By 
It happened again. A prominent Christian with power and influence recently claimed God wanted him to raise money to purchase a $4 million jet. Another prominent Christian allegedly swindled $1.1 million out of some from his congregation who trusted him.
Question—what do we do with that? It is no wonder late night talk shows, media, and the watching world continue to put these stories in monologues and headlines which serve to further mock the cross that we Christians hold onto as precious. It’s easy to point a finger and say, “There he goes again, another pastor punk stealing money. Another pastor, in the name of God, wanting a fourth jet to spread the Gospel and his influence.”
I get cynical quickly when I read another story like this; but then I remember, it’s always easier to point a finger than hold a mirror. Is my sin any different? Is your sin any different? We tend to measure sin in degrees. Jesus measured our sin, not in degrees but in inevitability, and said yes to death because of it.
Sin equals separation, missing the mark, a stain both ugly and dark. No one is righteous:
9 What then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin,
10 as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one;
11 no one understands; no one seeks for God.
12 All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.”
13 “Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive.” “The venom of asps is under their lips.”
14 “Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness.”
15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood;
16 in their paths are ruin and misery,
17 and the way of peace they have not known.”
18 “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”
19 Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God.
20 For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.
—Romans 3:9-20 (ESV)
I hate seeing another Christian mockery as much as the next person. It hurts, and should hurt those who have conviction. However, before pointing a finger, hold up a mirror. When you do, fall on your knees thanking God for new mercy today. Be brutally honest in your asking Him to reveal that which isn’t holy. Be grateful we have the righteousness of God through faith:
21 But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it—
22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction:
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,
25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.
26 It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
27 Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith.
28 For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.
—Romans 3:21-28 (ESV)
Yet, along with the righteousness of God we also have degrees of influence that we are accountable to God to use for His glory. Influence tends to expand in proportion to our personal holiness. Where holiness started with Jesus, it continues with us. Embrace it. Grow. Mature, and watch your influence grow. In Christ we are free today and always. Now go influence someone out of that truth.
Randy Prosperi
Randy Prosperi was born in Houston and has lived in Tyler with his wife of 16 years and 2 daughters since 2001. He holds a Masters in Christian Education from Dallas Theological Seminary and a Bachelors of Business Administration from Stephen F. Austin. Randy joined the mission of Womenary as a Professor in 2017. 
