Woman Says Church Threatening To Make Sins Public

Well, at least they had the doctrine right...



...and there comes the poor delivery I guess.



If she hadn't been a member and taken that oath, I would say that this is fair game, BUT (I have a big but here *chuckle*) she's now going against her own word by doing so. That's when it becomes a double-fault. Yes, raise a flag that there's a problem...to the pastor, deacons, or their national administration. They all should know because they're the ones in the position to do something about it. The press isn't.



Probably. I believe she's hurt, but I also think that if this hadn't happened, she'd be oblivious to the problem of living an anti-Biblical lifestyle. I have a feeling this has been going on for quite some time and was a 'last resort' measure though don't think it should ever be on the table. In the end, it causes more division than healing. It'll incite paranoia for the other members, gossiping, pointing fingers, cries of hypocrisy, and damage to her family if she's there with her kids when they make such an announcement. "Mommy? Are you going to hell?" This is totally unnecesary as I see it.

[edit on 19-12-2008 by saint4God]

reply to post by TrueAmerican

---

Crazy. The woman has every right to be upset. It is surprising to see them use Matthew 18:17 as justification when the entire context reveals this is only done when a church member commits an offense against another Christian- not that they commit general sin. If it was the way they are using it, it would be as Saint4God says. Or as Jesus said, let those without sin cast the first stone.

It's even more mind boggling that she left that church yet they still feel the need to address this publicly in the church where she no longer attends.

Although I do believe that sex outside of marriage is a sin and the woman is not in a godly relationship due to the sexual nature, the church is simply wrong in this matter and is taking the passage out of context. And although we are to chastise our fellow Christians who sin in love, this church is not doing so.

It doesnt matter if she took an oath or not. What you do in your own home is no ones business but yours. Maybe this "Pastor" and I use that term in jest, is showing some jealousy since he is not the "other man".

If the congregation is actually concerned about their religious institution they would make it more than clear to the "pastor" that this is unacceptable. It will not happen because they know their sins will be common knowledge next week.

Bow down to the power or else.

Can we say the same about marriage?

Interesting replies, thanks!

All I know is that I attend a church nearly every Sunday (for professional reasons), and having been there now for nearly two years, something like this would be a church-ending event on the spot. I know these people pretty well. There's no way. NO way.

reply to post by TrueAmerican

---

Ah, Protestants. Sex is bad because it might lead to dancing!

reply to post by saint4God

---

I agree with you 100%. There is no person on this earth that is perfect and has never "sinned". These people need a healthy dose of reality.

Yeah, I think this is more typical than the news article. Many people avoid the possibility of politics by all means possible. Membership may still be there after a week or two, but after getting the full story, the people would probably find another place to go that didn't involve pointing out members and naming sins. My pastor has no problems pointing out sins, but I can tell you that the only person he names committing them is himself.

This topic REALLY hits home for me. And can relate to her and this topic is one of the many reasons I will NEVER attend a church again. They hypocrisy of "The Church" makes me sick!!! However, I will always have my faith. But I don't need church for that.

I grew up in a very religious home, as my father was a pastor of a small/med size church. They believed in bringing your "sins" before the church. And I even had to stand up on a stage and announce my "sin" when I was younger. It was a HORRIFYING experience for me. And I don't think I will ever get over it. I hope this woman will be able to. And I hope the church will STOP this practice, though I doubt it.

Saint4God;

Even though I am not married I do believe that marriage vows are meant to be kept. That being said I have to make the destinction between a vow of marriage between two people and that of a church.

I think one thing we need to realize is that everyone sins. We feel ashamed because we know they're wrong and yet did them anyway. Geez, how many times to I sin a day? 50? 25? If I only sinned 3 times a day, that'd make me almost a walking angel! Take that over a year's time, that's a 1,000 sins a year. Over the course of a 70 year lifetime, a total of 70,000 sins! Shall I name the sins just for today that I've commited?

1.) Being angry at my kid for something already over and done with (didn't fully forgive apparently).

"But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, 'Raca, ' is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell." - Matthew 5:22

2.) Although I did not say "you fool!" when I got a response from someone today, I thought it and that is sin enough.

3.) Putting off work that my employer wants me to do (yeah, I'll get on that). It's a trust betrayal.

"Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful." - 1 Corinthians 4:2

4.) Getting frustrated at the guy who wouldn't let me in the righthand lane. Jesus never said "move out of the way!" but tells us "peace, be still"

5.) Pride, thinking I know a bit more about something and in some ways waving that around. I try to hedge it but think/say some things before able.

"Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall." - Proverbs 16:18

6.) Greed. I think about money, about getting debts paid, getting ahead, getting things I want, what it would be like to vacation in Mexico:

"No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money." - Matthew 6:24

I could be daydreaming about heaven (who knows, I could go at any moment) and I'm thinking of Mexico?

That brings me to about 9:00am this morning. So by the law of God, within the first two hours of this day He had more than enough justification to pluck me off the planet and into punishment. Thank God He gives me the opportunity to recognize and change...but it's a daily work in progress.



Same here.

[edit on 19-12-2008 by saint4God]

I don't know what the difference is. Both are oaths, both are vows to God.

"They make many promises, take false oaths and make agreements; therefore lawsuits spring up like poisonous weeds in a plowed field." - Hosea 10:4

Could it be a book written thousands of years ago could still describe what's still going on today?

"When a man makes a vow to the LORD or takes an oath to obligate himself by a pledge, he must not break his word but must do everything he said." - Numbers 30:2

But not a woman, right?

Saint4God;

To be honest I do not believe in God. If I understand your comment about pledging to God, how is that less important than the church she decides to attend.

If that church does not answer her questions or helps her in her beliefs then you are saying she does not have the right to go to a different church even if that church does bring her closer to God.

If that is the case then I do not know which is more deplorable; having her "sins" put out in the open or not being able to choose what might be better for her and her family.

reply to post by greeneyedleo

---

Oh, no doubt!!

The irony: when did Jesus ever do this??????? He had nothing to do with this type of hypocrisy...but Paul did!!

We all have the God given right to choose what church we go to, however as a member she made a promise and should be doing all she can to keep that promise (according to the Bible). Many of us have the wrong idea about going to church. We think, "What is the church going to do for me? How are they going to help ME? How will the church entertain ME!" That two letter word shows the wrong motivation for going. Going to church isn't for your benefit, it is something a person does for God. If the individual is enriched by the experience, God bless them, but for Christ's sake when you're a believer and a member, they should know they're there to serve not get more gifts. What more gift could a person need than eternal life?



I disagree with the church's actions as well as hers so it's bascially a mess in my view. Going from church to church probably will not solve her problem, she's got to solve it. It really is between her and God first. When her house is in order, then perhaps she can seek some kind of volunteering for service. When God sends her out the door then she's ready (no one else could say when that is but it'd be abundantly clear if she wasn't). Just my thoughts and recommendations based on the information we have here.

[edit on 22-12-2008 by saint4God]

If the church will make public everbody's sin, what would the priests do?

You mean confession in a Catholic church? That church in the article
isn't Catholic. Don't worry about it. The priest is under obligation not to 'tattle'.

Here is Grace Community Church's web site. www.gracejax.org...

Perhaps we should email Dr.T Scott Christmas and tell him of our support for his stance on his particular brand of "Grace"


As Dr. T Scott seems qualified to tell other people how to live their lives;
I wonder how he will respond to others telling him how to live HIS.

My first suggestion would be to tell him to go ______ himself. as he feels the right to tell other people how to address their sexuality.

[edit on 22-12-2008 by whaaa]

Oh my God! She's in a sexual relationship out side of wed lock.... She'd better not be enjoying her self ... Fetch the dunking stool, we is gonna have our selves a good old witch trial.

He relationship is perfectly legal... I hope that particular church has a lot of spare cash, the woman looks like she's got her self a great deformation of character case - even I could win that one I reckon, and my fees are very reasonable!