Dear Cornerstone family,
Happy September! The Shurden family is visiting Rosalyn, our oldest daughter, at Mississippi State University in Starkville, MS, this weekend. Rosalyn’s 19th birthday was yesterday (September 3rd), so we’re celebrating her and enjoying a couple of days together as a family. As lovely as it is to worship with the saints at Grace Presbyterian Church in Starkville today, my heart longs to be with you. I can’t wait to be back with you next week and throughout the fall!
On a sadder note, I was grieved to hear the news this week of another high-profile pastor taking a leave of absence for an inappropriate online relationship with a woman not his wife. After hearing the report on Monday, I decided to take a few minutes on Tuesday morning at our weekly staff meeting to discuss it. I spoke first on a personal level about how I’ve benefited from this pastor’s ministry over the years. Then, I took a moment to note that if this man had been a businessman in the public sector he probably wouldn’t have been asked to take a leave of absence for an inappropriate online relationship, but because he’s a minister/elder, he’s held to a higher standard (James 3:1).
Paul says to Timothy that elders are to be “above reproach,” which literally means blameless (see Titus 1:7-8). Lest you get the wrong idea, to be blameless doesn’t mean sinless. It means, rather, that a minister’s life and conduct should be exemplary. That is, God’s people should consistently find their minister someone worthy of emulating. As they watch the manner of his life, they conclude, “He’s not perfect, but we see him striving to honor Christ in all things, and we find him, time and again, to be a faithful shepherd and guide.”
Saying that reminds me of a story. John Thornton was a godly English businessman in the nineteenth century who was known for his generous charitable contributions to noble causes. On the occasion of Charles Simeon’s ordination to gospel ministry, he wrote to the young minister these words, “Watch continually over your own spirit, and do all in love; we must grow downwards in humility to soar heavenward. I should recommend your having a watchful eye over yourself, for generally speaking, as is the minister so are the people.”
In light of all this, would you be willing to pray regularly for the wisdom and protection of your pastors and officers? Spiritual attack is a real thing. We are weak and vulnerable men. Nothing would pain us more than to bring shame on the name of Christ or hurt you, his precious people, because we failed to walk above reproach. For the sake of Christ’s glory and the good of the church, we ask that you pray for us––that we might fulfill Paul’s charge to Timothy, “Keep a close watch on your life and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers” (1 Timothy 4:16).
Your servant,
