What about having an affair over the Internet? Is that adultery?
After you've answered these question tell me why these particular men become so cruel and mean spirited and arrogant and pompous? Is the idea that what doesn't kill me on makes me stronger, carried over into the idea of moral failure?
Its as though they are waving in your face that their adulteress past will never stop henceforth neither will anything else.
I wasn't aware that all of them become "so cruel and mean spirited and arrogant and pompous".
I am sure some do thinking the best defense is a good offense but I know others who either are sincerely meek or fake it as they think it is the best chance of them keeping their ministry intact.
My pet peeve is that virtually none of these guys confess on their own. They only become repentant when they are found out and they risk losing the only thing most of them know how to do for a living, their ministry.
My second pet peeve is that most of them either don't step down at all or step down for a very short period of time for "restoration". Do I believe in restoration? Absolutely but it should be at first for their souls salvation and not to keep them in a pulpit. It should be a very long time, if ever, before they resume ministry in my opinion. I think I would tend to believe and trust one who came forward on their own and confessed their sin but I probably will never know because I don't know of any who have done that.
__________________ "I think some people love spiritual bondage just the way some people love physical bondage. It makes them feel secure. In the end though it is not healthy for the one who is lost over it or the one who is lives under the oppression even if by their own choice"
Titus2woman on AFF
"We did not wear uniforms. The lady workers dressed in the current fashions of the day, ...silks...satins...jewels or whatever they happened to possess. They were very smartly turned out, so that they made an impressive appearance on the streets where a large part of our work was conducted in the early years.
"It was not until long after, when former Holiness preachers had become part of us, that strict plainness of dress began to be taught.
"Although Entire Sanctification was preached at the beginning of the Movement, it was from a Wesleyan viewpoint, and had in it very little of the later Holiness Movement characteristics. Nothing was ever said about apparel, for everyone was so taken up with the Lord that mode of dress seemingly never occurred to any of us."
Quote from Ethel Goss (widow of 1st UPC Gen Supt. Howard Goss) book "The Winds of God"
About the "Affair on the Internet" question though - that is very subjective.
__________________ "It is inhumane, in my opinion, to force people who have a genuine medical need for coffee to wait in line behind people who apparently view it as some kind of recreational activity." Dave Barry 2005
I am a firm believer in the Old Paths
Articles on such subjects as "The New Birth," will be accepted, whether they teach that the new birth takes place before baptism in water and Spirit, or that the new birth consists of baptism of water and Spirit. - THE PENTECOSTAL HERALD Dec. 1945
"It is doubtful if any Trinitarian Pentecostals have ever professed to believe in three gods, and Oneness Pentecostals should not claim that they do." - Daniel Segraves
CC1, I believe you bring up a very valid point. I know of only one minister that I can think of ever confessing his failure prior to being caught. He remained a humble man and even more so after the fact.
About the "Affair on the Internet" question though - that is very subjective.
I'm very curious to hear you elaborate more on the subjective aspect of an Internet affair.
I believe that most often an affair is emotional before it is sexual but before I elaborate and for the sake of constructive dialogue I am very open to your thoughts regarding the matter.
I wasn't aware that all of them become "so cruel and mean spirited and arrogant and pompous".
I am sure some do thinking the best defense is a good offense but I know others who either are sincerely meek or fake it as they think it is the best chance of them keeping their ministry intact.
My pet peeve is that virtually none of these guys confess on their own. They only become repentant when they are found out and they risk losing the only thing most of them know how to do for a living, their ministry.
My second pet peeve is that most of them either don't step down at all or step down for a very short period of time for "restoration". Do I believe in restoration? Absolutely but it should be at first for their souls salvation and not to keep them in a pulpit. It should be a very long time, if ever, before they resume ministry in my opinion. I think I would tend to believe and trust one who came forward on their own and confessed their sin but I probably will never know because I don't know of any who have done that.
I only know one man who came forward and confessed before being caught. I have utmost respect for him for his courage and conviction.
Anyone who gets caught up in adultery should have to sit down for a long while and be taught and mentored, and closely monitored by an accountability partner. It infuriates me when preachers get caught in an affair and they are right back in the pulpit, because it's the only way they know to make any money!
Considering that the gifts and calling of God are without repentance (Romans 11:29) there should be a policy in place for restoration because although adultery is a very serious sin against our Holy God and the Spouse, it is not an unpardonable sin.
Cutting them off entirely from the ministry is a stumbling block for the offender to be restored to God. But if the church admonishes the offender and does everything it can to restore him to God and he continues his adultery, then the sin is solely on his shoulders and not on the church.
I'm very curious to hear you elaborate more on the subjective aspect of an Internet affair.
I believe that most often an affair is emotional before it is sexual but before I elaborate and for the sake of constructive dialogue I am very open to your thoughts regarding the matter.
Don't have much in the way established thoughts... Just that someone who viewed Porn is simply not the same as committing adultery - at least not in the way of justification for divorce.
__________________ "It is inhumane, in my opinion, to force people who have a genuine medical need for coffee to wait in line behind people who apparently view it as some kind of recreational activity." Dave Barry 2005
I am a firm believer in the Old Paths
Articles on such subjects as "The New Birth," will be accepted, whether they teach that the new birth takes place before baptism in water and Spirit, or that the new birth consists of baptism of water and Spirit. - THE PENTECOSTAL HERALD Dec. 1945
"It is doubtful if any Trinitarian Pentecostals have ever professed to believe in three gods, and Oneness Pentecostals should not claim that they do." - Daniel Segraves
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