ANOTHER HAS FALLEN.
It's sad hearing stories like this one. One of our pastoral interns, P. Mau, shared with me this story. Until yesterday, I really never knew who Michael Guglielmucci (pronounced: goog-lee-yul-moo-chee) was. Nevertheless, I feel sad.
Michael Guglielmucci is a former pastor and songwriter with some of Australia's biggest youth churches, beginning with Planetshakers City Church in Melbourne then followed by a brief stint at Hillsong Church in Sydney. He is no longer serving in active ministry, and is now seeking professional help. Now, his face is all over YouTube and news repoerts all over the world.
In August, 2008, Guglielmucci admitted that his claims about having an aggressive form of cancer, supposedly diagnosed in 2006 were untrue. And he has confessed that he suffers from a pornography addiction.
The Australian Christian Churches (Assemblies of God in Australia) instructed Guglielmucci to go to the police, allow for himself to be investigated on what has happened to money raised during his cancer deception.
People close to Guglielmucci have revealed that he'd hung around in doctors' waiting rooms as part of a web of lies to convince followers that he was dying of cancer. "He never even saw a doctor. He went to hospitals and clinics but hung around the waiting rooms."
And although, I must admit that the first time I watched the video, I couldn't help but say, "What an idiot!" I realized that there is a discernible spirit of sincerity in his repentance.
Even as a worship pastor, I seriously cannot understand how a fellow worship pastor could come up with something like that. I am not judging the man- only God can do that. This is a devastating story that could shake up or weaken the faith of some. I have met a number of folks who have left churches and Christianity for that matter because they discovered stuff that caused them to pull back.
Yesterday, the Church's Executive Minister did a performance evaluation and appraisal interview with me. It was rather informal and we had fun talking that it didn't feel like I was being evaluated by my human boss! It was also a very honest moment- I shared my struggles at work and in ministry, my personal life and walk. And while he graded me well and an over-all rating of "Exceeded Job/Ministry Expectation," I told him about my wishes for the Church and gave some comments on how it is being run. I shared with him that pastors need to build relationships with their fellow pastors beyond a co-worker/officemate level, but as brothers in the Lord Jesus Christ. The point in sharing this is- ACCOUNTABILITY.
Even leaders need leaders. Even masters need masters. Even pastors need a chaplain. Even therapists need a therapist. Accountability keeps us grounded. No person is beyond accountability. We all have responsibilities to the greater good, to our higher power, to the universe of which we are a part. Humility is the willingness to be accountable and to accept feedback, information, and ideas from others.
The best leaders are good followers. The best pastors are good servants. The best master also is a disciple, and the best therapist is also a good patient. It is good to allow certain people you are related to to come into the inmost part of your life and check you up from time to time.
If you're a Christian, I say, please pray for and love your pastors! Their backs and chests look pretty much like dartboards to the enemies of Christ!
ANOTHER EMAIL FROM THE LOVE-LESS PERSON.
This, just in. What do you do with this?
I already gave my two cents, but obviously, the Mystery Emailer does not read my blog! But considering the amount of replies my entry about this Mystery Emailer generated, I glad she doesn't.
It doesn't take a genius, a theologian or a pastor to answer those questions, really. Kapatid, FIND YOUR SECURITY IN GOD!
Delight yourself in Him and He will give you the desires of your heart (Ps. 37:4)...
Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness (Mt 5:33)...
Trust in God's unfailing love (Ps. 13:5)...
Follow God's path (Ps.119:35)...
Let Christ be your joy and delight (Luke 1:14)...
Those are about the godliest pieces of advise I can give.
No comments:
Post a Comment