An abuse of authority????
 

A Pastor notices unholy activity happening on someones fb page. While the individual is NOT a memeber of their church, the person is WELL aquainted with many people that are connected to the Pastor and neighboring churches.

After a moment, the Pastor updates their status message and warns the saints NOT to behave in the manner they saw displayed on the individuals page. In turn, the individual goes off on a tangent, and says that the Pastor is abusing his authority and not being Christ like. They resort to cursing and even publically bashing the Pastor, His ministry, and those that support him so that everyone who is connected with the both of them can clearly see the post. The individual even uses the Pastors entire name and encourages everyone on their page to say whatever they would like about the "abuse" that took place.

Who's right? Did the Pastor abuse their authority? Scriptures would help. :)

Re: An abuse of authority????
 

Pastor has no authority over the individual who doesn't submit to him.

His mistake was mentioning a person publicly who he had no control over.

The problem is that so many pastors think that we are highly likely to start sinning or going off the deep end into sin. A true christian hates sin and doesn't want to be a part of it.

My question would be, why is it that pastors have this need to force people who don't want to line up line up to their way of thinking?

Re: An abuse of authority????
 

So are you indicating that if a Christian leaders sees another Christian behaving in a manner that is not Christlike, yet they consider one another "close enough" to be friends, the leader does not have the right to even loosely mention it in their status as to warn other believers? No names were ever mentioned, until the individual became angry at the Pastor's status. The Pastor never mentioned any names until it became obvious. There was no control issue.

Re: An abuse of authority????
 

Not an abuse of authority but a dumb thing to do publically to a non-member

Re: An abuse of authority????
 

What exactly did the Pastor do TO the "non-memeber." There was no mention of a name or anything. The Pastor simply commented that Christians should watch their witness and that participating in ___ behavior is not becoming to the saints.

Now, the individual who was obviously offended is KNOWN to participate in ____ behavior, but no names were mentioned by the Pastor.

How is it dumb for a leader to warn other Christians that God is not pleased with such behavior?

Re: An abuse of authority????
 

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Forgive my feeble thinking, but its hard to advise this situation without knowing what happened... (I know you are being considerate of the situation..)

From what I know--- I would say, in this day we are living.. Pastors must use wisdom before they get involved in peoples business...


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Re: An abuse of authority????
 

It's dumb if it's obvious who he was talking about even if no names are mentioned.

I've heard many a preacher preach against something when it's obvious he's targeting a specific person or incident. Just not using names is not showing wisdom.

Re: An abuse of authority????
 

Publically humiliated that person..oh wait, now you introduce a new fact. IF there was no name mentioned how did this person know? See you were not that specific the first time good grief lol

Here it seems you indicate the Pastor names this individual by referring TO this individual

So this is the pastor of the kids that went to school with the lesbian girl who posted her personal life on fb. Nice.

Re: An abuse of authority????
 

I started off trying to be VERY general. However, here are the details as specific as I can be without disclosing the individuals mentioned above. For the sake of clarity, I'll use Pastor and Christian when referring to the two individuas this discussion centers around.


Days ago the Pastor notices the Christian's status messages. They are full of profanity, and references smoking, going to the club, and other ungoldy behavior.

At first, the Pastor says nothing to the Christian or anyone, but later in the week, the Pastor's status message says something like (indirect quote): Saints, we must be mindful of our witness. We can not expect babes in Christ to get a good impression of us as Christians if we purposely post behavior in our status messages that does not reflect Christ. Advertising smoking, going to the club and other behavior is your choice, but please do not misrepresent Christ on facebook when you claim to serve him.

Of course, this can fit anyone, but the Christian in question goes on a complete tangent as a response, calling the Pastor's name out, their ministry, and even uses profanity...attempting to "correct" the behavior of the Pastor saying that he abused his authority.

_____tried to be clear_____________

Re: An abuse of authority????
 

What the pastor did in warning the saints was not such a bad thing. The fact that he did it on facebook after seeing someone else doing the exact same thing and embarrassing them is the problem.

If I see one of my friends posing picks on facebook of them at a strip club and then I put on my status about warning about the dangers of strip clubs then I could expect me friend to be embarrassed and possibly offended because everyone else can see it.

Facebook doesn't change the rules of behavior but it is allowing pastors to see people in a light that might be horrifying to them. If we are somehow caught off guard by sinners then we need to go spend some time around them to remind ourselves that if not for the grace of God we would be in the same place.

The pastor should have admonished his saints quietly and in a way that would not embarrass the sinner.

Re: An abuse of authority????
 

I think I understand what you are saying, however, I'm not sure if I agree. Why is it NOT okay for the Pastor to publically take a stand for something that is ungodly? This person is not ignorant of the truth, and even professes Christ. If this Christian is publically displaying this behavior WHY should the Pastor keep quiet?

Re: An abuse of authority????
 

I would be very upset if my pastor did something like this. It is not wise. It is clear that this person is not a christian. I think the pastor should publicly apologize because of the offense. He was stepping outside the biblical way of handling issues like this.

If you have a brother who is in sin, first go them quietly so as not to expose them to everyone.

Second, take someone with you and admonish them in love.

Only when truly necessary and repentance is not going to happen do we expel them from the church or admonish publically.

There are just to many people on facebook to do this sort of thing.

Once again, I think the pastor's greatest mistake is assuming this person was 1) a christian 2) thinking that this person was under his authority because it is clear they are not and 3) handling a manner in public that could easily be interpreted.

The pastor needs to apologize and do the right thing. End of story. Call him up and explain that he handled in wrong and for the sake of the sinner announce that he handled a sensitive situation the wrong way.

Re: An abuse of authority????
 

Is this person a member of the Pastor's church or a member of any church for that matter?

The pastor has every right to admonish sinful behavior but to speak specifically against someone in public isn't wise and I think it borderlines on sinful himself.

Re: An abuse of authority????
 

Do it publically in church.

Re: An abuse of authority????
 

You assume that the person is not saved and perhaps that is why you feel so strongly. On the contrary, this person professes holiness, quotes scriptures, boast about the ministry they attend (in which the Pastor knows the other members and leaders quite well) and have even fellowshiped with the Pastor and His church.

Re: An abuse of authority????
 

I think the "Christian in question" revealed something about his or herself in the process

Re: An abuse of authority????
 

I don't think he was assuming anything., Your post was incredibly vague and it's a little frustrating to judge what we say based on unrevealed facts

Re: An abuse of authority????
 

As stated earlier, the Christian IS in fact in fellowship with the churches this Pastor fellowships with. In fact they share MANY mutual friends both of which are other Pastors and other members. The Pastor spoke specifically about the issue, but not about the individual.

Re: An abuse of authority????
 

Another issue. There are people in this world who do not consider profanity as sinful as you and I would. Going to the club is not a sin in itself. It can certainly lead to sin and as a christian I don't want to be in a place like that because of the temptation. There has to be grace for issues that are not black and white until a person can walk in maturity.

Re: An abuse of authority????
 

Actually I stated from the start that the person is saved. Sorry to not give the entire story all at once but as I also explained earlier, I was trying not to disclose the individuals any further by trying to only add the details that were vital to judging the outcome.

Re: An abuse of authority????
 

I vote this the most confusing thread in months! :smack

Re: An abuse of authority????
 

Where here do you say this individual is saved?

Re: An abuse of authority????
 

No you didn't

Re: An abuse of authority????
 

True, however coming BACK to the Pastor's page as well as their own status with more profanity, "blasting" their name, the name of their ministry and all their congregation with other profanities...OPENLY calling attention to the matter is clearly (black and white) wrong.

Re: An abuse of authority????
 

Then the individual needs to be admonished by his or her own pastor. It honestly looks like the pastor in question was overstepping.

There could be something going on in that persons life. Maybe they just screwed up which is something people do all the time.

There is not a lot of respect for this pastor and the other pastor either. I think there is an attitude in holiness groups that are always concerned about what the other church down the road is doing.

Do us a favor and post what the pastor said, post the pics and the status, and then we can judge for ourselves. :highfive

Re: An abuse of authority????
 

Jonah was told to get into Ninnevahs business. He agreed with you and wanted to avoid confrontation.

It does take wisdom. The seeking of wisdom for the careful choice of words when they go on writing and the wisdom when to not say anything.

Re: An abuse of authority????
 

The first post opened with:
While the individual is NOT a memeber of their church, the person is WELL aquainted with many people that are connected to the Pastor and neighboring churches.

Please pardon the spelling error firstly, and secondly, I wrongly assumed that I was being clear that although the Pastor is NOT their Pastor, the Pastor IS well known by his leaders..etc.

Re: An abuse of authority????
 

That I feel according to the bible is very wrong. Never attack the man of God even when he is not your shepherd.

Re: An abuse of authority????
 

I hardly think that's necessary, but thanks anyway.

Re: An abuse of authority????
 

When the pastor said something publicly he opens himself up to being responded to publicly. Sure the person was wrong but as a pastor he should have done the right thing. I don't care how bad a sinner is, I do care that pastors are acting right.

There used to be a lot of pastors on this forum that would hint at thing and say things that weren't right and people would call them on what they were saying. Guess what? Most of those guys are gone now because they couldn't not handle their actions or ideas being questioned.

Re: An abuse of authority????
 

I was waiting on SOMEONE to notice that little bit of information. :highfive Even if its NOT your Pastor, posting statements that disrespect him IN FRONT OF his members and collegues is WRONG.

Re: An abuse of authority????
 

You are still saying a sinner. This person is SAVED. :)

Re: An abuse of authority????
 

And I haven't even chimed in yet! Just wait......

Re: An abuse of authority????
 

Nobody should be disrespected in front of anyone, not just Pastors

Re: An abuse of authority????
 

I don't think they are. What evidence do we have that they are a christian?

This is what I do know.

John 13:34A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

35By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

Re: An abuse of authority????
 

What Kingdom is saying is that this person attends another church associated with this Pastor's church

Re: An abuse of authority????
 

If they felt disrespected I can imagine why they would leave. Sometimes we forget that they are still leaders even if they are on fb and on discussion boards like this one. They are not THE authority, but they should still be respected.

Now the Pastor in which I speak is very vocal concerning issues about the church world in general...etc. and people rely on his wisdom concerning a lot of issues. I highly doubt this action was not thought about. When does open rebuke come to play-- just curious as to what you think.

Re: An abuse of authority????
 

Everyone should be respected

Re: An abuse of authority????
 

Do you believe it is MORE wrong to attack a "man of God" then any other random person?

If so how do I know another guy who calls me out publicly is a real "man of God" and doesn't just proclaim himself to be? After all, I didn't agree to become his underling.

Any comments I have on this situation are based purely on imaginary scenarios in my mind since I know virtually zero actual details.