06/26/2024
DAY 1: FACTS OF FALLS, PAST AND PRESENT
With all these recent revelations OF MINISTERIAL SIN, I’m going to endeavor to present some perspective to the humanness of ministers and pastors and the battle for the Gospel’s reputation.
1. No message on earth was ever delivered by any man of woman who was not a sinner. The SINGLE exception is Jesus!
Moses, Elijah, Elisha, John the Baptist—all sinners.
2. Ministerial sin must be divided into two or three categories; so must the consequences.
3. No minister should excuse their sins; rather they should repent, repair and reconcile.
CATEGORIES of SIN/ misconduct/ MORAL TERPITUDE
a) past, confessed sins
1) recognized, repented of, reconciled.
2) personal ongoing accountability.
b) past criminality must come with consequences.
1) civil/criminal accountability.
a. Sexual battery and theft are two of many, but non-exclusive examples. Emotional battery is another.
2) church discipline; to include sanction, separation and in some cases permanent revokation of credentials.
a. the primary intent of the Church must always be focused on restoration of personal relationships with Christ.
c) ongoing sexual, or other types of exploitation-type sins.
1) IMMEDIATE suspension of ministry privileges.
2) reparations and open confession for the sake of protecting victims, observers and the public’s understanding of true Christian values as worship.
TODAY’S TAKEAWAY:
Pastors, like us, sin. Chronology and criminality matters (again as it does for us). There are consequences for losing sight of God’s holy call on our lives.
DAY 2: THE OBSERVER’s RIGHTS/RESPONSIBILITIES
DAY 3: CAUSATIVES
DAY 4: THE AUTHOR OF SIN HATES YOU TOO
