I know of a situation I'm not involved in. Hear me! I'm NOT involved and I'm not getting involved. I have loved ones on both sides of the situation. It hits at a tender place in my heart and memory. It saddens me in many ways that I'm afraid those closer to the situation may be calloused to.
People are not perfect. Whether those people are pastors or congregants, old or young, long-tenured or newly arrived. But God is.
None of us is capable of seeing into the hearts of anyone else. We can never definitively know the motives or intentions, sorrow or regret, or remorse or repentance of anyone outside of ourselves. But God is.
None of us have been appointed "Defender of God's Holiness". We have all tarnished God's Holiness more than we've polished it. Even if we could defend God's "God-ness", He doesn't need us to defend Him. It's not our job nor place. We're incapable of doing it. But God is.
None of us has been appointed Judge over matters and motives of the heart. Because we cannot see into the hearts of people, it is not our place to determine their guilt, predict their eternal standing with God, or to serve as jury and executioner of whatever penance we determine proper. But God is.
None of us is anything forever. We change. We start out immature. Hopefully, we mature. Sometimes we don't or perhaps we regress in an area we think we have conquered. But God is.
None of us is anywhere forever. We're born and we die. We come and go. We move and are moved. We befriend and estrange. But God is.
There are many people saying things they either don't fully understand what they say or are ignorantly and arrogantly attempting to wield powers that they are not entitled to use. The "noise" needs to end. The few remaining Godly men from both parties (and they DO exist on both sides) need to gather around a table, bathe the meeting in prayer, and seek to put and end to the non-constructive, unhelpful, and in many examples plainly stupid things people are saying on both sides.
I sincerely pray that ALL will act in humility and muster a willingness to, if not reconcile, at least be amicable and mutually supportive of each other's work for the Kingdom of Christ. My heart hurts for this family that was once was loving and supportive of one another as they worked for God's glory. My limited vantage point can see some things on both sides that can only bring a tear to God's eye.
Later.