Prominent Memphis Area Pastor Resigns

[Steve Epley]

Originally Posted by Tlswift2009

A 2-Fold situation: adultery and the splitting/scattering of God's sheep. I'd be in sheer terror not only for adultery but mishandling God's people. My wife and I were sent IN 1989 to repair a church that was devestated by the adultery of the pastor; it was a very foul and unrepented blatant affair with the pastor and a sister in the church; they were very foul with their conduct; even after being caught in the very act. The pastor, and woman was ousted out of the church, but his wife stayed and did well. God blessed me and my wife to do very well at seeing the people healed, and the church flourished very well with an abundance of growth/outreach/prison, care home; bus ministry, and radio over the next 2-3 years: thank God: God was with the church {as He is with TPC}, and the church survived and went on to glory under our leadership.

The fallen Pastor never did properly repent, but he became bitter because the leadeship delt with him very sternly; which they were correct to do so. This fallen Pastor would call me from time-to-time over the next few years; but he never would repent. Well, this fallen pastor decided one day to stay home from work and varnish some kitchen cabinets; he was working with a highly flammable substance that sparked a flame and burned this man up alive!!!! Although this fallen former pastor never would be fit to lead God's sheep again; he had 7 years to repent and get his life restored whereas he could at least be saved, but he never took the proper oppportunities that were before Him; God is merciful; even to the backslidders that he declares that he's married to.


If I were in the predicament of TB; I'd be in terror to repent, and to stand before the church and repent, and ask for forgiveness, and then I'd beg forgiveness of my wife, and plead with God to restore me that I might be saved; I would not attempt to Pastor and lead a renegade ministry; it's very improper and dangerous {look what happened to unrepented Jom Swaggart; he fell again into the same sin(s)}. It may appear that God is quiet, and nothing's happening, but God is allowing time for TB to bring forth fruit meet for repentance, and be willing to abide by the consequences of his action; this is my prayer and hope for him; he's a friend of mine, but we must all abide by God's word: NOBODY IS ABOVE GOD'S WORD-LUCIFER THOUGHT SO, AND HIS FATE IS DAMNABLE ETERNAL....

Amen. Preachers that live a double life for a long season rarely ever repent they think they are above it. Lord help me always to remember I am one stupid decision away from bringing a reproach upon my God-Family-Church-Friends.
My solution is very simple NEVER be in a room with a woman by yourself unless it is immediate family. And never carry on a conversation with a woman that is personal in any way audible or electronic. Two easy steps that will prevent any preacher from falling into s sexual sin.
Also NEVER put any confidence in your stinking flesh. You are wired to fail by natural birth. AND you will get caught.

[Hizzangel]

Originally Posted by Tlswift2009

A 2-Fold situation: adultery and the splitting/scattering of God's sheep. I'd be in sheer terror not only for adultery but mishandling God's people. My wife and I were sent IN 1989 to repair a church that was devestated by the adultery of the pastor; it was a very foul and unrepented blatant affair with the pastor and a sister in the church; they were very foul with their conduct; even after being caught in the very act. The pastor, and woman was ousted out of the church, but his wife stayed and did well. God blessed me and my wife to do very well at seeing the people healed, and the church flourished very well with an abundance of growth/outreach/prison, care home; bus ministry, and radio over the next 2-3 years: thank God: God was with the church {as He is with TPC}, and the church survived and went on to glory under our leadership.

The fallen Pastor never did properly repent, but he became bitter because the leadeship delt with him very sternly; which they were correct to do so. This fallen Pastor would call me from time-to-time over the next few years; but he never would repent. Well, this fallen pastor decided one day to stay home from work and varnish some kitchen cabinets; he was working with a highly flammable substance that sparked a flame and burned this man up alive!!!! Although this fallen former pastor never would be fit to lead God's sheep again; he had 7 years to repent and get his life restored whereas he could at least be saved, but he never took the proper oppportunities that were before Him; God is merciful; even to the backslidders that he declares that he's married to.


If I were in the predicament of TB; I'd be in terror to repent, and to stand before the church and repent, and ask for forgiveness, and then I'd beg forgiveness of my wife, and plead with God to restore me that I might be saved; I would not attempt to Pastor and lead a renegade ministry; it's very improper and dangerous {look what happened to unrepented Jom Swaggart; he fell again into the same sin(s)}. It may appear that God is quiet, and nothing's happening, but God is allowing time for TB to bring forth fruit meet for repentance, and be willing to abide by the consequences of his action; this is my prayer and hope for him; he's a friend of mine, but we must all abide by God's word: NOBODY IS ABOVE GOD'S WORD-LUCIFER THOUGHT SO, AND HIS FATE IS DAMNABLE ETERNAL....

Just curious as to why you feel or believe that TB has not repented?! I know for a fact that he asked for the opportunity to address the church, but was denied.
No man knows another's heart, just because you haven't seen or heard from him doesn't mean he's not repented.

[Praxeas]

Originally Posted by Hizzangel

Just curious as to why you feel or believe that TB has not repented?! I know for a fact that he asked for the opportunity to address the church, but was denied.
No man knows another's heart, just because you haven't seen or heard from him doesn't mean he's not repented.

He could start by not asking for that huge severance package?

[Tlswift2009]

Originally Posted by Steve Epley

Amen. Preachers that live a double life for a long season rarely ever repent they think they are above it. Lord help me always to remember I am one stupid decision away from bringing a reproach upon my God-Family-Church-Friends.
My solution is very simple NEVER be in a room with a woman by yourself unless it is immediate family. And never carry on a conversation with a woman that is personal in any way audible or electronic. Two easy steps that will prevent any preacher from falling into s sexual sin.
Also NEVER put any confidence in your stinking flesh. You are wired to fail by natural birth. AND you will get caught.

Amen!!! What's so incredible is that we have a bible host {EXAMPLES} of those that were wise leaders, and the ones that were selfishly stupid, and did those things that brought a snare, and reproach upon their lives. Yes, if we preachers practice the wisdom of not getting into any close quarters with these strange women {any woman outside of wife/family}; we won't get ensnared. My wife deals with the issues of our ladies in the church, and if I'm needed; we counsel together, and my wife does telephone follow-ups and gives me the report.

Here's how Billy Graham answered the sarcastic reporter. Billy Graham was known to travel with a group of men when his wife was not able to accompany him, and some slick female reporter noticed this and asked him upon arriving off an airplane; she asked, "why do you travel with men when you'renot with your wife; do you think tht all the women want you"; Billy Graham repiled, "women; I'm not worried about them, I'm worried about me". In other words, Mr. Graham was acknowledgining that he did NOT trust his own flesh; mind you-he's not a man that profess the Holyghost with the evidence with spoeaking in other tongues, but he had/have enough sense to know; "PUT O CONFIDENCE IN THE FLESH"!!!! Maybe we should speak in a few less tongues, and exercise more disciple over the flesh/that wicked ole carnal man that's just waiting to have it's LUSTFUL way in our lives, and bring us to sorrows, and reproach...

[Tlswift2009]

Originally Posted by Hizzangel

Just curious as to why you feel or believe that TB has not repented?! I know for a fact that he asked for the opportunity to address the church, but was denied.
No man knows another's heart, just because you haven't seen or heard from him doesn't mean he's not repented.

I'm not saying that TB has not repented to God; I'm not saying that I know truly any man's heart-HECK; I'm still trying to learn and know who I am. I'm saying that he need to make sure that he makes it right {repentance} with TPC, and doing it later might reopen healing wounds if he ever gets the chance. When he openly resigned; I would have also told those board members that I want to do this after regular worship with only the members, and I would have dealt with it then {repenting}; the board does NOT have the power to refuse a person that wants to repent; had it been done on the day that he resigned; it would not have affected anything else that would allow this church membership to heal; he may never get the opportunity to do it now-it may cause more harm than good; I'm not sure, but this is what happens when we get out of order with God. Please, don't get offended with me-I had to go and repair a church that suffered this same issue; so I may know a little bit more about this than you might ever know. I'm concerned about the flock, and I do believe that God is too. We are WARNED repeatedly by God's word about adultery and fooling with these STRANGE women; "can a man put fire to his bosom and be not burned"? God hold his leadership responsible {ACCOUNTABLE}to not only keeping a watch over himself, but to take heed to the oversight of the flock of God. I've been chastised, and corrected over the years; especially early on in my pastorate for not handling issues wisely, and I took my LUMPS without excuse(s), and without the solicited pity of men-I plan to be saved when I die, or when the Rapture takes place, and I'm leaving nothing undone in between. I WOULD HAVE REPENTED DURING THE TIME THAT I RESIGNED-IF I WERE TB; THE OPPORTUNITY WAS BIBLICAL IN THE FAVOUR OF THE PASTOR; REGARDLESS OF WHAT THE BOARD FELT ABOUT IT; NOW HE'S ON THE OUTSIDE, AND MAY NEVER GET THE OPPORTUNITY...

[Tlswift2009]

Originally Posted by Steve Epley

It saddens me(not really) to burst your balloon but Paul was wrong.

I agree!!! The Apostle Paul on seceral ocassons was very adament about some of his person recommendations/feelings {John Mark-etc}, but a pastor should be able to eat from his ministry; especially when its able to compensate the pastor. My first church was meager in finances when I first came there, and I set a very good financial administration/accountaing system in order {I'm a business personnel, management-finance, and tax accountant}, and the church grew, and the poel supported it well, and the deacons/trustees set up a small salary forme and family; and you can believe; much of it went right back in the church, and to help others {personal monies} in the community; if you're ot a pastor; you should not attempt to know what that pastor/wife, and family go through to see the church make it: you guys are just outside spectators in many ways... My second church is strapped with a lot of people that work meagerly jobs; unemployed, and some assisted by the gov't...My wife, mom, myself support the ministry, and I receive no financial compensation; that's ok, God makes it where all of our church's financial obligations are met very easily, and we're able to save monies to our savings account...When God says that he give Pastors according to God's heart; that means that the Pastor will NOT sift/fleece the church; NOT GOD'S TRULY LEAD PASTORS...

[Cindy]

I think it's very easy to say what should be done by whom, when we are not in the situation. Maybe God didn't foresee AFF where everyone can come and find out what to do. Maybe less shoulda, woulda, coulda, did or didn't. And more praying for TB and his family, and the church people. May God heal and restore TB, his family, and the church people.

[Nitehawk013]

Originally Posted by Steve Epley

It saddens me(not really) to burst your balloon but Paul was wrong.

Paul, the guy who wrote the vast majority of our NT and spread the gospel more prolifically than anyone, was wrong...but Elder Epley knows better than him.

Hmmm...

[Steve Epley]

Originally Posted by Nitehawk013

Paul, the guy who wrote the vast majority of our NT and spread the gospel more prolifically than anyone, was wrong...but Elder Epley knows better than him.

Hmmm...

Thank you I was waiting for this!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Read it and weep.
"For what is it wherein ye were INFERIOR to other churches, except it be that I myself was not burdensome to you? FORGIVE ME THIS WRONG."@cor.13:13
We 'folk theologians' read the Bible instead of reading AT the Bible.

[Nitehawk013]

2 Cor. 13:13 says "All the saints send their greetings".

12:13 is what you meant. And you left out the context and commentary that explains it.
http://www.biblestudytools.com/2-cor...thians+12:8-18

Has nothing to do with the way you intended it to mean. In fact, the context has Paul saying he was never a burden, that the parent should save up to give to the kids (Paul should give to his children:the church) not the children to the parent and that when Titus came he took nothign from them either. So you now have in just a few verses Paul saying that not only he, but Tituse also, never took a dime from the church. In fact, if memory serves, the only time Paul received any money from the church was the special offering that was sent to him.

BTW, Paul not once uses the word tithe in any of his letters. You presume he is alluding to the OT tithing in Cor.