6 Comments

  1. Ray Blunt
    August 18, 2018 @ 2:09 pm

    Oswald Chambers taught me years ago, “A strength unguarded is a double weakness.” Our Enemy knows the principle that when you cut off the head, the body dies. The leader will always be on the point of the attack, and that is why I pray for all who lead us, that their strengths may not blind them to a flank attack. Success, power, acclaim, privilege–over time these must have swelled his pride and eroded his defenses. This does not mean God did not use him powerfully in your life and many others, but like King David, he was not too big to fail, publicly. May God redeem and restore this church and this man and all who looked the other way. It’s another opportunity for me to look into my darkened heart and let God search me.

    Reply

    • David Hanke
      August 18, 2018 @ 6:30 pm

      Thank you Ray. I appreciate the ways you pray for us. You have wisdom and experience and you are generous with your intercession. Thank you.

      Reply

  2. Amy
    August 18, 2018 @ 4:13 pm

    Thanks for writing this. Really helpful and thoughtful.

    Reply

    • David Hanke
      August 18, 2018 @ 6:33 pm

      Thanks Amy. I am very grateful for a community like Restoration that wants to hear and engage with the reasons behind the decisions we make.

      One person wrote me privately and said, ‘I’m grateful for your leadership, to see the need to not only erase the content but repent, and shepherd your people in how to appropriate our affections toward Christlikeness instead of just changing the website bio quietly.’

      I am trying to learn how to not do things quietly. I think there is strength in conversation and discussion and light being shown. This post was a lament. I am grateful to do it in the fellowship of our church.

      Reply

  3. Cathy G.
    August 18, 2018 @ 8:50 pm

    The victims are who I mourn for the most. And I’m grateful for Laurie Goodstein, Manya Brashear Pashman (one of my instructors in J-school), Bob Smietana and all the other journalists who brought this evil to light. “The world does what the church won’t,” indeed.

    Reply

    • Cathy G.
      August 18, 2018 @ 8:56 pm

      Sorry – that should be Brachear! And thank you for changing your bio.

      Reply

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