Compassion vs. Judgment
Posted by Todd Rhoades in Current Events on May 25th, 2011 | 8 commentsWhen I first heard that Randy White, the former pastor of Without Walls International Church, was nabbed over the weekend on a DUI charge, I admit my first thought was judgment.
But when I saw the online mugshot, my heart turned more to a heart of compassion.
No doubt, Randy has over the years preached a false prosperity gospel message.
And much of the inner workings at what used to be a huge church, were, well… at least a little suspect.
And when you drink and drive (which, in my opinion is one of the most self-indulgent activities one can do), you pay the consequences.
But when I saw the mugshot… I saw a man that is desperately in need of help.
Many times, we’re too busy pointing fingers at people to help them.
I still think Randy has been wrong in so many ways. Â But my compassionate side says this is a brother that needs help. Â I hope there is someone in his life or community that can provide that for him.
Randy… I prayed for you today. Â Honestly, I’m not sure what else to do.
Todd
8 Responses to “ “Compassion vs. Judgment”
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Good reaction! I must admit that hasn’t been my reaction to many people in the church lately, although I’m on record as being pretty compassionate with the outsiders (like Charlie Sheen) who are self-destructive.
Thanks for the re-direct. I wonder if I could pray like that for Harold Camping?
Agree. In the past few years he’s lost his wife to divorce, his senior pastor position at church, his daughter to cancer, his children’s mother to cancer, been in investigations, scandals, been slandered, and betrayed by friends. And it’s true, a lot of things he’s probably brought on by his own actions and lifestyle, but maybe God will use all of this to bring his heart back to the heart of God and he will see ministry again as the opportunity to reach out to hurting and lost people again instead of just a money making machine, which obviously it had become. Right about now, he might be longing for the days when he was in a storefront building with a few people praising God and reaching the inner city.
Don’t push it, Peter!
Todd
His actions may be sin, but Jesus loved him enought to die for him. Knowing that just changes the way you look at people.
I worked as a Corrections Officer for 20 years…. most of it on the weekend graveyard shift…. booked more than my share of ~ well, lets call them, “People that should know better”. My observation is, “If, but by the grace of God, there goes I”
But…
Todd, there is nothing you said here that I disagree with. I do however think that sometimes there are some people that need a great big slap alongside the head.
Paul wrote of people that it seemed he had moved into the category of warning others about and for lack of a better way to say it… Judgement.
Sometimes I think we need to warn and then say enough.
Brother Todd I agree with your outlook 100% I have heard Bro. Randy preach, he was a great preacher when I heard him many yrs ago. I have also seen the photo of him in his recent delima, I to have had my boughts with the DUI thing, before I was saved over 25 yrs ago I got more than one and I know just how low that makes one feel and how trapped a person can feel as well. I for one am with you, Bro. Randy needs love and understanding right now not a judgemental attitude, I for one will pray for him, Thank God Jesus loved Peter, and John, Matthew along with all the rest of humanity who have at times dropped the ball so to speak. Bro. Vance Hanver once said God can never really use a man until he really breaks that man, Bro. Vance Hanver also had a sermon called the Dark night of the soul, I pray Bro. Randy whites night does not last long. May we love each other back to spiritual health in the Church instead of having the spiritual CSI teams positioned to call the last rites. I pray for his recovery in Jesus name.
I meant to say A W Tozer instead of Vance Havner as the qouted preacher in my article, Sorry.