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Christianity Today, February, 2007 |

Tidings

Bottom-Up Discipline

What do you do when your pastor--or your entire denomination--strays?

Ted Olsen | posted 1/16/2007 08:58AM

The term church discipline most often brings to mind a dramatic Matthew 18 moment, when a church member's unrepentant sin is brought before the full congregation. But when a pastor falls, there is no ...

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Anonymous

Posted: January 27, 2007 1:05 PM

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.

Scott Watson

Posted: January 16, 2007 1:08 PM

Evangelical churches are often in a Catch-22 situation when the social climate is so hostile to holsexuality that no one would dare venture to share their struggles, esp. pastor. We've "strayed" as Christians when we "demonize" certain sins and sinners that we fail to reckon with the fact that we are all sinners and struggle with all manner of things. If we don't put the mirror of judgment on ourselves, to hunble ourselves, as the NT says, then we cannot exercise true Christian disciplining,which acknowledges that we are all fallen and subject to sin. This has to start in the pulpits. If we don't do this, God may have to do this by exposing our hypocrisy, to humble us. Christian disciplining requires true shepherds not self righteous wolves in sheep's clothing.

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