spiritual perspective.

7.    Do not ride alone in a car.

8.    If they correspond with you, let them know that you share correspondence with your wife or husband.

9.    Maintain eye contact when in conversation, do not look elsewhere.

10. When having conversation with a couple, look at the person of the same sex, more than the person of the opposite sex.

11. Never wink, or give what could be perceived to be a flirtatious gesture.

12. Do not use innuendo, double meanings, or tell an inappropriate joke.

Agitation

The Islamic world is up in arms over a movie produced by a half-rate amateur film-maker in California:  Innocence of Muslims.  Ironically, the vast majority of Muslims have not seen the movie, and never will.  So why are they so upset?  They've listened to their leaders, the imams and mullahs.  The islamic leaders have told the people how to feel about it.  The movie was an excuse to agitate.  What it proves, though, is that people will be motivated when they get angry enough.  People respond to emotion.

What is the application for us as Christian leaders?  I think we need to get in touch with the emotion of the gospel.  We need to have a passion for grace.  We need to get excited about loving the lost.  We need to be stirred by the Holy Spirit.  We need to be passionate about Christ.  Are we being stirred up, and are we stirring up our people?  John Maxwell said, "People change when they hurt enough that they have to, learn enough that they want to, or receive enough that they are able to."  What our people need to receive from us is a Spirit-inspired agitation.  

But it has to start in our own hearts, first.  Old-time saints said it well, "If we want a fire in the pew, there has to be an inferno in the pulpit."