Quote:
Originally Posted by RandyWayne
You (us) can talk about restoration till the cows come home and how God can do it instantly or over the long haul, or whether He should do it at all. BUT... How long does it take to restore trust? Especially when it has been completely shattered -like a pastor who has embezzled, molested, or cheated on his wife. Is someones word of knowledge that "he has been restored!" good enough for him to restart his job the next morning? Would you trust him with your money, wife (if she was pretty), or kids after such a word of knowledge was given?
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Randy... remember... Scripture shows us a church that is quite different from our modern model. They were house churches with multiple elders. If an elder fell into sin, they were like a family that restored him. They would encourage that he be involved in the educational discussions again. They wouldn't side line him or relegate him to being quiet in a corner of the home or some pew.
Today, the corporate model of church makes it VERY questionable as to if we should restore a person to such a position. The money, the power, the potential for continued abuse, the sheer numbers of good men who would do well in the "position". I see it as a structural issue.
An elder in a house church could be restored relatively quickly, the group acting like a family wanting to see him "back" to where he was spiritually.
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