Moral Dilemma #1

[Nahum]

Would someone please decipher this for me?


"Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin."
James 4:17



I need some advice concerning a specific scenario.



I know someone who is knowingly, willfully in sin.
This person has a lot of ministerial authority.
I know that their actions will affect many people negatively.
I know that I have the ability to stop them, but it will cost me big time.


If I ignore their sin, and do absolutely nothing, am I partaking in their sin?

[tv1a]

Are you in a position of authority to do something about it?

Originally Posted by Pastor Poster

Would someone please decipher this for me?


"Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin."
James 4:17



I need some advice concerning a specific scenario.



I know someone who is knowingly in sin.
This person has a lot of ministerial authority.
I know that their actions will affect many people negatively.
I know that I have the ability to stop them, but it will cost me big time.


If I ignore their sin, and do absolutely nothing, am I partaking in their sin?

This means that if you are walking through a parking lot and see some discarded trash, and you see a trash can a few feet away, you are sinning if you do not pick up the trash and place it in the can.

But seriously, from all the advice I have seen here you are just supposed to let them do whatever evil stuff they want because "it is not our place to correct (or expose) a man of "God".

[Nahum]

Originally Posted by tv1a

Are you in a position of authority to do something about it?

Is that a requirement?

Must I possess more authority than them in order to confront?

[revrandy]

Here's what Jesus said..

Matthew 18:14-16 (King James Version)
King James Version (KJV)
14Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.

15Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.

16But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.

17And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.

18Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

[MissBrattified]

Originally Posted by Pastor Poster

Would someone please decipher this for me?


"Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin."
James 4:17



I need some advice concerning a specific scenario.



I know someone who is knowingly in sin.
This person has a lot of ministerial authority.
I know that their actions will affect many people negatively.
I know that I have the ability to stop them, but it will cost me big time.


If I ignore their sin, and do absolutely nothing, am I partaking in their sin?

Without knowing the specifics, I would say to follow the Biblical prescription:

* Approach the person directly and privately.
* If that doesn't work, speak to them again with a witness.
* If that doesn't work, take it public.

If it is something criminal, you have a legal obligation, but I still think approaching them directly first is a good idea.

[MissBrattified]

Originally Posted by revrandy

Here's what Jesus said..

Matthew 18:14-16 (King James Version)
King James Version (KJV)
14Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.

15Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.

16But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.

9:48 p.m. LOL.

[tv1a]

No, but be prepared to finish what you started. It may be best to direct whatever info you have to the hands of someone independent of the situation.

It's not an easy choice.

Originally Posted by Pastor Poster

Is that a requirement?

Must I possess more authority than them in order to confront?

[pelathais]

I acted in such a situation, but I failed to "make waves" and immediately report the grievance up the organizational "food chain." I bought into the "silence is golden" code and only later spilled the beans, and then only to the DB.

It cost me everything.

I did finally get my family back, but my oldest son doesn't respect me as he once did. Most of my friends around the area, ministers and otherwise, still think of me as having "fallen" and in need of "restoration."

Pick your battles carefully. Be very honest, especially with yourself. Remember that your leaders (and/or the "other guy's" leaders) would probably like to be involved before the whole thing gets reported on the Internet.

And then act as a true servant of Jesus Christ. Your primary goal is to win, convert and restore others to the Gospel.

[revrandy]

Originally Posted by MissBrattified

9:48 p.m. LOL.

I was thinking while you were typing...

but we were on the same page...