I begin first with an analogy from the physical realm. There’s a business idea out there that some businesses out there are “too big to fail.” There’s even an investopedia definition of this economic term:
“Too big to fail” is the idea that specific businesses, such as the biggest banks, are so vital to the U.S. economy that it would be disastrous if they went bankrupt. The government would provide bailouts to protect creditors against losses and enable managers to retain their high wages and bonuses.
Of course the idea of “too big to fail” is a dangerous mentality for those in the leadership of these big businesses, because there is less incentive for them to do the right thing and more incentive to take irrational risks because there’s always a safety net of the American tax payer. In the end we pay for these business mistakes instead of the businesses and the business leaders.
This leads to a corollary that there are some people who are “too big to jail.” For instance, recently Green Party’s candidate Jill Stein have pointed out how Hillary was ‘too big to jail’ in email case. This isn’t just with Hillary Clinton, its been true with other federal government bureaucrats too.
I believe many Christians believe there’s something wrong with the mentality of “too big to fail” and “too big to jail” in the examples mentioned. But when it comes to the spiritual realm of Christians, some have adopted the very mentality that they reject in other sphere.
In the Christian world, the mentality is that there are Christians who are doing God’s work or some Christian ministry that are “too big to nail.” That is, there’s the assumption that some people are so needed and used by God, they are above criticism. Above being pointed out for their sins. Christians might not use the term “too big to nail,” but they use the term “Touch not the Lord’s anointed.” The person in question is doing the Lord’s work. But then there’s serious issues and sins. Why do we assume they are still the Lord’s annointed as oppose to the person Jesus described in Matthew 7:21-23?
21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. 22 Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many [n]miracles?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’
As seen from the words of Jesus, Jesus weighs the practice of lawlessness as serious enough more than the miraculous ministry that the person could point out.
But maybe you’re among those Christians who agree that there’s something problematic of saying “Touch not the Lord’s annointed.” But then you still have a pet preacher or Christian discernment talking head or blogger…and when problems are pointed out of that leader, you say, “Yeah, but…” You start thinking “We need that guy to point out error.” Or “We need that guy, or where else will I get the truth?” Again the mentality of “too big to nail” come up again.
No Christian is too big to be above correction and the discipline of the Lord. No Christian celebrity. No theologian. No Christian leader. No preacher. No pastor. No teacher. No elder. No deacon. No evangelist. Sometimes the way sins are exposed, it seems that the verse is true, God’s judgment begins in His Household. We can never look the other way or not lovingly confront someone just because we think that they are too important to the Lord’s work. We must be biblically faithful and not just pragmatic.
Readers, we have seen the danger of the mentality of “too big to fail,” “too big to jail,” and “too big to nail.” Yet we must also remember that there’s no sin that’s too big to be nailed to the cross. We are all sinners. I’m a sinner, this post is not a holier than thou. We all need God’s grace. We all need to seek God’s forgiveness of our sins through God’s grace alone, through faith alone in Christ alone. If we trust in Christ’s work on the cross for our sins, He counts no longer our sins against us. Those sins are not counted against us as an impediment against our walk and relationship with God. But that does not mean there your form of ministry remains the same if your sins are serious enough for removal of certain kinds of ministry. Our walk with the Lord is more important than what we do for Him. Sometimes our work for Him can become a greater idol than God Himself.
Those who think they are too big to nail, please see the examples of Scriptures. The temple was big, but not too big to be destroyed. David was the man, but not a man that God wouldn’t discipline. Peter was the leader of leading apostles, but was not immune from God sending Paul to confront and plead. Please be renewed by the Scriptures, please hear the criticisms and prayerfully consider if it is true. Please confess and repent and discover anew God’s grace.
The Domain for Truth 
Very well said, Slimjim. “The Lord’s anointed” was completed in Jesus Christ. In one sense, no one has been the Lord’s anointed since he came; in another sense, all believers are equally the Lord’s anointed through his work. Either way, we are all sinners who need a Savior (and who have such a Savior). We are encouraged to exhort and rebuke one another for the good of Christ’s body. Anyone who claims to be above such treatment is already rebelling against the Lord. “By their fruits you shall know them.” J.
J,
That’s a very good point you made about the Lord’s “Annointed” being fulfilled in Christ. All other temporally prior “annointed” such as King David are types that point to the antitype and final fulfillment, Jesus Christ. Very good point J, didn’t even think of that until your comment!
In the last several decades, a great number of Christians have been disqualified only to return to the pulpit not long thereafter; Mark Driscoll, for example – is now a pastor in Phoenix, returning from the ashes of Mars Hill in Seattle. Haggee’s “Blood Moon Prophecy” should have been enough to have him retire from the pulpit – but he made millions off of the books and DVDs which was enough to prove that he could still do the Lord’s work. C.J. Mahaney had protestors speaking up for the victims of the abuse that was covered up at his church under his watch – and yet he was embraced by conference leaders who made a light joke out of it just a few months ago. The bigger they are, it seems, the more anxious the church is to forgive them and show them off like a reformed ex-con turned into champion soul-saver.
I like your comment. You named names. I was furiously writing this post thinking of the train of thoughts who are “too big to nail” and the thoughts of their enablers, but you gave concrete examples. You summarized it when you said: “The bigger they are, it seems, the more anxious the church is to forgive them and show them off like a reformed ex-con turned into champion soul-saver.” Just curious, I haven’t heard about the Mahaney’s situation with conference leaders making a joke of it, do you have any links for me to understand more of what happened?
I do. First, there’s the whole story – https://www.washingtonian.com/2016/02/14/the-sex-abuse-scandal-that-devastated-a-suburban-megachurch-sovereign-grace-ministries/ how Sovereign Grace Ministries failed to handle abuse cases that were brought up to them by dealing with them in house and not alerting the authorities. At some point, C.J. Mahaney decided not to take accountability for what happened in his church. He found allies among the leaders of other churches who protected him while the blame fell upon others in his church.
At T4G2016, Albert Mohler introduced C.J. Mahaney by saying: “I told C.J. that in getting ready to introduce him I decided I would Google to see if there was anything on the Internet about him.” quite a few men in the room laughed about that while SNAP – the same organization that helped uncover abuse by priests in Catholic churches – protested outside that C.J. Mahaney was being given the platform at such a big conference. You can hear the introduction here: https://soundcloud.com/watchkeep/albert-mohler-and-cj-mahaney?utm_source=soundcloud&utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=twitter
Now when you read up about Paul, he doesn’t hide what he did as Saul, but I don’t think even he would forget for a moment about Stephen and his guilt over that and how it pushed him to keep on working hard to share about Jesus because of that. But it doesn’t seem to me like C.J. Mahaney has had a Saul-turned-into-Paul type moment, where his guilt over his actions pushes him to advocate for victims of the abuse that happened on his watch.
Reblogged this on Talmidimblogging.
Thanks for the reblog Vince!
my pleasure Brother 💪☺
Great stuff brother Jim. The lack of accountability among the power elite in mega churches is one of the most damaging things to the Kingdom work there is.
@ Jamie Carter…yep indeed. Well said.
“The lack of accountability among the power elite in mega churches is one of the most damaging things to the Kingdom work there is.” Amen Wally. I think the danger of the lack of accountability is often driven by pride. Oh how dangerous it is for all of us as well, to know the enemy is within us! As Mr. Carter documented, even famous pastors who are typically conservative is not immune to the danger.
My goodness, we are all vulnerable, aren’t we? Accountability is so much easier when the lives in a church are all rolled up with each other. I mean, how an my preacher really do much bad, when he literally lives down the road? Just my opinion, is that is one reason the small community churches may be stronger on some ways, because much accountability is simply built in to our very way of life. Every body know your business, so to speak
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I listen to “THRU THE BIBLE” with Dr. J. Vernon McGee occasionally. There’s one man who put everyone in their place, including himself, continually.
So true. McGee realizes he’s a vessel, and he’s not full of himself. Very refreshing to hear him teach, long after he’s passed away. Have you gone a few times through the Bible with his studies?
My mom used to listen to him daily when I was a kid and I probably heard most of the Bible then a time or two.
I just recently began listening to him again. I didn’t recall his repeated correction of anyone who got “too big for his britches.” It seems to be a theme throughout his teaching. He’s as hard on himself as anyone else.
It has been refreshing reconnecting with him and his southern twang. I also enjoy his type of sense of humor.
J.V. McGee left a great legacy.
Thanks for asking, Pastor Jim. I hope all is well with you and your family. 🙂
Thanks, Jim. I’ve been using McGee’s Thru the Bible Commentary for quite some time and I agree it’s a great supplement to more “academic” commentaries. Right, McGee wasn’t afraid to point the finger at wayward theology but was also humble and self-effacing.
I loved his weekdays Bible study and when I heard his Sundays I was blown away! McGee stood for truth but was not combatitive and knew who he was in God’s sight. I appreciated his ministry and I’m thankful to the Lord for finding him as a young Christian when I was a kid and my parents didn’t allow me to go to church. Do you still regularly listen to him Tom?
No, Jim, I only catch his TTB rebroadcast once in a great while but I appreciate his TTB commentaries so much. I started out buying the individual paperback commentaries @ $8.99 apiece but then discovered I could buy used copies of the five compilations at about $10 apiece. What a blessing they’ve been in my Bible studies.