The Yellow-Bellied Snake Called Anonymous

Dr. Randy WhiteAs a Pastor, I’ve received plenty of anonymous letters. Some are mailed, others are dropped in the offering plate, others come from “a friend ask me to share his/her concern.” Over the years I’ve learned to do the same thing with anonymous messages, however they come and whatever they say: ignore them.An anonymous message is never to be trusted. It comes from someone with an agenda, and that agenda is one that the “John Doe” prefers to keep secret. Any agenda with a grain of morality doesn’t need an ounce of secrecy. It may not be comfortable to share it, but it is sharable. On the other hand, the yellow-bellied snake-in-the-grass who doesn’t like what the Pastor / leader / boss / teacher / person-of-authority did/ said / wore / intended / thought, has an agenda that needs to be kept hidden. Their agenda is to get their own way.So, my advice for anyone who receives an anonymous message: ignore it. In fact, don’t even bother reading it. I’ve learned to recognize anonymous letters (It’s not hard: they have no return address). Honestly, I open the letter to make sure there is no cash (just a wild dream!), and if I don’t find cash, I put the letter in the shredder, unread. If it was important, they will send it again. If it was a gripe, whine, or threat, I’m better off not being burdened with the info. I have literally stopped conversations in their tracks when people say, “I have something to tell you, but I can’t tell you who told me.” I simply don’t want to hear it.My advice to anyone with a message that needs to be shared: put your name to it. Face your fears, man-up, and sign the letter. Make it yours. If you believe it, stand on it. Shout it from a mountaintop, if needed.I have an unwritten policy in my church: anyone can say anything, but no one can do it anonymously. We have business meetings to take care of our church-business, and any member can have their moment at the mic. I think this is the best way to do business. When members can speak, but must do so publicly, they filter their selfish agendas and only the good stuff gets out. This is what a leader is forced to do everyday—filter selfish agendas and only go with agendas that are moral, healthy for the organization, and are fit to print. If someone in the church is for something or against something, I believe that we should all know it.Why am I writing this? It’s not because I’ve recently received an anonymous message. I actually haven’t received one in several years. I write it because I know my young pastor friends get them all the time, as does anyone in public leadership. Maybe this can help all of us do what we do publicly. It’s the only ethical way to complain, and the only real way to accomplish your agenda.Have comments? Put them below. One of the reasons I use the comment system that I use is that it doesn’t allow anonymot