I just saw this story, and I am blown away. Apparently a minister has been lying to his church and community about his military career. He claimed that he was a navy SEAL, and a recipient of some high honors on top of that. What is worse is that he, (and according to the article) and many other ministers, make up lies about military careers to somehow "shepherd" their flock. What is stranger is that this man's lie turned out to be the plot of a Steven Seagal movie!!! Bad taste in movies, or did he use this story because he knew no one has really seen it.
I am just flabbergasted that this is a frequent thing that people lie about, especially ministers!
Things I would be tempted to lie about to make a better point in a sermon or lesson:
how well I did in school/educational level
high school athletic career
level of popularity growing up
Or...at least an exaggerated story.
It's pretty risky business lying about being a Navy SEAL and walking around town with a phony medal.
Very interesting. I have to believe some of the allure of this sin is the emphasis the American church has put on leadership, and specifically the way in which we define church leadership. Many times, it feels like our idea of leadership, and "leading the flock", is in direct opposition to humility.
ReplyDeleteIf I was going to lie to up my street cred, I would tell people that Samuel L. Jackson was my uncle and that we hang out sometimes. I would go to a church where the preacher told people that just in hopes of meeting Samuel L. Jackson there some day.
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