Ok. Here's the deal folks. This is two prong.
The first is that there has been discomfort and harm alleged by multiple women. Their lives were altered. Careers, relationships, Church.... faith itself... all of that altered for those involved.
The second is our (everyone's) response towards the individual who is responsible for that alleged harm. And this is where I want to get serious.
Hybels is a brilliant communicator. He was an incredible creator. He led a revolt in modern Christian expression that has saved many by revealing Jesus to them. He is one of the great innovators of our time.
And he is a human being. Hybels is broken. Hybels is sinful. He makes mistakes every day in his words and actions and expression. So do you. So do I. Does this surprise us?
See, I like to say it this way, Jesus' message is simple... but the bar Jesus set is the highest ever set in the history of humanity. ONLY JESUS met that standard. Only Jesus did it. Only Jesus is worth our esteem for behavior.
Every single other one of us - the admirable, and the dirty - we all miss it. We all fall short of Jesus' standard. We all commit sin daily, hourly, moment by moment. That's why there is a Gospel.
If any of us could do it on our own, ANYONE, then there would be no need for a Hope. If we could do it, then we simply wouldn't need Jesus.
And over and over we attempt to view others as though they met the standard, they exceed the bar, and we act shocked when they are exposed.
Newsflash: we are all exposed. Lead with it. Get on your knees. Show your scars. Confess.
Bill messed up. Maybe in the ways described, maybe not. But I guarantee he did mess up... a lot... and so do I.
The first is that there has been discomfort and harm alleged by multiple women. Their lives were altered. Careers, relationships, Church.... faith itself... all of that altered for those involved.
The second is our (everyone's) response towards the individual who is responsible for that alleged harm. And this is where I want to get serious.
Hybels is a brilliant communicator. He was an incredible creator. He led a revolt in modern Christian expression that has saved many by revealing Jesus to them. He is one of the great innovators of our time.
And he is a human being. Hybels is broken. Hybels is sinful. He makes mistakes every day in his words and actions and expression. So do you. So do I. Does this surprise us?
See, I like to say it this way, Jesus' message is simple... but the bar Jesus set is the highest ever set in the history of humanity. ONLY JESUS met that standard. Only Jesus did it. Only Jesus is worth our esteem for behavior.
Every single other one of us - the admirable, and the dirty - we all miss it. We all fall short of Jesus' standard. We all commit sin daily, hourly, moment by moment. That's why there is a Gospel.
If any of us could do it on our own, ANYONE, then there would be no need for a Hope. If we could do it, then we simply wouldn't need Jesus.
And over and over we attempt to view others as though they met the standard, they exceed the bar, and we act shocked when they are exposed.
Newsflash: we are all exposed. Lead with it. Get on your knees. Show your scars. Confess.
Bill messed up. Maybe in the ways described, maybe not. But I guarantee he did mess up... a lot... and so do I.