Mike Guglielmucci

Hi there,

It is painful to see how many people have been affected by the recent news concerning Michael Guglielmucci.
As I have been looking at people’s responses on the net I found a helpful response to this on Ps Mark Conner’s blog and I have included it in the hope that it will be a blessing to those searching for answers at this time.

Be blessed and keep your eyes on Jesus – the same yesterday, today and forever

Andrew

Mike Guglielmucci News – a Response

The news that Mike Guglielmucci (see previous post below) has recently confessed to faking his terminal sickness is a shock to everyone. Like myself, most people who talk to me are in disbelief and bewilderment. Lots of questions are flying around … “How did this happen? What are we supposed to think and feel about this? Where do we go from here?”

There are a variety of responses to any situation such as this, all of them appropriate:

1. ANGER. It is totally normal to feel very angry about this. People have been lied to, betrayed, deceived, and they feel ripped off. Leadership is a gift from God, as is influence, and when anyone uses that platform for personal gain it is an abuse. When you have prayed for someone, supported someone, and even given financially to help them in their time of need, it’s natural to feel very upset when you find out that they have been a fraud. Yes, we are to look to God rather than leaders but church leaders are representatives of God and when they fail to do so in an honorable way, even God himself is angry. Lying is a serious sin (read Acts 5 if you don’t believe me).

2. COMPASSION. You can’t help but feel some pity for Mike and his situation. You feel sympathy for what must be going on in his inner world and the unmet needs that have driven him to this life of deception. He has shattered his personal reputation, endangered his future, and embarrassed not only himself, but his family and friends. The guilt and shame must be incredible.

3. FEAR OF GOD. Moments such as this remind us all that personal integrity is one of the most important qualities to develop. Integrity means that there is an integration between what people see on the outside (when everyone is looking) and who you really are on the inside (when no one is looking). When we fail to live in integrity, God usually gives us some space or time to repent (see Revelation 2:20-22). If we abuse God’s grace during this time, there will be an inevitable exposure of our duplicity (see Proverbs 28:13). What we build with our charisma (the gifts and talents God has given us) we can destroy in an instant through lack of character. The sobering thing is that we are all vulnerable to deception and have the potential for great evil inside of us. How desperately we need to live in the fear of the Lord, which is the awareness that he is always with us, and which is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 9:10). We reap what we sow – not immediately but eventually.

4. DISAPPOINTMENT. We live in a generation that longs for heroes and that needs models – people who walk the talk and who live lives worth following. Mike was a role model – a voice to this generation, an incredible talent. What potential and what a platform of influence he had. His fall is a loss for everyone. Yes, we all have feet of clay but, even so, it’s very disappointing.

5. PRAYER. I hope your heart cries out like mine does. We need to turn afresh to God and pray … for ourselves (that we will walk in the light, living in authenticity and truth), for Mike (that he will experience genuine repentance, deep heart change, and restoration), for his family (for healing grace and consolation), for church leaders world wide (they we will avoid the pursuit of superstar status, an intoxicating state, that we will walk in truth, and that we will build the appropriate accountability processes around us that we all need), and the watching world (that they will see God in our humble repentance and broken hearts).

Maybe you identify with one or more of these responses. As I said, all of them are appropriate. I pray that you will be able to process your thoughts and feelings with some safe friends. It’s not time for gossip but it is a good time to debrief this situation so that we all can learn from it.

How will this incident affect the Christian church? Only time will tell. Thankfully, we have the testimony of the church in the first century who battled through challenges such as false doctrine, fraudulent leaders, and intense persecution. With God’s grace and wisdom, we can do the same.