Even though God created mankind to enjoy an eternal, intimate relationship with Him, He also saw fit that during man's time on earth, he should not be alone. Because none of the created order was sufficient to meet man's need for companionship, God took out of Adam's side that "bone of man's bone" and "flesh of man's flesh" to create the one called woman. The intimate relationship between the two was meant to last until they were parted by death.

When a man and a woman are joined together in holy matrimony, the two become one in spirit, soul and body. An intertwining of the two parties takes place in the sacredness of the wedding vows. All of Adam's hopes and fears, love and lust, faith and phobias, strengths and dysfunctions are, in a moment in time, fused to the same in his Eve.

Observe how quickly the fallen heroes of our time attained success. Most of us do not want to wait for our time to come; we want success and approval now. And that is exactly what Saul got.

Sadly, another hero has fallen. Paul Cain, who was mightily used in the healing revival of the 1950s, and who was given one of the most astonishing prophetic gifts of our time--who is also my friend and became a member of Westminster Chapel under my ministry there--is a fallen man.

It worked like a charm. Tetzel raised tons of cash with his famous ditty, "As soon as the coin in the coffer rings, the soul from purgatory springs." But he also raised the ire of a few uncompromising men whose righteous voices ignited a firestorm we now know as the Protestant Reformation. Today, some nationally known charismatic leaders are peddling their spiritual covering in exchange for tithes and offerings, and I'm hoping I'll hear another righteous outcry—and it needs to come soon.

Many pastors probably do not realize how the behavior of some of their colleagues has stereotyped the clergy. Frankly, some ministers set a bad example in their community. And without realizing it, they are keeping people out of the church--and maybe out of the kingdom of God.

Within the last year it has been brought to my attention that many pastors have a different worldview, or mind-set, than the average born-again believer. I have visited with other Christians who recommend not extending credit to the "three Ps": painters, paper-hangers or pastors. Some businessmen will tell you how pastors come in and expect--or even demand--a ministerial discount.

Why do people have this stereotype of church leaders--and is it deserved? Do nonbelievers reject the pastor's message because of his or her lifestyle?

1. “‘If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector’” (Matt. 18:15-17, NIV).