What do you do when your pastor--or your entire denomination--strays?
Ted Olsen | posted 1/16/2007 08:58AM
2 of 2
ADVERTISEMENT
There may be no Matthew 18 chapter for disciplining pastors neatly, but becoming more familiar with the thousands of verses on pride and humility would make the need for such discipline less frequent.
A version of this column originally ran in the December 2006 print edition of Christianity Today. The column "Tidings" was formerly called "Weblog in Print." Earlier columns by Ted Olsen include:
Subscribe to Christianity Today and get 3 free trial issues. No credit card required.
Please allow 4-6 weeks for delivery. Offer valid in U.S. only.
If you decide you want to keep Christianity Today coming, honor your invoice for just $19.95 and receive nine more issues, a full year in all. If not, simply write "cancel" across the invoice and return it. The three trial issues are yours to keep, regardless.
I hope those who view homosexuality as a serious sin have never eaten shrimp, crablegs, lobster, oysters or clams, for if you have, you are an abomination. Finless, scaleless sea creatures are abominations according to Leviticus 11:10-11, and you are forbidden to eat them. Do you know any couple who divorced and then remarried one another? An abomination, Deuteronomy 24:4. Do fundamentalists believe such a couple is doomed to hell? Have you ever lied? EVER? Don't try to get out of this one! If you have ever lied, your lying lips are an abomination. Proverbs 12:22. Anyone who is proud in heart is an abomination. Proverbs 16:5. That which is highly esteemed among men is an abomination. Luke 16:15. Your career? Your achievements? Your status in the community? By Biblical standards we're all living abominations. In Christ there is no east or west, no male or female - just dearly beloved children.
Jeremy
Posted: January 19, 2007 9:52 PM
Any evangelical pastor who confesses the slightest indiscretion or even struggle to church leadership would be in extreme danger of instantly losing his job, in most evangelical churches. Is it any wonder that confessions and vulnerability are hard to come by, in such a harsh and brutal environment? Like Scott commented above, this doesn't entail endorsing sexual sin...it just requires one to live in reality, where all of us are sick and in need of healing. Even pastors, none of whom are perfect.
G.Raasch
Posted: January 17, 2007 7:09 AM
I Cor. 6-9-10 makes it abundantly clear that homosexuality is a serious sin that can not be practiced if we want to see God's Kingdom.Be not deceived into thinking that fornicators, idolators, thieves, drunkards etc.who practice such things will not evade God-s displeasure and loss of salvation.Romans 1:24-27 as well.Skids and falling at times is excluded.Provided we repent and mean it, all is well.
RSS Feeds
Audio
Twitter
share this page
E-mail
Print
Post
Subscribe to Christianity Today magazine today!
