Leadership...Why is YOUR mouth on them?

[Stacey Woods]

Leadership…Why is YOUR mouth on them?

Here is another Selah moment for you all. I was thinking, and so I’ll jot these thoughts down so that you all can think as well. WHY are we so comfortable with talking about leadership now days? It use to be a time in which people reverenced those that served in the ministry offices, and would not DARE discuss them openly OR privately. However, that day is OVER because people will openly just blab the latest gossip about church leaders as if they were a hired member of the paparazzi. What’s even worse is, usually this “talk” comes from OTHER LEADERS. I’ve been TREMEDOSLY betrayed in the past by idle talk, or GOSSIP from individuals that seemed to feel as though it was their personal business to uncover every private affair that went on in my ministry and my home. They just TALKED TOO MUCH! They spread misconceptions, lies, rumors, and sadly EVEN the truth…and the true things that they spread are worse than any lie. Why do I say that? I say that because when we uncover the “true” flaws about someone, we actually leave them in a worse state than we would if we had just outright lied on them. Uncovering someone is not the same as PRAYING FOR THEM AND RESTORING THEM. The scriptures do not say—If a brother is overtaken in a fault, ye who are spiritual go to a meeting (held at Shoney’s or IHOP after church) and talk about them, passing the intimate details of their life around the table so that everyone can throw in their two cents about if the person is still a good leader. Here is what it actually says

- Gal 6:1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.

Think about it this way, if you are privileged enough to see the good in someone, you should not shy away when you see the humanity (or the not so good) in them as well. Be careful, ESPECIALLY if you serve in the capacities of ministry that allow you to be really close to your leader. We must understand that the privacy of leadership should be treated with the utmost respect and should be GUARDED AND PROTECTED. What goes on in the private life of a leader is NOT a good conversation to share at the table when you are in IHOP (you know how we saints LOOOOOOOVE a good IHOP fellowship AFTER church-it’s the unofficial meeting place AFTER the meeting).

Aside from all these “common sense” points I just mentioned, WHERE DID WE LOSE THE REFERENCE FOR GOD? Where did we forget that He still tells us not to touch His anointed ones? Many of us touch them daily with our words, or gossip, and our idle talk. The world has The National Inquirer, Hollywood Access, Entertainment T.V. and the list goes on and on…but the church SHOULD be different (or have we forgotten about that too?)

Let’s just be mindful. Talking about ANYONES personal business, especially when you view it in a negative light is wrong, ESPECIALLY when you YOURSELF have not gone to that person (as the bible says to do). However, it’s even worse to talk openly about the affairs of other leaders in the body of Christ. Remember this the next time you want to bite off a juicy piece of gossip about someone, or share some—the VERY PERSON you are talking about MAY BE the VERY SAME PERSON God uses to minister to you or a loved one. Be careful.

Selah!

[Nzinga Jackson]

You know sis, if we just had a reverance for GOD, we'd all be more careful bout what we say, how we say it, what we think, how often we think about it, and even what we feel. Not to mention, if we just keep it in our minds that JESUS is on HIS way NOW and we don't want HIM to come while we got our mouth on somebody and don't have no time to repent. Reverence will keep you obedient......I have found this to be true for myself!