Heroizing church leaders
There has been a lot of blaming and bashing on church leaders lately. The purpose of this article is not to discuss what actually happened in those cases or whether those leaders did or did not do what was portrayed in the media. I can tell you first hand that when a story goes viral – even if it is positive and uplifting – the world does NOT know what was really said or what really happened. If you weren’t there, you simply don’t know.
Doubtless, many people have been offended or hurt by church leaders. But it’s one thing to have a bad experience and another to hang on to those hurt feelings for longer than is needed, especially when the issue is more about you than it is about them. Even in the most extreme case, you have a choice. You can choose to proceed with anger and hate, essentially giving those feelings power over you, or you can work on your own personal relationship with God.
Live by faith in God, not fear of men
Forgetting that church leaders are human is the hazard of heroizing them. Members of the church are asked to heed the counsel of the prophet and leaders of the church, but doing so is not hero-worship. It is a gift from God, and with that gift you must receive your own spiritual confirmation. God has promised that His children can know the truth for themselves. Elder Marcos A. Aidukaitis of the Seventy has said, “In the kingdom of God, the search for truth is appreciated, encouraged, and in no way repressed or feared.”
If you feel that a leader’s actions or council is flat-out wrong, you don’t have to follow through. You have your agency. Church leaders are to guide and to motivate, but never to force. That is not God’s will. Don’t confuse the call to discipleship with the obligation to unload responsibility for your spiritual direction on another. You are responsible for your own spiritual growth.
Your bishop is human. Your stake president is human. Your gospel doctrine teacher (shameless plug) is human. Human weakness is universal, but that’s not the problem. The problem is the unconscious trust (resulting in blame) in that human weakness. You can either let that damage your testimony or let it be strengthened by the knowledge that God can do remarkable things with imperfect people.
Choose to believe
You always have a choice. Choose to believe even when there are reasons not to. Choose to love people when they don’t love you back. Choose to forgive when it’s easier to hold a grudge. Refusing to believe, to love, and to forgive is ultimately rejecting the Savior’s atonement.
These attributes are some of the most Christian things people can do. Yet, they are what far too many withhold from each other. Many people walk away from the church because of something someone said or did and it somehow spirals into something the church said or did.
When you are faced with a comment you don’t agree with, a policy you don’t fully understand, or an experience that leaves you doubtful or confused, what will you choose? Anger and offense? Or a willingness to humble yourself and work on your own personal relationship with God? Perhaps true worship isn’t about what value we get, but rather what we are prepared and willing to give.
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One Response
Extremely well said. It’s a great reminder to all members, leaders and teachers. We are all human and depend on God to help keep our imperfections and weaknesses in line with His will. Forgiveness and a willingness to look pass another’s trespasses is what all prophets have taught and was portrayed by our Savior. This is a fabulous reminder!