It is hard to believe how important information has become. Companies all over the world are spending millions of dollars trying to make sure that company information is safe and secure. One particular company offers a one-million dollar guarantee that customer’s important data is safe and thieves are unable to obtain anything that would put the customer in danger. We are in a constant concern that our identity is not corrupted by any source or in any way

There are special locations where there exists a high level of expectation of secure informational transactions to take place. For example, when we go to our doctor’s office for a check-up on our health, we would be shocked if we were to learn that information about our health was being passed on to people that had no reason to need that information. There exists between the doctor and the patient a promise that private information will remain private.

This can also be seen in the relationship between a lawyer and client. We have witnessed many lawyers claiming a special client-lawyer relationship during some question and answer section. It drives many people crazy when some lawyer, who may know the truth about a crime, is unable to inform anyone about that truth that may solve the crime.

While it may be easy to understand why doctors and lawyers have a need for privacy, we forget there are many areas where this same type of concern exists. In the church, we deal with the many aspects of people’s lives. We share in both the good times with the excitement of birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, advancements and all those events where we celebrate God’s many gifts.

We also share in those times of trouble. We share in those times where many seek God’s comfort and promise of healing power. The loss of loved ones, illness, injury, bad economic times or just the stress and strain of everyday living are brought before the throne of God. But like with other areas of life, not all things are equal.

As a pastor, we share in the lives our congregation. While it is important to be part of their lives, it is significant to remember that there exists a sense of expected privacy over many things that we learn. We walk a careful line between knowing about a joy or a concern in a member’s life and that of asking prayers from others in the church. We are required to rely on the needs of the members or the family to define the limits on information that we are allowed to transmit.

This of course means that the pastor, like a doctor or lawyer, is placed into a hard spot of looking like we either do not know about a certain event or are intentionally trying to hide something. Neither is the truth and it is out of respect for the member of the family that we are willing to honor the request for a limited amount of information to be released.

It will always be of extreme importance in the church that there is a person that any member of the church feels free to come and express their deepest joy or darkest concerns. A place they know that they can bring anything to and know that it will remain private until they are ready to bring it out into the open, a place they can go to receive the love and care that they need in a time of trouble or despair. Also, a place where they will be respected at whatever time of life they may be in.