I recently received an unsolicited tirade from a part time preacher on the subject of divorce. He belted out his views with quite some feeling and although I must confess I did not read the whole article – I did read sufficient to convince me that legalism and religious intolerance are still very much alive and well.
Now – before you take sides – which may I also say – is another one of religion’s curses – I have not actually given you my stance on the very sad situation of relationship breakdown.
What I am commenting on is the incredible waste of time – talent and energy squandered by those who carry their favourite soapbox around and then plonk it down in any public place where they can find an audience.
True leaders do what Jesus did – he tackled the hard questions with his own disciples – the rest of the time he spent publicly giving broken people hope of a fresh start.
Here is my advice to soap box Harry.
Put your soap box away and start loving some real people in your world – try helping someone through the trauma of a marriage breakdown – and then when some of these dear people actually start following you – then and only then do you have the right to discuss the big theological issues weighing so heavily upon you.
Great leaders know the difference between publicly declaring hope and privately preparing disciples.
Remember – hope does not make people ashamed.
Never once did Jesus shame people – except the religious leaders on their little soapboxes.
