When Categories Aren't Clear
It is only by risking our persons from one hour to another that we live at all. And often enough our faith beforehand in an uncertified result is the only thing that makes the result come true.
William James1
As you probably have suspected, there isn't always a clear-cut distinction between theological, institutional, interpersonal, and personal decisions. Many risks combine elements from several categories. One pastor remembered a particularly difficult example.
"We had a highly gifted young man in our church. He was well-loved, a graduate student, our youth group sponsor. He seemed to everyone a devoted, responsible person. He and his wife were especially close to another couple in the church with several children. John became close to one of them, an elementary school boy — so close that during a period of severe academic and marital stress, John became involved in some sexual games with this youngster.
"I'd had a particularly exhausting week. The church had been through several tragedies in the past month. People were torn up, and I preached that morning as best I could from depleted reserves. Then I had a funeral service after evening service — I didn't get home until a quarter to eleven. Thinking I had finally coped with all the problems, I tried to relax.
"At 11:15 the phone rang. It was a church leader calling to tell me his son had been molested by their good friend and our youth leader, John. They had filed a complaint with the police but wanted me to know. That way if I wanted to help prepare John and his wife (she knew nothing about it yet) I could.
"I knew I had to act immediately. If a policeman knocked at the door, John's wife would be devastated. I called John and told him I had to see him and his wife immediately ...
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