When I first heard the news, my heart broke for my brother Steve,my sister Anne, their children, grandchildren, personal and ministry friends, and all those who, like me, have benefitted and have been spiritually well-fed by the teaching ministry in which the LORD God Almighty has equipped and called Steve, and the ministry He equipped and called Anne to as Steve's exceedingly suitable helpmeet.
Some have already shared my sentiments, while others rail and rejoice at his private fall and public humiliation from Satan's seeming "win" over another one of God's holy and dearly beloved children (Rom 8:28-39).
But this is not a new story, a news story, or an occasion to set our minds and hearts to Pharasaical judgment that Christ admonished us to abandon, "Judge [condemn] not that you be judged [condemned]. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye." (Matthew 7:1-5)
What has happened to our brother Steve has sadly happened to many other faithful men and women who have come before him. And sadder still, while we are all still in this temporal tent, there will be more who will be devoured by their temptations until the Day of our Lord Jesus.
How then should we regard our brother Steve? Let us take heed to how our God and Father has commanded us through His Son, by the power of His Holy Spirit,
This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is requried of stewards that they be found faithful. But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself...Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God.
~1 Corinthians 4:1-3, 5
Much (or all), of what has been shared publicly originated from the announcement from TBCD (pictured below with my highlights and suggested dross).
 |
| I crossed out an area in the second paragraph that is much ado about TBCD and it's piety rather than the first thing God tells us about His character during His first proclamation of His own Name (cf. Ex 34:6)—merciful and gracious, abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. |
When I read this announcement, I was further heartbroken for my brother Steve and Anne, friends, and others like me (in the peripheral of his life and ministry) because of the cold, arms-length, pithy and unnecessarily ambiguous, yet clearly forthright position of this announcement: A stench and stain among us was revealed. We got rid of it. We've removed our financial support from it so everyone will know that we remain just as clean as we were before him.
This announcement lacks the transparent and true warmth,love,and compassion that Christ has on all who repent and trust in Him. It lacks the honor and faithfulness of God our Father's work in Steve's life, and more than 40 years of proclaining the excellencies of Christ our Lord. It lacks the brotherly affection we are all commanded to have for one another (Rom 12:10). And the heartbreaking reality is, this frigid announcement has produced Pharasaical and falsely-pious reactions from others who are sharing this "news".
Therefore, let us follow the path that Christ our Lord has set before us, and not the path of opinions based on conjecture, obtuse information, and self-proclaimed piety. Let us first sit before the feet of Jesus, hang on His every Word, listen intently to know Him more so we may love Him better, and prudently seek His will for what He's given each of us (for we do not all have the same gifts and means of ministry). But we do all have the same Spirit of the Son of God who loved us and "gave Himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession who are zealous for good works." (Titus 2:14)
Below, is the warm and loving and compassionate statement from the OnePassion Ministries board.
Let us all remember this before we continue to pray and discuss this sin of our brother Steve,
My husband and I have already prayed about and discussed this, we are not going to "throw the baby out with the bathwater". We will keep what we already have, without promoting what we have nor purchasing anything more.Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. The one who speaks against a brother or judges [condemns] his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, He who is able to save a to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?
~James 4:11-12
