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Confession time! I don’t spend much time keeping up with social media or pop culture news. In fact, I strive towards a discipline of minimizing my contact with social media to avoid getting “sucked in” by clickbait and ragebait articles that would otherwise rob me of hours of productivity. That’s not a condemnation of anyone who likes being on social media; that’s me being transparent about a choice I made long ago and why I made it.

Last Sunday, I spoke with you all about Removing the Stone. Together, we explored what God’s Word says about grief, dark feelings, emotional pain, how Satan twists our feelings to lead us into sin and keep us trapped there, and about how to face our internal emotional struggles in a Biblical and emotionally healthy way. In all the preparation leading up to delivering that sermon, I remained ignorant of the details of the scandal surrounding Michael Tait. I had heard that something horrible had come to light, but had not yet followed up on it. 

Let me make this perfectly clear: I grieve for him, his victims, and every life impacted by his decision to hide in a tomb of sin. I grieve for the horrific pall this casts on ministry everywhere. I grieve that the enemy of our souls deceived him for decades to live in a whitewashed tomb of festering sin and corruption. I grieve for all those who turned a blind eye to it and loved themselves too much to speak the truth and possibly prevent further destruction.

Do not let another day pass hiding from your darkness. God is God over all things, and every single human being faces the same struggle against sin every single day. Don’t let Satan trick you into thinking you are less, and then trick you into hiding from it. Everyone needs someone to pray with. Everyone needs help facing their darkness. If you feel trapped or lost today, call someone. Tell someone. Never stop fighting. Never stop praying. Never buy the lie that you are alone.

1-844-472-9687  Christians In Crisis Hotline
1-757-925-2484  W.T. Community Services Board Emergency Line
1-757-365-1515  HWWC Life Care Appointments