The Cause of Christ Doesn't Need Your Protection

Is the cause of Christ so fragile that a man’s shortcomings can destroy this cause? When Jesus saw the moneychangers financially abusing Jews in the temple, did He tell the disciples to leave the financial abusers alone because it could damage the temple’s testimony if they did anything about it? Absolutely not. Jesus turned over tables and drove the abusers out with a whip. He said, “Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise.” (John 2:16b) Jesus had no tolerance for financial abusers. How much tolerance did he have for those who abuse children? Jesus said, “But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.” (Matthew 18:6) No man can destroy the cause of Christ, but a man can surely destroy the innocence of a child. Man can shatter the faith of a child by protecting the abuser at the expense of the survivor. If we were completely honest, protecting abusers has nothing to do with protecting the sacred cause of Christ. Protecting the abuser and silencing the victim has everything to do with protecting the artificially sacred image of the pastor and ensuring that the stream of tithes and offerings flow uninhibited. We should concern ourselves less with upturned tables and uplifted rugs. We should remember that God doesn’t need our protection, and he doesn’t ask us to sweep abuse under a rug. God commands us to protect His little ones. (Matthew 18:10)