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Those We Trust It was long ago and in a community far away. There was a very popular tabernacle in a small town. It packed people in every Sunday, on specific prayer evenings and for evangelism. The preacher was full of fire and brimstone and was beloved by his congregation. He decided to take a trip to Europe as part vacation and
part spiritual enlightenment. He
took along both is secretaries who happened to be young a beautiful.
His wife was left at home to take care of family matters.
Somehow the two secretaries began quarreling over who got the most
attention. The one who felt she
lost out in the preacher’s affections returned home and tell the congregation
about their minister’s philandering. The minister returned home to face an angry board of
deacons. They ordered him out of
“our church.” The wayward evangelist was very nice about it, but
suggested they look at whose name was on the deed to the church.
“If you are very nice about it,” he said, “I will let you stay in
my church and hear me preach. The deed to this property is in my name.” Years ago I had a small weekly newspaper in Camden, SC,
and a young man applied for a job as an ad salesman. He had worked with the Community Chest—forerunner of the
United Way—in Michigan. With an
unlimited expense account, he had a fat salary and his only orders was to go
into a community when the campaign started, shake hands with the local fund
raisers, stay out of the way and—bring the money home.
His conscience bothered him and he quit. It is still fresh in memory the story of the United Fund
president living the life of royalty and luxury until he was forced to resign.
And the Red Cross was exposed for diverting funds intended for the Twin
Towers victims. It is a shame that there are people who use religious,
service and such otherwise charitable institutions for personal gain.
But they do. There is something about the sanctity of such organizations
that puts them beyond normal scrutiny and beyond suspicion. People put their trust in those who run these
institutions. But it seems anytime
there is money floating around someone wants to take it.
There seems to be little accountability too often in their operations.
As the funds come in from donations or different sources, it becomes easy
for those in charge to take a slice of it.
When a theft becomes too often and unbearable, the culprit is usually
allowed just to disappear rather than cause embarrassment to everyone. When you see a group’s leader or treasurer suddenly
swap the old Chevy in for a new Cadillac, something is wrong. And it’s not just money some people want.
They go on an ego trip, seek power.
Little people who might otherwise spend their lives in a nondescript job,
lost among the shakers and movers, rise to the top of mediocrity through a
service or even a veterans organization. They
stand at the podium with all eyes on them.
They rub elbows with the community leaders.
They walk around with a clipboard in their hands and look important. There good, honest and hardworking people who put their
time, money and energy into religious, charitable and service organizations.
And we do need such institutions. They
put some order in out society. Funds
donated won’t go just to the first hand held out.
Community events will be held in an orderly fashion. We can’t really blame those who take advantage of
trust placed in their hands. We
have to blame ourselves. We are the
ones who put them there and gave them the power to do as they please. Instead of condemning the organizations, we just need to pay
more attention to those we hand the checkbook to.
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