When in Doubt, Do Right
A church in northeast Missouri invited me to preach at their Sunday evening service. It was not an unusual request; I was their Director of Missions and had preached there often. What made this request unique was the fact that following my message they were to have a business meeting. The primary subject of that meeting was to fire the pastor.
I seized the opportunity and preached a message about forgiveness. The pastor had done nothing morally wrong, but he had made a serious misjudgment and refused to admit it. He used the pulpit to scold and ridicule those who criticized him.
The parishioner critics had tabulated the votes and knew they could succeed. Despite my “powerful” sermon on forgiveness, they voted to fire their pastor. Following the heated meeting, a member came to me and said, “I believe in forgiveness, and I could forgive him---the pastor---for anything but this. So, I voted to dismiss him.” I noted he used the phrase “dismiss him” rather than “fire him.” I suppose that made him feel better.
“You admit your forgiveness is selective,” I responded. ““Let me ask you this. Do you think you did what is right?” He walked away without answering me.
Sometimes there are no specific “commandments” to guide us. That was the case when Jesus asked John to baptize Him. John was confused; he didn’t understand. “You should baptize me, not I baptize you.”
Jesus responded, “Let it be so, John. It is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” In other words, this is right. (Matthew 3:16)
In response to his puzzlement, John did two things. First, he talked with Jesus about it. Second, he did what Jesus said. That is, he did what was right. When in doubt, we will do well to follow John’s example.
