Is there anyone...

[Rhoni]

you would not allow to be used in your church? Before posting, search your heart. Some of us WERE:
*liars
*cheaters
*thieves
*fornicators
*adulterers
*pedophiles
*prostitutes [male & female]
*homeosexuals
*addicted to; pornography, cigarettes, alcohol, prescriptions drugs, illicit drugs, sex, gambling, profanity
Therefore, I ask you again; Is there anyone you would not use in your church?

Rhoni

[DanielR]

On a couple of occations, I've had pastors come to me to try to get me to shave my facial hair so that they could use me in "their" church. But since I don't feel right about removing a natural distinction between the sexes that facial hair provides, I didn't shave and I wasn't used as those pastors wanted to use me. I can't help but wonder why some people have such hangups to the point that they refuse to use people that are different than they are. It's one thing to not use someone who is in unrepentant sin, but quite another thing to refuse to use someone who is because they are a little different.

Daniel

[Fiyahstarter]

On a couple of occations, I've had pastors come to me to try to get me to shave my facial hair so that they could use me in "their" church. But since I don't feel right about removing a natural distinction between the sexes that facial hair provides, I didn't shave and I wasn't used as those pastors wanted to use me. I can't help but wonder why some people have such hangups to the point that they refuse to use people that are different than they are. It's one thing to not use someone who is in unrepentant sin, but quite another thing to refuse to use someone who is because they are a little different.

Daniel

Good for you . . . for holding your ground.

As far as who cannot be used . . . I also think the unrepentant sinner is the answer.

And I also believe that there are times people should be REMOVED because of attitude sins.

[Ron]

you would not allow to be used in your church? Before posting, search your heart. Some of us WERE:
*liars
*cheaters
*thieves
*fornicators
*adulterers
*pedophiles
*prostitutes [male & female]
*homeosexuals
*addicted to; pornography, cigarettes, alcohol, prescriptions drugs, illicit drugs, sex, gambling, profanity
Therefore, I ask you again; Is there anyone you would not use in your church?

Rhoni

Such "WERE some of you!"

The key is "were!"

[HeavenlyOne]

you would not allow to be used in your church? Before posting, search your heart. Some of us WERE:
*liars
*cheaters
*thieves
*fornicators
*adulterers
*pedophiles
*prostitutes [male & female]
*homeosexuals
*addicted to; pornography, cigarettes, alcohol, prescriptions drugs, illicit drugs, sex, gambling, profanity
Therefore, I ask you again; Is there anyone you would not use in your church?

Rhoni

Who?? Who??

Inquiring minds wanna know!!!

[LadyChocolate]

I think Ron said it right! The key word is "were".... We are all new creatures in Christ. From then on, I think people should have a chance to be used....You cannot hold anyone's past against them because it is under the blood of Christ.... Should they fall back into sin.........well then............ if one wants to be used, don't sin...... if you want to sin, don't desire to be used! simple! :)

[GodsBabyGirl]

Well, I don't have a church.

But if I did, I am sure that God will instruct me on who to use. And I don't think He'd be as 'selective' as religious folks are.

If that were the case, He wouldn't be able to use ANYONE!

Because there is NONE righteous, not one.

[Rhoni]

Such "WERE some of you!"

The key is "were!"

You caught on quick:friend, but I still wonder...

[Rhoni]

I think Ron said it right! The key word is "were".... We are all new creatures in Christ. From then on, I think people should have a chance to be used....You cannot hold anyone's past against them because it is under the blood of Christ.... Should they fall back into sin.........well then............ if one wants to be used, don't sin...... if you want to sin, don't desire to be used! simple! :)

It really isn't as simple as that, although it might should be. Some people would have to prove themselves from 6 months to a year, and then if they were humble enough, submissive enough, 'yes' men/women enough. Somtimes repentance isn't the only thing Apostolic leadership requires. What think ye?

[Rhoni]

Well, I don't have a church.

But if I did, I am sure that God will instruct me on who to use. And I don't think He'd be as 'selective' as religious folks are.

If that were the case, He wouldn't be able to use ANYONE!

Because there is NONE righteous, not one.

Amen Sis. Wenona! But I would recommend you find a church, if only for a support system to aid in healing.

Love, Rhoni

[A_PoMo]

Christ modeled a spiritual community based on a concept that is termed 'table fellowship'. This was the idea behind him washing the disciple's feet at the last supper as he one more time modeled the idea that we are all to be equal and we are all to serve in fellowship. In Corinth they symbolized this by having a common meal where all the saints, no matter their background or socio-economic status, were to gather and eat and fellowship and worship together as one body with no distinctions. That's why Paul got so mad about how they were doing it, they were keeping distinctions and he called this not properly discerning the Lord's body. In other places we see where Jesus and Paul both equalized gender gaps and socio-economic gaps and, as you show here, 'sin' gaps. There is to be no distinction in persons in the church. Period. To do so is to be 'of the world'.

Any and every believer who is a new person in Christ and has been given spiritual gifts. Thus, anyone and everyone should be 'used' in church according to their spiritual gifts and their spiritual maturity level.

[DividedThigh]

the brother that mentioned repentance is the key, there aint no perfect people, least of all us, if i found the perfect church if i attended i would mess it up, good question rhoni, makes us think before judging, dt

[LadyChocolate]

It really isn't as simple as that, although it might should be. Some people would have to prove themselves from 6 months to a year, and then if they were humble enough, submissive enough, 'yes' men/women enough. Somtimes repentance isn't the only thing Apostolic leadership requires. What think ye?

You are right. It isn't that simple...I could have written alot more about it but I went to bed.... From my standpoint, the root problem behind each of the "sins" on your list is a bigger problem... I believe everyone can find repentence and God's blood covers ALL. However, some people need deliverance....And until there is deliverence, I would be very uncomfy with them!

I understand why many pastors have the 6 month rule and yet I really don't.... IMO if someone messes up, and they are truly repentent, then I don't think it's right to hold it against them...... but then if someone continues in sin, repents and then does the same thing next week and so on and it is a pattern, then they should not be used....

I also believe that when you are in a role of leadership, whether it be a minister, Sunday school teacher or ever singing in the choir, I believe you are held to a higher standard and I have no problem with that....

Now whether or not someone has secret sins or they tend to get by with it, don't worry about them because I have seen God take care of them even when the pastor overlooks......

[Jehoram]

What a really weird concept for a thread.

People who have any kind of moral standard are bad, and pedophiles are good?

That's just warped.

Sorry, all sins are forgiven but the damage left in the wake of some sins is irreparable.

[Scott Hutchinson]

I don't pastor but I certainly wouldn't put a known homosexual teaching a SS class,or a known pedophile in a nursery.
I'm not as conversative as some but Pastors must use caution in whom they use in leadership positions.
To me if you put someone in a leadership role,you are endorsing their lifestyle.
The bible says to know those who labour among you.
I'm not a legalist ,and yes there is restoration for the fallen, but some folks in church are not qualified for leadership roles.
A pastor must know something of a person's life before they put them in a leadership position.

[Scott Hutchinson]

While we don't need legalism,biblical moral standards are important for the integrity of a local church.

[Jehoram]

This thread is an example of the opposite extreme of legalism.

Liberalism gone absolutely 100% warped.

I mean warped like an out of round tire, with a broken inner belt, and a couple of knots and some missing lug nuts.

[Scott Hutchinson]

Cheap grace and frustrated grace are both a disgrace.

[Jehoram]

you would not allow to be used in your church? Before posting, search your heart. Some of us WERE:
*liars
*cheaters
*thieves
*fornicators
*adulterers
*pedophiles
*prostitutes [male & female]
*homeosexuals
*addicted to; pornography, cigarettes, alcohol, prescriptions drugs, illicit drugs, sex, gambling, profanity
Therefore, I ask you again; Is there anyone you would not use in your church?

Rhoni

Rhoni,

May I ask what the purpose of your question is? Are you advocating pedophiles have free rein in our assemblies if they repent?

[LadyChocolate]

I don't pastor but I certainly wouldn't put a known homosexual teaching a SS class,or a known pedophile in a nursery.
I'm not as conversative as some but Pastors must use caution in whom they use in leadership positions.
To me if you put someone in a leadership role,you are endorsing their lifestyle.
The bible says to know those who labour among you.
I'm not a legalist ,and yes there is restoration for the fallen, but some folks in church are not qualified for leadership roles.A pastor must know something of a person's life before they put them in a leadership position.

Right! I was staying away from this because it's been discussed so much here with very different perspectives. I totally agree and would not put a pedophile in the nursery.... though many would not agree with that.....But let me also say that when someone has been delivered of such a perversion, they will not want to be put in that position.....

IMO......homosexuality is far from being a pedophile.... Just because someone struggles with same sex issues does NOT mean that go after children.... I said before that the problem behind each of the sins Rhoni listed is the bigger problem....The spirit is different!

[Scott Hutchinson]

Please understand that I speaking of folks who are practing these lifestyles who are not repentant.Pedophiles can be delievered ,and set free from those kinds of lifestyles.

[Jehoram]

Please understand that I speaking of folks who are practing these lifestyles who are not repentant.Pedophiles can be delievered ,and set free from those kinds of lifestyles.

That's just peachy Scott.

But I have a responsibility to protect my family. I don't want pedophiles active in the church I pastor AT ALL.

There are many moral, safety and legal issues to consider.

[Scott Hutchinson]

If someone is praticing openly or secretly something the bible states as sin,and if they are not repentant they should not be in leadership,if someone is struggling with homosexual desires and are repentant,after a full delieverance then maybe they might can function in a position.
To me Pastors are not the meanies,because they have alot of answer for,and they have the well-being of a flock to consider.

[Scott Hutchinson]

That's just peachy Scott.

But I have a responsibility to protect my family. I don't want pedophiles active in the church I pastor AT ALL.

There are many moral, safety and legal issues to consider.

I understand this and I do understand your caution and I proably would do the same.

[A_PoMo]

If someone is praticing openly or secretly something the bible states as sin,and if they are not repentant they should not be in leadership,if someone is struggling with homosexual desires and are repentant,after a full delieverance then maybe they might can function in a position.
To me Pastors are not the meanies,because they have alot of answer for,and they have the well-being of a flock to consider.

What about men that struggle with heterosexual sexuality?

[TRFrance]

Please understand that I speaking of folks who are practing these lifestyles who are not repentant.Pedophiles can be delievered ,and set free from those kinds of lifestyles.

Well, people still practicing those lifestyles shouldn't be used in any capacity in the church anyway.