Let the channel through which the living water is to flow be both clear and clean

By: American Decency Staff

Today a new disgraceful news report regarding a religious leader: Quoting: Another Lansing priest accused of molestation Alleged victim is paid $225,000 Read more: Another Lansing priest accused of molestation | freep.com | Detroit Free Press http://www.freep.com/article/20100826/NEWS06/8260473/1322/Another-Lansing-priest-accused-of-molestation#ixzz0xifIHzsH I found these words (below) relevant this morning regarding C.H. Spurgeon and really each us: “In the same way that the tallest trees and other projectiles on a landscape tend to attract lightning, so did Spurgeon’s prominence draw more than his share of detractors and critics. His success in ministry and his exemplary life led some to raise questions about his motives and elicit suspicions that surely he wasn’t as good a man as he appeared to be.  One reason skepticism arose so easily is that hypocrisy was a common problem in the pulpits of that day; moral weakness in a minister’s life was more the norm than the exception.  (Editor’s note:  Sounds all too familiar doesn’t it.) Yet Spurgeon had nothing to hide.  In fact, near the end of his life, someone wrote a letter threatening to expose him in some way.  Spurgeon responded, “You may write my life across the sky; I have nothing to conceal.â€Â Spurgeon’s exhortation for Christians to live holy lives were not mere lip service.  Rather, they emanated from a deeply heartfelt conviction of the absolute necessity for holiness in his own life as a messenger of no less than God Himself.  So passionately did he feel about this that he said, “Every saint must be holy, but he should be holiest of all who ministers before the Lord.â€ÂÂ  He recognized that the works of a holy God are impaired when transmitted through an unholy vessel. You all know the injurious effects frequently produced upon water through flowing along leaden pipes, even so the gospel itself, in flowing through men who are spiritually unhealthy, may be debased until it grows injurious to their hearers. Let the channel through which the living water is to flow be both clear and clean. Our effectiveness, then is proportionate to our holiness. As Spurgeon said, We must cultivate the highest degree of godliness because our work imperatively requires it.  The labor of the Christian ministry is well performed in exact proportion to the vigor of our renewed nature.  Our work is only well done when it is well with ourselves.  As is the workman, such will the work be.â€Â [Taken from on Spiritual Leadership – C.H. Spurgeon – by Steve Miller] ====================================== God has been so faithful to this ministry.  Thank you for helping us to not only be salt and light in this decaying age but also to give words of spiritual reminder and encouragement as above! Donate online: https://secure4.afo.net/ada/donate.php American Decency Association P.O. Box 202 Fremont MI 49412 American Decency Association is a member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability. ———————— American Decency Association Bill Johnson, President P.O. Box 202 Fremont, MI 49412 ph: 231-924-4050 https://americandecency.org/ http://www.twitter.com/billwjohnson =

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