Why I admire Mike Guglielmicci-fraud songwriter

[Jack Shephard]

Originally Posted by ManOfWord

I think we all knew it wouldn't take long for it to reach here.

I agree bad new spreads like wild fire! It is a hot button here in the states cause ministers fall all the time or so it seems. Good thing God is gracious.

[CC1]

Originally Posted by ManOfWord

Due to having folks in our church who know Mike and have been connected to Planet Shakers, I have been following this story very closely.

To be clear, MG has committed sin, fraud etc. He is fully at fault and this thread is in no way meant to minimize his sin or the impact upon the Christian community.

Mike and his Father's church have done something that few "fallen" ministers have done, and that is provide full disclosure of his faults and not try to hide the sin and the failure. Mike has accepted responsibility and so far, has submitted to his leaders and has done the honorable thing of coming clean BEFORE he was found out, which I'm sure would have happened anyway.

Because Mike has come clean and offered full disclosure, I believe that he will find forgiveness in the Christian community. He will still have to pay for his "crimes" but forgiveness is what we do for someone when they ask for it.

Many of you know that I was involved in a church situation where the pastor stole close to $2 million and NEVER offered full disclosure, explanation or contrition. There are pending court cases and criminal charges. Had there been full disclosure, none of these things would exist. Had he only been repentant and broken and thrown himself upon the "horns of the altar" forgiveness would have been found and many people would not have been further hurt and disillusioned.

I commend Mike G. for doing the right thing! I wish he would have done it long ago, but at least he is demonstrating what one is supposed to do when they have fallen. David did it, and Mike is doing it. David was restored, and may Mike find restoration as well!

May the God of heaven have mercy upon him and restore to him the joy of his salvation and restore his family and marriage as well.

I believe he should be forgiven by Christians and I also believe he should sit his butt down for the rest of his life and not involve himself in ministry beyond supporting a local church. Not saying that is a biblical mandate but I believe it is a common sense and ethical one.

[Jack Shephard]

Originally Posted by CC1

I believe he should be forgiven by Christians and I also believe he should sit his butt down for the rest of his life and not involve himself in ministry beyond supporting a local church. Not saying that is a biblical mandate but I believe it is a common sense and ethical one.

Just curious...would you expect your son to do the same if he had made up something like this? Again just curious no offense intended.

If it were my kids I don't know what I would do, but he/she would sit FOR A LONG TIME.

[CC1]

Originally Posted by JTULLOCK

Just curious...would you expect your son to do the same if he had made up something like this? Again just curious no offense intended.

If it were my kids I don't know what I would do, but he/she would sit FOR A LONG TIME.

Absolutely. I am not one of those parents who thinks his kids should get special treatment. You can ask any of them. From a very early age I told them that if they did a crime I expected them to do the time. Daddy would NOT be trying to get them out of any trouble they got themselves in.

I told them I would visit them in prison, always love them, etc but expected them to understand that actions have consequences.

I would hope this man's father would counsel his son to repent, make things right with God, ask the church for forgivness, then get on with his life outside of full time ministry.

My experience is that these guys don't know how to have real jobs, that being preachers is the only thing they know how to do and feel good at so they don't give it up easily. They limp along after huge failures like this bringing shame and condemnation to the church by people on the outside looking in. I would love for some of these guys to be man enough to sit themselves down from fulltime ministry permanently but it rarely happens.

[Jack Shephard]

Originally Posted by CC1

Absolutely. I am not one of those parents who thinks his kids should get special treatment. You can ask any of them. From a very early age I told them that if they did a crime I expected them to do the time. Daddy would NOT be trying to get them out of any trouble they got themselves in.

I told them I would visit them in prison, always love them, etc but expected them to understand that actions have consequences.

I would hope this man's father would counsel his son to repent, make things right with God, ask the church for forgivness, then get on with his life outside of full time ministry.

My experience is that these guys don't know how to have real jobs, that being preachers is the only thing they know how to do and feel good at so they don't give it up easily. They limp along after huge failures like this bringing shame and condemnation to the church by people on the outside looking in. I would love for some of these guys to be man enough to sit themselves down from fulltime ministry permanently but it rarely happens.

See this is the way I would be I hope. I am a very gracious guy infact over the top sometimes. But I think that everyone has to 'pay the piper' when they have done something wrong just like they are rewarded for something extra special. No reward for what is expected.

I do agree with you that men and women that mess up rarely sit out for any length of time. I think there is time frame where if a church want the pastor back in leadership and they trust him or her then that should be fine. But to me it seems that lots of times the minister steps back in if for nothing else than the money. IMO

[ManOfWord]

I believe that he can be restored, like David, when the fame of his repentance exceeds the fame of his fall. We're not talking about punishment, we're talking about justice and merciful justice at that.

His future is in his and God's hands. If God wants to restore him and use him, who am I to stand in the way?

[CC1]

Originally Posted by ManOfWord

I believe that he can be restored, like David, when the fame of his repentance exceeds the fame of his fall. We're not talking about punishment, we're talking about justice and merciful justice at that.

His future is in his and God's hands. If God wants to restore him and use him, who am I to stand in the way?

How about just once one of these bozos remove himself from ministry? Give the church a break.

It virtually never happens. They are hooked on the adulation of being on a platform with people listening to them speak and most don't have any other skills to take a secular job.

There is a distinct pattern with these types. Look at Jimmy Swaggart and Jim Bakker. They just can't stop.

[ManOfWord]

Originally Posted by CC1

How about just once one of these bozos remove himself from ministry? Give the church a break.

It virtually never happens. They are hooked on the adulation of being on a platform with people listening to them speak and most don't have any other skills to take a secular job.

There is a distinct pattern with these types. Look at Jimmy Swaggart and Jim Bakker. They just can't stop.

I agree. Mike DID submit himself to his Father and the District Board who ordained him and they felt best to take his credentials immediately. He could have thumbed his nose at them like Swaggart did, but I believe he is truly a broken man. He has complied with everything asked of him and promised to give every cent back to those who request it. When you consider that the song Healer was really written about his hidden battle with pornography, you can see the pain he was going through.

This was not a ruse to make money, it was a ruse to hide his real disease. Only time will tell what he is made of down deep, but he is the one who came clean. He didn't wait to get caught. Folks in our church who know Mike state that he is sincere and not arrogant.

Now, Swaggart? Look in the dictionary for the word "arrogant" and I think you'll find his name with a host of other TV personalities who tell people that the way to get rich is to send THEM money.

[ManOfWord]

Here is Mike's statement. You can read the full article here:


http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/s...006301,00.html







"It is with much pain and sadness that I make this statement today," he said in the statement.
"For over 16 years I have struggled with an addition to adult pornography as a result of this secret life of sin my body would often breakdown.
"I'd report the cause of my symptoms simply as illnesses and I've thrown my life into a ministry for many years trying to compensate for my sin.
"I believe that I do love Jesus and I know that he loves me and it is this love along with the prayers of people around the world that bring me to this place of confession.
"Two years ago, I reported that I was suffering from cancer, the truth is that although I was ill I did not have cancer but was again using the misdiagnosis to hid the lie that I was living.
"I know in my heart that it is the truth alone that will set me free and this is the reason for my confession.
"I've dishonoured God, my wife, my family and the church and I take full responsibility for my actions and would like to make it very clear that no-one else was in any way aware of my double life.
"I'm fully commited to a process of discipline, recovery and restitution and will see this process through to what ever extent is necessary.
"I am deeply sorry and pray that you will find it in your hearts to forgive me.
"Currently I am undergoing professional medical assessment and evaluation to help identify and begin to treat the real and much deeper issues.
"Please continue to pray for my wife and I and my family as we have a long, hard road ahead of us but a road that I'm thankful to God that I'm finally walking."