Pastoral Internet Regulation & Control

ReformedDave · #1 06-26-2008, 10:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StMark

If there's nothing to hide then why would anyone have
a problem with it ??

Not a biblical requirement.

StMark · #2 06-26-2008, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ReformedDave

Not a biblical requirement.

what about "obey them that have RULE over you" ???

Baron1710 · #3 06-26-2008, 10:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StMark

what about "obey them that have RULE over you" ???

Sounds like a good catch all verse to legislate anything you want.

ReformedDave · #4 06-26-2008, 10:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baron1710

Sounds like a good catch all verse to legislate anything you want.

As you know MANY have.........

Pro31:28 · #5 06-26-2008, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StMark

what about "obey them that have RULE over you" ???

I am sure that is exactly the kind of argument that followers of Jim Jones and David Koresh had...

MissBrattified · #6 06-26-2008, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StMark

what about "obey them that have RULE over you" ???

Mark, there are limits. Would you allow someone to supervise your every move, just to make sure you were making moral and righteous choices?

It also has the potential to undermine authority within the home. Our children, (1 of whom will soon be a teenager) for instance--they are OUR responsibility to supervise, instruct, discipline and protect. They "report" to us--their parents. Not to their pastor.

In my opinion, it's good for husbands and wives to be accountable to one another in regards to sexual purity. So how does the pastor figure into that equation? Will men report to their pastors, but hide their internet usage from their wives? Or vice versa?

I am for pastoral authority, but I am not for dictatorships or tyrants. Again, specific to this thread--I'm not calling the pastor in question a tyrant, necessarily. We don't have all the facts. But mandates will not result in a change of heart--only a change in behavior, and not necessarily in a positive way.

Threads · #7 06-26-2008, 09:53 PM

[QUOTE=MissBrattified;510525]Mark, there are limits. Would you allow someone to supervise your every move, just to make sure you were making moral and righteous choices?

It also has the potential to undermine authority within the home. Our children, (1 of whom will soon be a teenager) for instance--they are OUR responsibility to supervise, instruct, discipline and protect. They "report" to us--their parents. Not to their pastor.

In my opinion, it's good for husbands and wives to be accountable to one another in regards to sexual purity. So how does the pastor figure into that equation? Will men report to their pastors, but hide their internet usage from their wives? Or vice versa?

I am for pastoral authority, but I am not for dictatorships or tyrants. Again, specific to this thread--I'm not calling the pastor in question a tyrant, necessarily. We don't have all the facts. But mandates will not result in a change of heart--only a change in behavior, and not necessarily in a positive way.

I like what you have said here. Let me add that internet usage on the job is monitored and can cost you your job. There has been many cases out there where people have been fired for internet usage. That, I am ok with because we are dealing with job related stuff, security, stealing, and so on. But, when you start giving up my rights, in a church. This is just to wacked to say the least. Can you say cultic? I can see legal issues with this down the road.

ReformedDave · #8 06-26-2008, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StMark

what about "obey them that have RULE over you" ???

The role of the pastor has specific limits and this is not one of them.

RandyWayne · #9 06-26-2008, 12:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StMark

what about "obey them that have RULE over you" ???

I understand your logical train of thought here, but does "obey them..." only apply to pastors (as many pastors would have us to believe)? Or does it apply to everyone who has any authority over you? Would you give your boss at work the ability to install a web filter or cameras in your home? Or dictate the type of "marital relations" you engage in? Or when you can or cannot take vacations and to what locations?

Pro31:28 · #10 06-26-2008, 01:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RandyWayne

I understand your logical train of thought here, but does "obey them..." only apply to pastors (as many pastors would have us to believe)? Or does it apply to everyone who has any authority over you? Would you give your boss at work the ability to install a web filter or cameras in your home? Or dictate the type of "marital relations" you engage in? Or when you can or cannot take vacations and to what locations?

My thoughts exactly.
At what point does a Christian have to answer to God? I agree that accountablity is important, first with your spouse and someone other than that if the situation calls for it, but it seems way to controlling for a Pastor to be that involved in the lives of his congregation.

If one is more concerned about what a Pastor thinks than what God thinks, there are more serious spiritual problems than the internet.

I don't go anywhere online that I would be ashamed of, My children could look over my shoulder at any time, and we purposely leave the History set to check, but I don't think I would want it reported all the time.

I think that these kinds of "fences" encourage weak Christians, because they always know that "Pastor is watching"... and they forget that ultimately it is God who we must please, not man.