The Sin of Covering up the Sins of Others

John 8:3 And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst,
John 8:4 They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act.
John 8:5 Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?
John 8:6 This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.
John 8:7 So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.
John 8:8 And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground.
John 8:9 And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.

As I read this passage of scripture, I always think to myself, "But what happened to the man who was committing adultery with this woman?"

The Pharisees conveniently leave out that detail. They are quick to want to kill the woman for her sin, but they don't mention anything about the man who sinned with her (it takes two to tango). Why is this? Some believe it's because they were the guilty ones, and they all together are "the man" who committed adultery with this women. Others think the man got away, and only the women was left, so that's why they brought her alone. Whatever the case may be, we see a "cover up" here by the Pharisees, who purposely fail to mention the male adulterer. Why would they hide the sins of others?

In modern Fundamentalism, or maybe I should call it "Funny-mental-ism," these same kind of coverups are seen among modern day Pharisees, who continually stand behind men who stand behind them, and help cover their sins.

It's almost like it's become a "country club" as pastors enjoy all the privileges with their fellow peers, while making sure to watch out for one another. Their "brotherhood" has almost become "Masonic" albiet not in doctrine, but in practice, as "men of the cloth" work together within groups helping each other, and forwarding each others personal agendas.

As they gain power within their individual churches, they strive for a name within their own denominational groups, and actively strive to swap pulpits with other men of renown in order to gain prestige among the pack. This leads to them eventually writing a book, or making a DVD, or preaching some tapes on various doctrines which are then passed around within various circles, and a man's success is augmented by how much fame and recognition he receives. And lest we forget, the highest honor, which is to receive an "honorary doctorate" (make sure you look up and read my blog on that!), in which he uses his title to write for a widely circulated Christian newspaper or magazine on a regular basis, and gets his picture in print for all his peers to see.

Little does he know that what he's doing is rising in the ranks of man worship, and Phariseeism, instead of getting closer to the Lord.

Once a man is "in" with the group, and famous, it's almost as if he can't fail. He is "one of them" and is now "initiated" into their crowd. This means he is not only given all ranks and priviledges, but he is also looked after and taken care of. That is to say, if he falls, or slips into a grevious sin, or is found out for doing something he shouldn't, others within his group will stand up for him, and vouch for him, even if he's guilty as hell!

I've seen this time and again. Men of God (so-called) will go to bat and stand up for other men of God (so-called) and defend them against accusations, even if and when those accusations are true. Because of their fame, rank, and position, people listen to the men of God (so-called) instead of the accusers, and the accused is let off scott-free, while the accusers are crucified!

This COVERING UP THE SINS OF OTHERS is now common practice in modern Fundamentalism, and is even getting worse.

But whatever happened to verses like:

1 Tim 5:20 Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.

Rom 16:17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
Rom 16:18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.

Titus 1:13 This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith.

Why is it the sins of the pastorate are not worthy of mention, but the sins of the congregation are, and are now almost unforgiveable? What makes the Pastor any different than his own flock when he sins. Shouldn't he repent just as much as they should?

The Bible has much to say about the "respect of persons" and the covering up of the sins of others. For example in Deut. 1:17, we read: "Ye shall not respect persons in judgment; but ye shall hear the small as well as the great; ye shall not be afraid of the face of man; for the judgment is God's: and the cause that is too hard for you, bring it unto me, and I will hear it."

Here God tells the Jews not to have "respect of persons" in judgment. Again in Prov. 24:23, we read: "These things also belong to the wise. It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment."

These of course are Old Testament References, but we also read the following Romans 2:11, "For there is no respect of persons with God." And in Col 3:25, "But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons."

Why then is there such "respect of persons" within today's modern Christian Fundamentalist movement, where Pastors have been elevated almost to Popehood (make sure you read my blog about Baptist Popes!), in which they are declared "infallible" and uncapable of committing evil, wrong doing, or sin?

Somebody should read James chapter two again, for there we also read of the "respect of persons:"

James 2:1 My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.

James 2:9 But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.

These verses tell us it is SIN to respect someone over someone else! We should never allow some people to get away with sin, while at the same time ridiculing, exposing and putting down others who do the same thing. If a Pastor commits the same sin as his congregation, they both should be preached against, and should both get right with God!

Or as Proverbs 28:13 says, "He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy."

So why do we so often hear of men who are Pastors doing ungodly and unfathomable sins, and yet they are still in the pulpits preaching, but they've never confessed their sin, repented, or dealt with it? The answer is because other Pastors stood up for them, and covered up their sin, and refused to deal with it, because they didn't want their own group or their own affiliation to look bad. They didn't want to be "guilty by association," so they choose to believe it didn't really happen, and they tell others that the accusations are all a lie, even when they aren't.

Let me just give some examples. I'm not going to use any names. I'm only going to give some examples of things I've seen, read, or heard, which really bother me. And it bothers me even more that these men are still in the pulpit. Some of them might have repented and gotten right with God, and if so, praise the Lord! Others might not. I simply don't know. But I have seen in each case a great conspiracy by many pastors to quickly cover up the incident, so that it doesn't reflect on them, and make their "group" or "click" look bad.

THE BAR HOPPER

I once knew a man who was an assistant pastor of a very well-known church. One time a man in the church decided to follow him around when his wife was out of town. What he found was the man in a bar dancing with someone who wasn't his wife. He took pictures as proof and then brought the matter to the church. Instead of the bar-hopping assistant pastor being dealt with and expelled for misconduct, the pastor made the picture taker out to be the bad guy, and he was called a lot of names for following the assistant pastor around and taking pictures of him in the first place.

What's worse is the assistant pastor was asked if he went to the bar, and he at first denied it. He then said the second time he was asked, that he did go, but he was "witnessing" while he was there.

Supposedly the assistant pastor has repented and gotten right. But those photos can still be seen on the internet of his indiscretion. And even to this day, preachers in this man's click are quick to point out the accusations against this man are false, and he's not guilty of any wrongdoing.

THE FILTHY ADULTERER

There was once a Pastor who was the son of a famous Pastor (who shall remain unnamed) who Pastored a church. It was eventually discovered that he had been engaged in adulterous sexual relations with over 20 women in his congregation.

When I hear things like that, I can't help but wonder, "How on earth does that happen? How can a man do that??? And how can he get up and preach on Sundays when he was sleeping with a different women every Saturday night?"

What happened to this man, who was just as guilty as hell? I really don't know. But I do know he was defended by his well-known father, and his sins were quickly shuffled under the rug by his peers from his old school alma mater.

THE ADULTEROUS TEXAS RANGER PREACHER

There was once a Pastor in Colorado who cheated on his wife and was caught by some men in the church in a bar with two women on his shoulders. When they questioned him, he ran into a bathroom stall and hid. As they stood outside to speak with him, the floozey women couldn't believe he was a Pastor, as they kept saying, "That man can't be a preacher, cause he told us he was a Texas Ranger!"

What happened to the man? Was his sin ever dealt with? NOPE! On Sunday he went to his church, got up in the pulpit, and said, "I feel God is calling me elsewhere, so I'm going to resign today." He left, and nobody said anything against him within his own denominational group. How come his sin was never dealt with? And how come his "group" stuck up for him, and let his transgression slide?

THE SODOMITE PREACHER

A Pastor in a very well-known Baptist Church in Texas was caught by a young man fresh out of college who went to work for him. The young man said the preacher one day caught him while he was alone and said blatantly, "Pucker up and give me a big kiss on the lips!"

Instead of getting what he wanted, the Pastor got a bloody nose, as the young man socked him as hard as he could. It soon came out later that the Pastor had relations with at least seven young interns before this man came along. How long had this being going on? Well, the Pastor had pastored for at least 20 years, and this had been going on most of that time! The Pastor also travelled everywhere with his young interns, and they spent the night in the same hotel room time and again.

My question is, "How on earth can a man like that preach in a pulpit, while he's been engaged with homosexual activities the night before?"

THE PASTOR WHO PRAYED HIS WIFE WOULD DIE

Oh, now here's a good one. There was once a Pastor who didn't like his wife. But he did like a young lady in the congregation. So he prayed and fasted that God would kill his wife so he could marry the other woman he lusted after so much. What happened? Nothing. His wife lived, and he was stuck with her. But one must ask, "What on earth was he thinking?"

THE PASTOR WHO RAN OFF WITH THE CHURCH SECRETARY

This story is all too common. But there was once a very popular preacher who decided he loved his secretary more than his wife, so he took her instead of his wife on business trips. So much he loved her, that he said to the secretary's husband that she could have his own wife, if he would only give him his. News of this love affair came out, but because of "political" pressure from others preachers who followed this preacher, defending him adamantly, this sin was quickly covered up, and forgotten by many, but not by the secretary's husband.

THE PASTOR WHO BROWBEAT HIS CHURCH INTO GIVING (TO HIM)

Not long ago I personally witnessed a Pastor who held a "Faith Promise Missionary Conference," (which I'm not necessarily for or against), in which he tried to get his church to promise to give an outrageous amount to missions. The Pastor knew the amount was most likely unobtainable, but he continued to preach on their need to "sacrifice" to give to God and missions. When the meeting was over, and the church only pledged to give about a fourth of what the Pastor wanted (so much for giving cheerfully and without necessity), the Pastor became irrate and yelled at them for, and are you ready for this, their "lack of faith." Now, the rest of the story is that the Pastor later resigned the church, telling them God had be working on his heart for sometime to be a Missionary to a certain island nation. And can you guess what the Pastor's philosophy was on Missions? That's right, he believed the church should give 100% of their monthly support to a Missionary sent out of their church. So what you have is the Pastor wanting the church to send HIM a certain amount each month, and him becoming angry that they didn't give it, because eventually, he was thinking it was going to go to HIM. Hmmmm. Sound fishy to you? Sounds diabolical to me! Especially, when the Pastor invited a well-known preacher to preach the conference, who was under the impression that the Pastor was going to stay at the church for many years to come!

SUMMARY

I could go on and on with stories like this of pastors who abused their power, their position, and their political affiliations to commit grevious and horrible sins, and then lie about it and ask other men of God to help them cover it up. This is all too common in our day and age. Many preachers are "heirlings" who care only about money, or "Pharisees" who care only about fame, and this is why they are in the ministry. With their connections, they find they can get away with certain things, so they begin to find out what else they can get away with. Eventually, though, it will all come out. One day they will give account for their actions. As 1 Tim. 5:24-25 tells us: "Some men's sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they follow after. Likewise also the good works of some are manifest beforehand; and they that are otherwise cannot be hid."

But how horrible that there are men out there who are big name Pastors, preachers, missionaries, fundamentalists, Deacons, etc., who are guilty of these same sins, and yea, even worse ones. But because of "politics" within certain "Christian" groups, these men are untouchable, and not only do those things which are not convienient, but have pleasure in them. But, what's worse is those men who claim to be Christians, and even men of God, who will vouch for, and even help cover up the sins of their fellow ministers. These things ought not to be! It's not right to help cover the sins of others, no matter who they are! Yet this happens time and again in modern Fundamentalists circles.

My prayer is: "God give us more SPIRIT-FILLED preachers, Pastors, Missionaries, and Deacons, who are not working for God in the flesh, while fulfilling their own fleshly desires, and getting help from others to do it, who stick up for them; but God, please give us more men who are sold out completely to you who have done their best to live beyond reproach and separate themselves from sin. And help them see the praise of man is not as important as pleasing God!"

2 Cor 6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.

As you read this post, I know what you are thinking, "No, that can't be true. There can't be that kind of stuff going on, at least not in my group, or click, or camp. You are just making that stuff up!"

I wish that was true. I wish I was making all this up. But you must be very gullible to think that men aren't sinners. And you must be even more niave to think that pastor's can't fall into sin, and that "political pressure" can't be used by other pastors, by Bible Schools, and or by Bible Fellowships to help cover it up.

But then again, maybe you aren't gullible. Maybe you just haven't seen it yet. Well, you will. And when you do, I don't want you to get discouraged. I want it to help you get even closer to the Lord Jesus Christ!

When I went to Bible School, I remember I was taught two very imporant lessons on the very first day. They were:

1. "The most important thing in this world is your relationship to Jesus Christ!"

2. "The people that will hurt you most in the ministry are other Christians!"

I readily accepted the first one, but couldn't bring myself to believe the second. I thought Christians were the greatest people on earth, and they could never harm a fly. Now I'm a lot farther along, and I've found that Christians are no different than the world, (except that they are just "forgiven.")

Some of the most vindictive, hateful, angry, bitter people I've ever met in this world were "Christians." And as I go along and grow even more in the Lord, I keep asking myself, "Were they even really Christians to begin with? Or could they have been RELIGIOUS but LOST?"

I still don't know, but I can't help but wonder. For how can a man practice openly practice Sodomy, Adultery, Debauchery, Robbery, and more, and still stand in the pulpit without any reprocussions for his sin? Didn't God say something about a man who's a Christian who sins being chastened by the Lord (Heb. 12:6), and if he doesn't, then he's a bastard?

It really makes me wonder how a man can live like the devil, and his peers cover up his sins and love him for it, while a man can do his best to live for God and he's attacked mercilessly by those same people who call themselves "Christians" who are on the side of the man who lives like the devil. Can someone explain that to me?

All I'm saying, and I'll I'm trying to get to is this: IT IS A SIN TO COVER UP THE SINS OF OTHERS. INSTEAD WE SHOULD PREACH AGAINST SIN WITH ALL OUR MIGHT, ALL OUR STRENGTH, AND ALL OUR FURY, no matter who is guilty of committing the sin. We should have NO RESPECT OF PERSONS. Sin is sin, and God hates all of it!