We live in days when sarcasm becomes reality. I have often commented that there are two classes of Christians in our day: the enlightened ones, and the totally depraved Christian peasantry.  We must depend on the enlightened ones to lead us safely through the minefield of sanctification to insure our entry into heaven. Getting us safely home despite our wicked, silly selves is very messy business, so we shouldn’t expect the enlightened ones to be perfect. Collateral damage should be expected and accepted.  After all, we need the enlightened ones, and the stolen innocence of our children is a small price to pay for the souls of the many.

There is a Jewish proverb that says a person who saves one life saves the world. The proverb tells the truth: if one life is expendable, so is the world. Jesus told the disciples that a true shepherd values the one lamb as much as the whole flock. Where are such shepherds in our day?

Dr. Michael Loftis was recently fired as president of ABWE. Though ABWE didn’t say specifically why he was fired, everybody assumed it was because of the scandal surrounding the Bangladesh missionary children. For years, ABWE covered up the fact that one of their missionaries molested missionary children in Bangladesh, and the missionary was also a GARB (General Association of Regular Baptists) icon. Those in the know about the situation have assured me that Michael Loftis’ role in the cover-up was “huge.”

Obviously, this doesn’t say anything about Loftis’ character to anybody running the show at Cedarville University. Character? Children? Pedophilia? Protecting other children? Justice? Stolen childhoods? What’s your point? He is one of the enlightened ones.

This will be “Missionary Kids Week” at PPT. My wife Susan, a 1973 Cedarville Alumnus, and contributing author here at PPT, will be the first to write a series of articles concerning this new development. PPT is a 20 minute drive from Cedarville University, so other responses are being considered as well. We invite others to post articles in contribution to this week of protest here at PPT.

paul