A single letter changed the life of a couple, and changed the course of a man's walk with God. This is a true story that happened to a friend, but it still happens to churches today.
The Pastor's Letter
At twenty eight he had a ministry,
They said for him it was a prophecy.
Fired up, schooled, oh so brilliant,
Preached with an eloquence so defiant.
After a year with the same congregation,
He met the lady that caught his attention.
Confused he was at the sudden attraction
But her eyes, they held his heart's condition.
The devil knew just where to strike him,
For he cunningly knows each man's whim.
Love filled the pastor's heart to the brim,
No one will ever know, or so it seems.
The lady, she was a delicate being,
At forty, her appeal like a magnet did bring
Unaware and naive at the hidden suffering
She was causing her young pastor, that poor thing.
One day it happened unexpectedly.
He was training her on some ministry,
Their eyes met, locked in gazed intimacy,
Silenced in love, his hand held her hand affectionately.
The moment was brief, but truly revealing.
Realizing the gravity of their falling,
Both turned away, for fear of the sinning
With tortured hearts that were then deceiving.
Because she was married she stayed away,
But he longed to see her every Sunday.
So a letter she wrote of feelings disarrayed
And told him she loved him but she loved God's ways.
The church, they formed a misconception,
Made up stories out of proportion.
They blamed the lady for the fatal attraction,
Demanded she be on disciplinary action.
Angered, rebuked, the pastor had been.
Unable to deal and face his own sin.
He wrote her husband to save his own skin
And gave vent to revenge that had lurked within.
Although there was no real adultery,
The unknowing husband heard another story.
For the pastor wrote with much animosity
It was a wonder he stayed in the ministry.
Eventual divorce came to the couple,
The censured lady ostracized by the people.
To save the young pastor's ministry call,
He married a girl he did not love at all.
The truth in his heart he tried to hide,
But his wife had felt what really was inside,
A masquerade of marriage, she always cried,
And the pastor knew to his wife he lied.
They constantly fell into bickering,
And stumbled the church, marred the worshiping,
The young pastor stepped down from ministering,
Lost in the web of his own evil-doing.
The lady, she stood by her principles,
Lay her case before God in heaven's walls,
She forgave her accusers for her imagined fall,
And now vindicated, she stands tall.
"Surely You desire truth in the inner parts, You teach me wisdom in the inmost places." Psalm 51:6
What a sad, sad story. It is true that satan knows how to lead us astray. Those in the ministry, I think, are especially vulnerable. We need to remember to pray for them, and they need to remember to avoid even the appearance of evil. Wise pastors will not meet alone with a woman.
Connie
Reviewed by ~ H (Reader)
Reviewed on July 14, 2009
Malicious gossip ruins people's lives and far too many don't care to know the truth and shouldn't be judging anyway. Where is love? Where is there hope for those who have been married more than once, and not by choice. No one knows what goes on behind closed doors and no one should be pointing a finger. Blessings, Holly
Reviewed by randy smith (Reader)
Reviewed on March 3, 2009
What a tangled web we weave when once we pratice to decieve. a very thought provoking poem. randy
Oh my, isn't it true that the devil is too often in the details and, in my experience, there is nothing worse than when the devil slithers into the congregation and gets ahold of the hearts of those willing to propogate malicious gossip. Thank God for forgiveness and the healing that it brings.
A superb story poem Cynthia that anyone, who has spent time in the Christian Church, can relate to.
Blessings ...
This is a tough lesson in life; however...beautifully told...and shows us that once again...many walk in sheeps clothing, while the persecuted stand by GOD and trust... well done. hugs, lindalaw
A lesson to be learn, if one made a contract with God should man stick to it, because a lie can destroy first the own self respect and down the hill the soul will be shredded by sharp stones of self accusation.
We, at one time or another had heard of such a letter.
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Connie
Oh my, isn't it true that the devil is too often in the details and, in my experience, there is nothing worse than when the devil slithers into the congregation and gets ahold of the hearts of those willing to propogate malicious gossip. Thank God for forgiveness and the healing that it brings.
A superb story poem Cynthia that anyone, who has spent time in the Christian Church, can relate to.
Blessings ...
Blessings,
Julie
But also a sad ending of true romance
Love & peace be with you
William
Zahra V
Makes one think through your powerful words - a well defined penning.
Excellent!!
Blessings,
Lance
Regis
We, at one time or another had heard of such a letter.
Georg