Is There A Safe Church?

Following the iHop scandal two years ago, there is yet another wave of exposés in the Christian world. It’s not easy to process,  especially for those ministered by that ministry. I did “follow” them, but I was less shocked or affected by what was exposed at Bethel Church and by Shawn Bolz than the first time around with Ravi Zacharias. Perhaps after the initial string of hidden sin coming to light since Ravi Zacharias, I have sensed that God was cleaning and will continue to clean His house. I even prepped myself for a controversy with another high-profile pastor I have been listening to. God indeed gives the grace of time to repent as He extends His mercy long enough until He decides it’s time for people to stop using His name in vain.

For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. See, I have told you ahead of time.

Matthew 24:24-25 (NKJV)

After the fall of many high-profile personalities (pastors, politicians, influencers, etc), I finally learned that platforms are not reserved only for the true shepherds. His sheep, including me, ought to learn not to confuse influence with anointing.

Before these were exposed, I read Matthew 24:25 and thought I wouldn’t be among the elect to be deceived. What pride I had. I had followed Shawn Bolz’s “fake” prophecies for a time. Was it because it catered to my itching ears? Even a non-Christian podcast about AI talked about how the world will increasingly have more content tailored to what itching ears want to hear.

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.

2 Timothy 4:3-4 (NKJV)

Then there are the others. I listened to Ravi Zacarias’ teachings, and they sounded theologically sound. I worshipped along with Misty Edwards’ anointed worship. I tuned in to Bill Johnson’s sermon and was encouraged in faith, though there was a time his teachings overlapped with another preacher I was listening to. I was wondering who was copying whom then.

Yet could it be a case that the vessel is not perfect? The teachings still speak to us not because of how good the vessel was, but how good the contents from heaven are.

Since no man is perfect, all chosen vessels have cracks, just a matter of size. The vessel is anyone — the pastor on the pulpit preaching on Sunday, the life group leader giving you advice, and even me writing here. However, if the chosen vessels ignore the fine cracks in them and allow them to widen, contaminants could easily enter and contaminate the living water they contain. I suppose if the water gets too contaminated and too many sheep are drinking from it, God would not hesitate to break, and with a loud crack, let the dirty water splash out for the world to see.

Our wisdom and discernment come from reading, studying and meditating on the Word ourselves.

As I was about to edit my draft for the next section, my laptop shut down unexpectedly and became unresponsive. It took a painful process with customer service to get it fixed, and turns out it’s a simple problem. The technical support removed the battery inside and brushed off the dust. It was a static problem that happens once in a while, but the timing is so uncanny – the first week I shifted into my new place and while working on this post. So after that, I lost the momentum for this post and shelved it in my archives. I didn’t think about working on it anymore until I came across this Bible Passage that reminded me of what I wrote below because of Bethel.

Immorality Defiles the Church

It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and such sexual immorality as is not even named among the Gentiles—that a man has his father’s wife!

And you are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he who has done this deed might be taken away from among you. For I indeed, as absent in body but present in spirit, have already judged (as though I were present) him who has so done this deed. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, along with my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

Your glorying is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

1 Corinthians 5:1-8 (NKJV)

So, such an immorality and cover-up is not something new. Even in an extroverted country like the US, these kinds of things are covered up, what’s more Singapore or Asia, where females are expected to submit even more and brush off sensitivities.

I think sometimes people brushed things off unknowingly and didn’t mean to cover up. That’s because church leadership is mainly male. Males are generally less sensitive or aware of the kinds of things exposed to females, as I learned from my husband’s perspective regarding our daughters. On the other hand, I tend to “over-protect” my daughters because I know what can happen in seemingly harmless situations.

Both genders are needed to balance the care for the sheep in the church. But because male leaders dominate churches, I personally think there should be more female shepherds in authority or mother figures in churches to protect and stand up for the female sheep. Or simply to be a safe place for victims, regardless of whether they are male or female.

Reading Bethel’s Safe Church page prompted me to start a page for anyone who wants to share their stories or experiences and gently warn others about what can happen behind the scenes in churches or Christian organisations. Not to shame anyone or “wash dirty linen in public,” but to help others take wise precautions, to recognise patterns of harm, and to know they are not alone, especially when things are swept under the carpet and justice is buried in obscurity.

Any names of individuals or churches would be withheld, as I currently do not have the capacity to conduct investigative journalism to verify the details. This would simply be a collection of stories that raise awareness and offer solidarity.

If you are someone who has experienced any form of abuse within churches or Christian organisations in Singapore or Asia, and you feel ready to share your story, I welcome you to reach out or email me at shema.rhema77@gmail.com.

Or if you are a Christian counsellor or trained professional who would like to offer support to survivors, please connect or email me at shema.rhema77@gmail.com.

May we be filled with wisdom in the world of deception and chaos.

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