SAD

You may or may not have heard of the fall of Jack Schaap, pastor of First Baptist Church of Hammond, Ind. Former pastor Schaap allegedly had a relationship with a 16 year old girl he had been counseling. The deacons of FBCH questioned Schaap and fired him. They did the right thing. The FBI is investigating whether Schaap committed a crime by taking the girl across state lines into Illinois and Michigan. This is all a lose-lose situation. I feel bad for all involved in this particular order: 1. The girl who is the victim of a 54 year old man. 2. Jesus Christ who is getting another black eye as His name is dragged through the mud. 3. Cindy Schaap and her children who no doubt are heartbroken and crushed. 4. First Baptist Church of Hammond who now find themselves the victims of another scandal. 5. Thousands of Independent Baptist churches who have pastors who are decent and sincerely serve the Lord, but are being painted with a broad brush as dens of immorality and cult-like. 6. Jack Schaap who should be forgiven, but NEVER be allowed to pastor a church again. He has disqualified himself. As a pastor of an Independent Baptist Church, I submit that every sect and division of Independent Baptist churches and pastors (and there are many), have a baptism of humility and accountability. The ministry is not about the pastor. It is, and has always been about Jesus.