I wrote on Monday about the reality of temptation in our lives. We are human. We are open to temptation and capable of sin.

That included the apostle Paul. That includes me. That includes your minister.

The sexual abuse scandal involving the Southern Baptist Church has shocked many. The numbers are disturbing. The mishandling of these episodes is troublesome.

But the fact that it happened shouldn’t surprise us.

That in no way excuses the guilty! When we follow the flesh instead of the Spirit, we are choosing death over life. We are guilty. Those in positions of responsibility will be judged even more harshly when they take advantage of those positions. Those who prey on children will face God’s judgment. Please hear me say that in no uncertain terms. God is merciful and may forgive, but guilt was incurred.

Some blame the purity movement. Some blame complementarianism. Some go the other way and blame a permissive society. Those from highly conservative cultures would point to our mixing of men and women in the same settings.

I blame the fact that we don’t take sin seriously. We over-estimate our ability to resist it. And we place ministers on a pedestal, expecting of them what we don’t expect of others. “Don’t use that kind of language! The preacher is here.”

Ministers need to recognize their humanity and their frailty. Any statement of “I’d never fall into that kind of temptation” shows a minister to be unprepared for the struggle with the flesh.

Members need to recognize that ministers are capable of sin, just as every member is. Don’t let them put themselves into unwise positions. Watch for signs that your minister is allowing the flesh to lead in relationships with others. Expect no more (and no less) of them than you would anyone else in the congregation.

Personally, I value the so-called Billy Graham rule. More and more, the wisdom of such guidelines can be seen. I encourage us to err on the side of caution. We are human. We are in the flesh. We are subject to sin.