Some years ago when I was still pastoring, I received a phone call from the principal of a local religious school who wanted me to straighten out one of my members.
The man was head of an independent Christian school, ultra-conservative as you may deduce from what follows.
One of my church members was teaching in their school and her husband often volunteered. The principal said, “Some of us are concerned that he is not the head of their home. The Lord told me to call this to your attention so you can deal with it.”
I said, “Well, I promise to pray about it. If the Lord tells me to, I’ll do it. But not until then. After all, this comes close to interfering in something not my business. My approach would be to pray for them, preach the word and God’s plan from the pulpit, and trust the Holy Spirit to take it from there.”
He said, “That sounds right to me. You pray about it–and I’ll be glad to sit down with you and them if you want me there.”
I said, “Don’t do anything unless I call you.”
You want to know the rest of the story? This account is taken from my daily journal 16 years ago. No names were recorded (rather wisely, may I say!) and other than the written account, I have no memory of any of it.
As I came across the story in that journal, I find myself amazed at the presumption of this principal and his co-workers.
Imagine me accosting someone because “I was told” that he is not giving sufficient leadership to his wife and children.
Now, as a pastor who writes for other pastors and church leaders, this little incident gives me the opportunity to say a few things.
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