courage my good friend

A young pastor friend of mine just called.....to be honest , when I saw his name come up in the caller ID... I didn't want to take the call. I hate to talk on the phone in general but calls from good friends are welcome, and then there are some whose calls are a special treat. We are fellow warriors, this friend and I, and we enjoy the camaraderie that comes from shared sorrows and celebrations. I cringed just a little, however, because I knew that this call would be difficult and would leave me angry ....again. He is currently sheparding a tough church , some have called it a "Pastor Killer". Each time he calls lately,there is a new story of another painful attack , stinging, personal, profoundly unfair. I have felt that pain and know that in these times it is impossible to dream, hard work to smile,difficult to remember why we ever felt compelled to accept this life-calling.
Not all the "sheep" there are mean .... many are genuinely salt-of-the-earth kind of people.
Interesting that this church would never tolerate in its leadership, one who was unfaithful to marriage vows, party to shady financial dealings, or lacking in accountability…..
Why is it then that they openly permit the grievous sin of divisiveness to flourish in this church, treating the worst offenders as victims, deserving a place at the table to air imagined grievences.
There are just a few such individuals , but their shameless gossip , manipulation, and complete lack of respect for the pastoral office, will color and contaminate the enviroment of worship gatherings , and ministry efforts.
When are we going to have the courage to call this grevious sin by the proper name? How long are we going to ignore the clear principles of Matthew 18 …… and fail to insist that this powerful teaching of our Lord be our "normal" .... the way business is done in the Church. There is a terrible toll being paid in our churches, spiritual carnage caused by our disobediance. Until we repent ....we will also suffer the unneccessary loss of many gifted and able warriors, shot in the back by the most dangerous enemies of the church.