Essay - Christian Leaders Chapter II Introduction Christian Leaders are Those Who...

Christian Leaders

Chapter II

Introduction

Christian leaders are those who are notable for their influence on the religious thought and/or religious activity of people ***** consider themselves, or are widely *****ed by others, to be part of the tradition of Christianity (Christian *****)."

***** leaders are extremely imp*****tant ***** the Church and society (Campbell, 1996). For many years there has been a great deal of contreversy surrounding various religious leaders. This contreversy stems from ***** sc*****als amonget church *****. Such scandal has led to a great deal of discourse concerning Christian Leadership and the roles that respect love and trust play in ensuring ***** Christian leaders have the right motive and can be en*****ed with leading God's people and being the moral compass for society.

***** a Secular Perspective

From a secular perspective many believe that Christian Leadership is in need ***** an awaken*****g. This feeling is derivative of the ***** scandals related ***** Christian leaders. These scandals include everything form ***** misappropriation of funds to sex abuse cases.

***** addition, over the past few years many christian leaders have made comments ***** do not denote respect, trust or love. One leader that ***** made some insensitive statements is Pat Robertson. Over the past year he has made ***** which ***** included calling for the assasination of a ***** of a foreign country. Most recently Robertson stated that the illness facing Ariel Sharon was the Prime Minister's punisment for giving land ***** Palestinians. Because ***** his statements Israel has withdrawn its offer to him for land to build a Christian Center. According to CBS news Ido Hartuv, spokesman for ********** tourism minister stated that Israel "will not do business with him, only ***** other evangelicals who don't back these comments," Hartuv said. "We will do business with other evangelical leaders, friends of Israel, but not with him (Israel Gives ***** Cold Shoulder)."

Within the ***** community christian Leaders ***** often viewed as money hungry individuals that have deceived many under ***** guise of faith. Many in the secular ***** assert ***** most of the well known ***** ***** follow few of ***** teachings of Jesus Christ and make a mochery ***** the things that Jesus truly stood for. In addition, *****re seems to be a lack of accountability amongst many Christian leaders which ********** some leary of ***** *****hip.

The ***** of accountability ***** to be steering the secular view that ***** christian leaders are wolves in sheeps clothing. ***** instance, many in ***** secular comminuty have atttacked some ***** the practices of faith healer Benny Hinn. There have ********** several media reports concenring the manner in ehich donations are spent and whether or not ***** ***** truly healed at ***** services. An expose fe*****ured on NBC's Dateline news show *****ed that the tele-evangelists receives ***** benefits from the donations that are supposed to go to *****lly fund christian outreaches. The ***** *****d that Hinn had a multimillion dollar home, expensives cars ***** that several family members received salaries *****