By treating them honorably. It should never surprise us when we discover a beloved pastor, a respected teacher, a living hero of our faith, has feet of clay. We, after all, like they, are descendants of clay footed people. Our elders have blind spots. Their youngers have blind spots. All God’s children have blind spots.
One blind spot common to elders is insisting that because they are elder they can’t be corrected by their youngers. A blind spot common to youngers is taking the occasion of the errors of their elders to really let them have it, to offer not just correction but a heaping helping of disdain. Such should not be. While it is likely always a good thing for a prophet to embrace a posture of weeping over a posture of thundering, how much more so when addressing a father in the faith?
We have, of late, witnessed through the magic of the internet, two profoundly influential evangelical leaders disappointing their legions of fans. One put his foot in his mouth to the delight of his younger, sharp-tongued acolytes. The other, also a decorated veteran of sundry theological battles is being accused of going soft, of adopting a strategy of appeasement to social justice warriors. My own counsel to myself has been to recognize my distance from these occasions, and to stay out of them both. While I know both of these gentlemen and have been blessed by them I recognize that both could be plenty guilty of what their critics are accusing them of. They may not be, but they could be. I’m not in a position to know.
What has astounded me, however, has been the almost gleeful “gotchas” from a veritable peanut gallery of young guns. I’ve watched, over the years, plenty of trolls build their platform on the back of the object of their fevered criticisms. But these youngsters are not bad guys. They are, by and large, sound guys. They’re just not mature guys, and it shows. They would do well to put down the mantle of Ham, and pick up the garment of Shem and Japheth.
Our spiritual fathers are not beyond being corrected. They need it, just like the rest of us. They should, however, be beyond being utterly shamed by those who call upon the name of the Jesus, the one who took on our shame. Our elders should be shown respect, even while being shown what may be the error of their ways. The pride of these spiritual children, however, may well put them beyond being called to correct. If they haven’t the humility to correct their fathers with tears, they probably ought not to be in the business of correcting anyone. If they cannot keep themselves from boldly thundering, they may find themselves caught in the whirlwind of their own pride. Gentleness is a fruit of the Spirit. Not one that will bring forth cheers and grow audiences. Which is how you know it comes from Him.