Sniffing Out Guilt

This one's about something that I find is not uncommon in ministry: there are people who seek to sniff out guilt in a minister. If they find it, then they run with it. Here is, I think, an example. Someone said to me recently: "Someone told me they saw Reverend entering a bottle store [liquor store]!" -- and they gazed into my face. My answer was: "It's quite possible." The "sniffer" looked surprised -- then said: "Of course, Reverend! You may have needed some communion wine! You may have needed a little sherry for a trifle! You may have been buying a cool-drink!" OBSERVATION: Generally speaking, one would be able to find many imperfections in ministers -- or supposed imperfections. One way to deal with sniffers, I think, is to have a healthy sense that God graciously uses flawed people, and not to be hung up on perfection. One does one's best of course, as should every Christian -- nor does this preclude "admission of guilt" sometimes. On occasion, I have given sniffers "short" treatment.