Pastor Steven Furtick

This is a true story.  I’ve altered a few details to avoid maligning anyone.

Recently a man I greatly respect was telling me how much he didn’t like a certain local pastor.  We’ll call the local pastor Pastor Dale.  He felt that Pastor Dale was super-arrogant.  Conceited and haughty.
“You can just tell he’s hiding something.  I don’t trust him.  There’s something fishy going on there.  He’s sleeping with someone, stealing money…wait and see.”
I happen to know Pastor Dale pretty well.  I respect him a lot, and have never seen him demonstrate anything but the utmost integrity.  Granted, he is very bold and audacious, and I see how people could construe that as pride.  I see it as faith and passion.
I tried to defend Pastor Dale, but it was no use.  The man had made up his mind.
Pastor Dale was up to no good, headed for a moral failure-and that was that.

Next, he began to compare Pastor Dale to another local minister in the same town.  This other guy (we’ll call him Dr. Ross) was a veritable Bible scholar.  He had memorized massive portions of the New Testament…in Greek.
This man marveled at Dr. Ross’ knowledge and trusted His Scriptural insights immensely.
“The main thing that I like about Ross is, he’s a humble guy.  Has real integrity.  Loves his wife.  Humble, humble, man.  A good man.  Not like Pastor Dale…”

A few months later, Dr. Ross left his wife.  He took half their money and left the country to be with his mistress.  He had been sleeping with someone else secretly for a long, long time.  The last I heard, the situation wasn’t resolved, and the family was torn to shreds.

Meanwhile, Pastor Dale is still preaching God’s Word, still married, and hasn’t-to my knowledge-stolen from or wronged anyone.

We make a big mistake when we judge people by outward appearances. The guy who seems humble and trustworthy might be a time bomb masked by meekness.
The guy who seems like he’s strutting may be just that secure in his identity in Christ because He spends hours on his knees each week.
You never know.
It’s best to keep your mouth shut.
Let God be the judge.