Putting One's Trust in Man

Note to the readers:

I understand that many of you who read this will know exactly who I am referring to. I ask that anyone who reads this and comments would refrain from using the church's name or the pastor's name. The purpose of this blog is not to slander, but to make a point that goes far beyond the situation I'm writing about. Please understand this.



"It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man." Psalm 118:8


A couple years back, a particular church in my area began causing some issues. While their teachings were mostly okay, the practices were nothing short of cult-like. Close friends of mine were sucked into it and soon after completely cut off contact once I refused to join them. I watched a family get torn apart when the same thing happened to their daughter. I watched people instantaneously stop talking to their best friends, and then immediately backstab them, many times going as far as to call them unsaved. All of this was at the hands of one man, who at the time was the head pastor. The members of this church revered him. I actually worked with several of these members, and all I heard them talk about was how amazing this particular pastor was. The entire church website was dedicated to him. He painted himself as someone with no real weakness or struggle, and spent his whole time calling out other people. Anyone who said anything against him was met with anger and hostility from all the church members, no matter how sensible the person was being. This had gone on until a few months ago.

Three months ago, the pastor was no longer being featured on the church website. A few months later, which was recently, a news report came on TV that told about the pastor being arrested on 15 counts of child molestation. He is currently in jail with no bond.


"For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body." James 3:2


If we elevate ourselves a hundred feet above everyone else, we eventually have to either climb down or fall. Nobody is perfect. This blog post puts me just as much out on the line as it does this pastor. The moment we start pretending that we're perfect is the moment we make ourselves God. There is nobody who is incapable of any evil. Just as Psalm had to tell us earlier, man is not worth trusting. People let you down. The moment you put your faith in a person is the moment you fail. Too many times I have relied on people apart from God. There is nothing but disappointment and heartache to come out of it. Let this recent story serve as an example. Never put your trust in man. Put your trust in God.

Colin