Thoughts on Pastor Gary Lamb
(And addendum to this post has been added since the original. For more click HERE.)
I am so bummed tonight to have heard the news about Pastor Gary Lamb of Revolution Church in Georgia. I do not know Gary personally, only through Facebook, Twitter and his blog. I would never be one to put more burdens on a man already so broken, but I cannot get some thoughts off my mind tonight and my blog is one way I express myself. Since he addressed this in a very public way through his own blog (Read the account HERE), I thought I would share some of the things racing through my head. They may be good for all of us to consider.
- I started reading Brennan Manning’s “The Furious Longing of God” today before I heard this news. On the first page of Manning’s writing he quotes Song of Solomon 7:10, “I am my beloved’s and his desire is for me”. The book is called “A love story for the brokenhearted”. I think Gary needs this book. I do too!
- Gary, his family and his church, along with the other woman and her family, need our prayers at this time. Satan is smiling on this one, but Satan is a liar and a loser. God can and will have the final word. Let us pray He has His way in this situation for all parties concerned.
- Whenever a pastor falls, those outside the church have another excuse to push away from truth. Some of this comes from the way the church treats its own. Now is not the time for judgment, now is the time for grace to abound.
- People are going to begin dismissing everything Gary has said or will say because of this failure. Please don’t be one of those. His failure does not diminish any truth he spoke prior to today. If anything it makes the truth he spoke even more real. The fact is that Gary is not a perfect man. We knew that before we knew the news of the day. If God used him to make a difference in your life or others, be thankful God uses broken people, like you and me.
- The failure of Gary did not begin with an affair with his assistant. Somewhere, sometime, Gary let his guard down. We must all work harder to make sure the proper boundaries are in our life. I have too many pastor friends who see nothing wrong with meeting with female staff members alone. You must NEVER, EVER, EVER do this. NEVER! Please pastors and other leaders, build accountability and boundaries into your life now, before it is too late. IT CAN HAPPEN TO YOU!
- Many pastors I know need marriage counseling, but they are too proud or too afraid of what their church would think to get it. I hope this news encourages some to take that bold step.
I make this offer to pastors, I am a pastor and a former degreed Christian counselor, if I can help you talk through issues like this, if you are on a limb and need a confidential, non-judgmental friend, feel free to email me at ron.edmondson@gmail.com
18 responses to "Thoughts on Pastor Gary Lamb"
T.J. Well put. There’s an apparent lack of respect. Yes, I fear that many have not been truly regenerated.
Gary “Wolf” might be a more appropriate name.
This is the reason the church in America is dying. Oh our churches are growing HUGE….but truth is dying, the WORD is dying in the hearts of men…we hear it but we don’t LIVE IT….the majority of Christians are EXACTLY like the world. WHY plant churches? WHY? to make DISCIPLES? Well most of us are not walking the narrow road, giving up all to follow Jesus..it’s like a big social party club….where baptisms become BBQ’s and marriages end in divorce like more than half of all American’s. Does anyone ever fear that most people in these “churches” are not even saved? Do not walk in a personal relationship with the Lord? Where is holiness and faithfulness?
Just like many had alluded to, Gary Lamb is such a victim in all of this… I’m really going to be praying for him in this tough, dark time of his life.
Yep people seem to feel pastor’s are not human..news flash ..they are people. Being that they have weaknesses just as we all do..Sadly some give into it..the real problem is people fail too see all the good works these pastor’s give up to that point and all the..Lost souls they have brought to christ..of course after he recieves the same forgiveness that we have been granted the people finish satans work by condemning him till he never will be able to continue the work God has given to him..
Thanks, Ron. I just sent all my subscribers over to your post. The last message in my recent email series on A Husband’s Love was written as a preventative to just such an episode (before I actually heard about this one). It’s available at: http://www.advancedministry.com/sites/index.cfm?i=6911&mid=4
I recently interviewed a man who fell in a very public way. We all know who he is:
I hope the church has learned something from the way Ted Haggard was treated after his fall and avoids those same mistakes with Gary Lamb.
@donnypauling’s last blog post..Breakthrough With Rod Parsley
This whole story breaks my heart. As the wife of a church plant pastor, I sometimes think that a big bullseye is painted on him. Satan looks for these opportunities to attack spiritual warriors. My heart goes out to his family and I know that many people will be lifting them up in prayer during this emotionally difficult time.
Our church had to go thru something like this with our worship leader and we are still in the process of restoration for him and his wife. Christians, raise your voice in prayer for all those who lead in your churches. They need them.
I attend Revolution and I appreciate what you said about not dismissing what Gary say’s or said due to this situation. I’ve been attending Revolution for over 2 years and I have learned more about living my life as a Christian man than anyone has ever taught me before in church. Gary’s teaching of the word have completely empowered me to speak openly about my beliefs without hesitation. Because of what he taught me I was able to share my faith with several people who now attend Revolution and have been saved and baptized. Those people now have share the message and have their own stories of friends coming to Revolution and also finding Christ. One of the neat things is that most of these people also have become volunteers and make Revolution happy every Sunday (Since we are portable it is a big job) Gary’s recent actions don’t change or diminish in any way what I (and hundreds/thousdands of others) have learned about living our lives as a believer. Thanks for your post!
I share similar thoughts on this subject! Check them out at http://trousey.wordpress.com/
T. Rousey’s last blog post..A Blog Post For Gary Lamb…
Great words of wisdom in this post. I might add that Pastor Lamb fell well before this incident. The fall, as he indicated in his letter, was when he made the church about him which happened long ago. Pride will kill leadership and Mr. Lamb had a lot of that for some time. It is sad that those over him did not see this sooner, that is why accountability is so important. David a man after God’s own heart fell so we all should be aware. The great thing is in the mist of consequences is mercy and grace which covers our sin and thankfully protects us from what we deserve. Mr. Lamb seemed to be very repentant and God does great things with a repentant heart.
Midge, there are some couple’s counseling programs like this on smaller scales that I have heard of before. Someone on our staff just went to one recently. I love the idea and think something could be done to make them more accessible and affordable to all pastors. The once I have heard of are fairly expensive.
Maybe there should be some sort of ministry that has seminars for pastor couples that offers counseling to whole groups, kind of like a big Catalyst just for ministry couples. That way everyone would be in it together, get yearly “counseling”, accountability and it wouldn’t single out anyone. It would though, give all the couples a time to deal with issues of the year and start again anew…
Preston, certainly the more public the person the more public the fall.
Oh gosh, that’s so sad! I’ll be praying for all the families affected by this and for the church. We had this happen to our church when I was in high school and it was just devastating for all parties involved. Our pastor’s daughter was my best friend, and seeing the fallout from that angle was just heartbreaking.
Renee Garcia’s last blog post..Monday Moment for Down Syndrome – Down Syndrome in the News
Fianlly someone saying something about the other family and asking for prayer for them. There are 2 families rocked by this and it’s refreshing to see someone acknowledge that and not just Gary’s family.
Excellent thoughts Ron. I went through a similar situation less than a year ago, and what God did through the local church my wife and I serve in along with counseling was amazing. Thankful for those who choose to show grace.
Some good thoughts mate.
Mark E’s last blog post..Gary Lamb, well known Church Planter blows it
Ron.
Great words for all of us. Like you I don’t know Gary on a persoanl basis but my heart is heavy for him tonight.