What a question eh my friends? Of course we should forgive. But what of those who minister? Can they be trusted to be faithful? Can we then be trusted after we have sinned and failed God? We believe so we don't we?
Should ministers, pastors, evangelists and others who stand as leaders be allowed to continue their offices after severe failures in sinning? Can they be trusted? What does God want to do in these cases?
Galatians 6:1 KJVS
Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
Jude 1:22-23 KJVS
And of some have compassion, making a difference: [23] And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.
There is no question about forgiving we must do so. Verses on forgiveness are directed toward those who have been directly affected or sinned against by another. What about acceptance of office holders who have defiled their garments by sinning against the Lord and His church. Ones who not only did some vile thing once and allegedly repented but ones who then again returned to the evil of a sin. After vowing they'd repented and turned away from their sinful deeds they again failed going back to the error of their ways. Can they be trusted?
Should they be permitted to remain holding the spiritual office they've had?
I am well aware that the gifts and calling of God are without recall. A person may continue practicing the gifts of the spirit even after sinning to the extreme. So many evangelists have been heavy drinkers, alcoholics yet continue to preach because of the utter faithfulness of God. Even in the midst of their sin God will still work through them such is His fidelity.
One such case is the well known evangelist Jimmy Swaggert. He was found not once but at least twice with prostitutes. Certainly we may deduct that there were more instances when he was not caught or found out. To my knowledge Mr Swaggert never really seemed broken over these events but rather seemed to put forth a bold face. No matter how severe the battle God expects us to overcome and persevere does He not? 1John 1:9 is always there for us but ONLY if our repentance is genuine. We have all sinned and come short of the glory of God. The sins we commit AFTER being saved are the most devastating to me.
Every man's sin is between him and God it's true but when it affects or could affect many many others should they be allowed to continue practicing the duties of their spiritually called office?
Of course no one can physically force them to cease preaching, teaching or evangelizing. Jim Bakker is another such case.
These are well known names but there are multitudes of others where ministers have sinned and felt the necessity to resign their office. How many ministers that practice some sin or sins and yet are continuing in their office because they have not been found out the Lord alone knows. Even though God may continue to work through a sinning minister there must needs be a diminishing in the depth of God's anointing. Amen
I believe that the Christian that is walking closely with God will be able to discern the lack of anointing and so turn away from the deceiver. Certainly we must forgive if repentance has been professed but I don't believe that the Holy Spirit demands that we continue to follow after such a one and sit at their feet as they teach. A lack of confidence has been planted that will nigh be impossible for them to overcome.
There are very few TV preachers I will listen to. Many are not spirit filled and have only dry lifeless lectures. Others are deep in the prosperity cult or so called word of faith. There are others though that have some unnamed abberation in their ministry or spirit that will not allow me to listen to them. I will name no names here but perhaps you have had the same uncertainty about certain ones.
It must be a choice for each one of us as to whether we can continue to follow a minister after true evidence or confession of failures in sin is known. This is a troubling circumstance to me because I know in my own life I have failed God in many ways and it breaks my heart to have grieved the Holy Spirit. Yet I believe that His grace is sufficient for me and that I have received His incomprehensible forgiveness yet once again.
Can you or I be trusted since we too have sinned and fallen short of His calling after being saved? Certainly we can, we must be so that we continue to believe in the grace of God.
We can only follow another as they follow Christ. Does our sin that we have repented of mean we are no longer following Him? Of course not. Repentance meaning not only sorrow for our sin but turning around and fleeing from it.
I won't hold a minister's sins against them its just that I wonder how God sees these things. Perhaps some others wonder too. Once our confidence is shaken in a man or woman it's a prayerful decision as to whether to again follow them.
Should ministers, pastors, evangelists and others who stand as leaders be allowed to continue their offices after severe failures in sinning? Can they be trusted? What does God want to do in these cases?
Galatians 6:1 KJVS
Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
Jude 1:22-23 KJVS
And of some have compassion, making a difference: [23] And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.
There is no question about forgiving we must do so. Verses on forgiveness are directed toward those who have been directly affected or sinned against by another. What about acceptance of office holders who have defiled their garments by sinning against the Lord and His church. Ones who not only did some vile thing once and allegedly repented but ones who then again returned to the evil of a sin. After vowing they'd repented and turned away from their sinful deeds they again failed going back to the error of their ways. Can they be trusted?
Should they be permitted to remain holding the spiritual office they've had?
I am well aware that the gifts and calling of God are without recall. A person may continue practicing the gifts of the spirit even after sinning to the extreme. So many evangelists have been heavy drinkers, alcoholics yet continue to preach because of the utter faithfulness of God. Even in the midst of their sin God will still work through them such is His fidelity.
One such case is the well known evangelist Jimmy Swaggert. He was found not once but at least twice with prostitutes. Certainly we may deduct that there were more instances when he was not caught or found out. To my knowledge Mr Swaggert never really seemed broken over these events but rather seemed to put forth a bold face. No matter how severe the battle God expects us to overcome and persevere does He not? 1John 1:9 is always there for us but ONLY if our repentance is genuine. We have all sinned and come short of the glory of God. The sins we commit AFTER being saved are the most devastating to me.
Every man's sin is between him and God it's true but when it affects or could affect many many others should they be allowed to continue practicing the duties of their spiritually called office?
Of course no one can physically force them to cease preaching, teaching or evangelizing. Jim Bakker is another such case.
These are well known names but there are multitudes of others where ministers have sinned and felt the necessity to resign their office. How many ministers that practice some sin or sins and yet are continuing in their office because they have not been found out the Lord alone knows. Even though God may continue to work through a sinning minister there must needs be a diminishing in the depth of God's anointing. Amen
I believe that the Christian that is walking closely with God will be able to discern the lack of anointing and so turn away from the deceiver. Certainly we must forgive if repentance has been professed but I don't believe that the Holy Spirit demands that we continue to follow after such a one and sit at their feet as they teach. A lack of confidence has been planted that will nigh be impossible for them to overcome.
There are very few TV preachers I will listen to. Many are not spirit filled and have only dry lifeless lectures. Others are deep in the prosperity cult or so called word of faith. There are others though that have some unnamed abberation in their ministry or spirit that will not allow me to listen to them. I will name no names here but perhaps you have had the same uncertainty about certain ones.
It must be a choice for each one of us as to whether we can continue to follow a minister after true evidence or confession of failures in sin is known. This is a troubling circumstance to me because I know in my own life I have failed God in many ways and it breaks my heart to have grieved the Holy Spirit. Yet I believe that His grace is sufficient for me and that I have received His incomprehensible forgiveness yet once again.
Can you or I be trusted since we too have sinned and fallen short of His calling after being saved? Certainly we can, we must be so that we continue to believe in the grace of God.
We can only follow another as they follow Christ. Does our sin that we have repented of mean we are no longer following Him? Of course not. Repentance meaning not only sorrow for our sin but turning around and fleeing from it.
I won't hold a minister's sins against them its just that I wonder how God sees these things. Perhaps some others wonder too. Once our confidence is shaken in a man or woman it's a prayerful decision as to whether to again follow them.
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