For everything that is hidden or secret will eventually be brought to light and made plain to all. Luke 8:17 NLT
You are a bishop, well known in the public eye for preaching the Gospel on your own television station on a daily basis and yet, at the same time you have an extra-marital sexual relationship for seven years with a woman working as an executive for you. For all these years you have managed to keep this affair secret, and even when you confessed it to your wife, who found out and decided to stay with you, you still did not disclose your infidelity to the outside world.
Understandably, you did not want to have the reputation of your television station ministry being damaged by letting the outside world know that you were living a double life while preaching and teaching the word of God to them, calling the whole ordeal a “private matter.”
All this was well hidden from the audience, until one day, a Christian lady who used to work for your television station threatens to sue you and go public with details of your adulterous lifestyle. She alleges that you pressured her to participate in a cover-up of your extra-marital affair and that the emotional strain from this situation left her suicidal and made her involuntarily commit herself to a mental institution.
Before your accuser’s suit becomes public, you now quickly stage a confession broadcast featuring yourself with your wife at your side, your counselors, and some of your supporters, downplaying the severity of your situation with words like, “It happened several years ago,” or as your wife described your affair: “An emotional relationship with a woman that became an improper relationship.” You also claim on the air that three people has sought $7.5 million to keep your story out of the media, angling the suit as a case of extortion instead of as a case of compensation for emotional distress.
By doing all this you hope to minimize the lingering negative affect this whole ordeal might have on your multimillion dollar television ministry.
This story is about the latest scandal that came out last week concerning Marcus and Joni Lamb, founders of Daystar Christian Television Network based in Dallas, Texas. Daystar is the second-largest Christian network, broadcasting to more than 200 countries. Daystar is known for airing broadcasts from preachers like Kenneth Copeland, Creflo Dollar, Benny Hinn, and Joel Osteen.
In a latest development in this saga, Daystar filed a countersuit against the former employee who sued the network. Daystars’ suit also names two other former employees, and alleges a conspiracy by the three women to commit extortion. The lawyer of the former employees categorically denies Lambs’ accusation of extortion.
The question on the mind of many believers is: How is it possible that Bishop Marcus Lamb was able to keep an adulterous affair secret for 7 years while preaching the Gospel on television? And how is it possible that after he confessed his infidelity to his wife and underwent counseling, there never was the consequence of stepping down for his sinful actions at Daystar, but instead Marcus Lamb is busy counter-suing his accusers?
When you have something against another Christian, why do you file a lawsuit and ask a secular court to decide the matter, instead of taking it to other Christians to decide who is right? 1. Corinthians 6:1 NLT
In another recent development, the Church of God denomination based in Cleveland, Tennessee said that Marcus Lamb will have to go through a lengthy "restoration process" to remain one of its ordained bishops.
Lamb informed the denomination in recent weeks of his past infidelity, spokesman Scot Carter said. Carter said church officials talked to Lamb again Friday. "It seems like he is willing to go through that process," Carter said. "It's not easy."
Personally, I agree with the above statement, and believe that Marcus Lamb, in order to be fully restored, needs to be disciplined by stepping down from his preaching duties as a television preacher and give a statement of complete transparency, apologizing to his viewers for deceiving them for all these years. Our responsibility in this is to forgive Marcus Lamb and love him, just like how the apostle Paul taught the Corinthian church to forgive a man who subsequently repented.
I am not overstating it when I say that the man who caused all the trouble hurt your entire church more than he hurt me. He was punished enough when most of you were united in your judgment against him. Now it is time to forgive him and comfort him. Otherwise he may become so discouraged that he won't be able to recover. Now show him that you still love him. 2. Corinthians 2:5-8 NLT
No comments:
Post a Comment