Serious Question

Originally Posted by tv1a

I don't mean to stir a hornets nest, but does the rules change for child abusers?

I am obviously not MOW but the sins discussed so far are personal and individual in nature. What you are talking about is gross perversion and the injury of another. BIG difference between the two.

Originally Posted by Pastor Poster

Please everyone, stick to the issue. Personal references will derail this thread faster than a greased hood on a snowy hill.

Not to be nosy, but who made a personal reference?

Yikes!

[RevDWW]

What about someone who gets there fiancee pregnant? Do you sit them down if they're heavy involved? And for how long?

[Nahum]

Originally Posted by philjones

I am obviously not MOW but the sins discussed so far are personal and individual in nature. What you are talking about is gross perversion and the injury of another. BIG difference between the two.

I think porn does hurt others. Smoking does too. It robs children of their parents, and cheats marriages out of sweet time.

[freeatlast]

You can just about be assured that it is a problem in many churches.
Many men according to what I have read struggle with this sin.

Because "we" deal with this problem differently, in our churches, than other struggles that people have you'll very rarely have a man step up and admit this is his struggle.

If a brother could come to you and ask for for prayer and help with this struggle without fear of it always being held over his head, we'd see more people overcoming this problem.

I have a friend that recently came back to church after years away, he's a bible school graduate.

55 years old and he is a crack addicit and alcohol abuser.

Every 60 to 90 days he'll relapse, go on a bender, get stoned or whatever.

My phone will ring at maybe 3 or 4 in the morning, to come get him.

We talk, we pray, and he gets up and goes on. Each time he does a little better than the last.

His addiction is not much different than the porn addicts.

We have to believe that God forgives and that he requires us to forgive also.

[Nahum]

Originally Posted by RevDWW

What about someone who gets there fiancee pregnant? Do you sit them down if they're heavy involved? And for how long?

I would. I don't know for how long.

[ManOfWord]

Originally Posted by tv1a

I don't mean to stir a hornets nest, but does the rules change for child abusers?

I've had to deal with this one. I had a male SS teacher who was arrested for child molestation and is currently in prison for 15 years to life. The abuse was NOT with a child from our church. It hit the papers. He eventually repented, admitted to everything and asked for help. The judge was amazed at his repentance as was his attorney. I was honest with the church with what happened and yet still did my best to help him have some dignity. I never condoned or defended his sin. I defended him as someone who needed the Lord's help but made no excuses for him. So far, he is living for the Lord and has stated to me that if he can't get free from this, he never wants out of prison.

[Nahum]

Originally Posted by freeatlast

You can just about be assured that it is a problem in many churches.
Many men according to what I have read struggle with this sin.

Because "we" deal with this problem differently, in our churches, than other struggles that people have you'll very rarely have a man step up and admit this is his struggle.

If a brother could come to you and ask for for prayer and help with this struggle without fear of it always being held over his head, we'd see more people overcoming this problem.

I have a friend that recently came back to church after years away, he's a bible school graduate.

55 years old and he is a crack addicit and alcohol abuser.

Every 60 to 90 days he'll relapse, go on a bender, get stoned or whatever.

My phone will ring at maybe 3 or 4 in the morning, to come get him.

We talk, we pray, and he gets up and goes on. Each time he does a little better than the last.

His addiction is not much different than the porn addicts.

We have to believe that God forgives and that he requires us to forgive also.

Free,

What do you do when a person thinks there is nothing wrong with porn? When they laugh about it, and consider it normal? What if they are in ministry?

[ManOfWord]

Originally Posted by freeatlast

You can just about be assured that it is a problem in many churches.
Many men according to what I have read struggle with this sin.

Because "we" deal with this problem differently, in our churches, than other struggles that people have you'll very rarely have a man step up and admit this is his struggle.

If a brother could come to you and ask for for prayer and help with this struggle without fear of it always being held over his head, we'd see more people overcoming this problem.

I have a friend that recently came back to church after years away, he's a bible school graduate.

55 years old and he is a crack addicit and alcohol abuser.

Every 60 to 90 days he'll relapse, go on a bender, get stoned or whatever.

My phone will ring at maybe 3 or 4 in the morning, to come get him.

We talk, we pray, and he gets up and goes on. Each time he does a little better than the last.

His addiction is not much different than the porn addicts.

We have to believe that God forgives and that he requires us to forgive also.

I would gladly work with that person. I wouldn't invite them to be on my leadership team, but I would work with them and grant them unconditional love and support. They may just get free!!!

[Coonskinner]

In general, I deal with sin no more publicly than it was committed.

With something of the nature you have mentioned, every situation is different, I would say, but you definitely need the wisdom of God.