Yes, Who Made You Ruler and Judge?

Conflict between the people of God and the spiritual leaders sent by God obviously isn’t a new, 21st-century issue. One can’t help but feel sorry for poor Moses, as flawed as he was, as he did his best to be an obedient leader to God’s disobedient children. The result? An ugly and personally directed backlash and rejection: “Who made you a ruler and a judge?” No, it is a part of our human (and sinful) nature to push back against authority, even within the church. And, one can’t help but feel sorry for so many of our poor pastors today, as flawed as they are, as they also do their best to be obedient leaders to God’s disobedient children. However, sadly, as more and more cases of spiritual, psychological, and physical clergy abuse are revealed, there are times when our Christian duty must be to resist, to bring the darkness to light so it can be recognized, stopped, and punished. And this is where we need to plead for God’s wisdom. Many years ago, I participated in a 2-year program of spiritual development provided by a Christian denomination different from my own. The vulnerable and honest interaction with God’s children from diverse religious backgrounds, as well as the study of Scripture together, was transformational to my relationship with God and other people. Naturally wanting to share this incredible opportunity with other members of my church, I placed a number of program brochures in our church’s display case. When these were immediately removed, I went to the pastor I suspected had removed them, knowing that his former religious affiliation (before he was “converted”) was the same as that of the program’s sponsor. In his position of male authority, “absolute connection to God’s truth”, and “superior wisdom”, he spent our time together demonizing the other denomination and “setting this poor, misguided, and obviously deceived” female theologically straight. In the process, my experience and spiritual discernment were invalidated and dismissed by this “man of God”. Fortunately, his insensitive and untruthful remarks did not change my convictions, however, I left his office angry and hurt. Even to this day, that experience and the emotional reactions remain vivid in my memory. Yes, there are times when we must ask the question: Who made you a ruler and a judge?”

— cmshingle