The use of the word "rogues" here isn't in the conventional sense of moral disapproval or disgust, since we shouldn't make moral characterizations of our peers. Rather, I'm thinking of the sense of a Christian who departs from the scriptural path, who usurps the charge to shepherd the flock, and who begins to beat and strip the other sheep of their covering of grace.
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Originally Posted by OBW
Nee claimed that a deputy authority could not be charged for mere sins, but only for rebellion against God. This stands in total opposition to the clear Word that states that any person of authority should be openly condemned.
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This is what I mean - when that person who has come capacity or gift for function, but instead creates a lever for their personal benefit, like Watchman Nee's use of
Spiritual Authority. Paul taught, "Don't be drunk with wine", but supporters of Witness Lee say that drunkenness is okay for today's Noah or today's Paul, that the other body members must cover their exposed stupor. But there's nothing like this suggested in the NT - quite the opposite - to those whom much is given, much is required. But the rogue shepherd removes all that.
Jerry Falwell, Jr. Former President of Liberty University, a prominent leader of the Evangelical Christian wing of American Protestantism, and kingmaker in electoral politics. Head of a conservative university with strict moral codes, was found in various compromising situations (photographed in inebriated disarray at galas, involved in an affair with his wife and the pool boy). Now in a lawsuit with Liberty U over his severance pay.
https://nypost.com/2023/03/15/jerry-...irement-funds/
Ted Haggard. One-time President of the National Association of Evangelicals and public hard-liner on the issue of homosexuality, was himself discovered to be using methamphetamines with his gay dealer, and engaging in sex acts with the same. After losing his role in the megachurch, was "restored" and started another group, and was eventually charged with similar things in his new position.
https://religionnews.com/2022/07/26/...w-allegations/
Jim Bakker. Prominent Television-based evangelical, convicted of embezzlement of investments in a Christian theme park, for selling time shares for rooms that didn't exist. Ultimately, he was imprisoned for 5 years of an 8-year sentence, then paroled. Once out, he went right back into the business, sitting in front of a camera, asking for money.
https://www.npr.org/2020/03/11/81455...ronavirus-cure
https://abcnews.go.com/US/scandals-b...ry?id=60389342
The Jim Bakker story is illuminating -- no matter how badly the well had been poisoned, he still went back to it as soon as able. Even though his 'televangelist' career brought ignominy and federal prison, he went back in front of the cameras forthwith. Why? I can only surmise that the lure of easy money was too much to resist.
All this was presaged by the WN & WL cases. Even when WL got booted from the Far East for his church-funded schemes with son Timothy, we see 10 years later that they were back in action, fleecing Americans for Daystar Motorhomes. It was simply too tempting to resist the siren call; easy money was waiting. We know that one church ponied up $200k - how much in total changed hands was probably considerable, for early 1970s standards.
And then WN with his apparently corrupt business dealings with family (WN and his brother ran a pharmaceutical factory) causing some fair degree of turmoil, and then repeated allegations of sexual impropriety also imploding his leadership position. Once "restored" to "his ministry", he went back to his old ways.
Put another way: when faced with the aftermath of repeating the old scams that were initially successful, and then collapsed into flaming ruins, or going out and getting an honest job like everyone else, these con men went back to scamming. The money was too easy, too good. When I read of WN demanding that church members "hand over" their properties after resuming his leadership role, it casts that episode in a whole new light. He was back in the game.