Chritian church Closes after its leader identified as a Paedophile ring leader.
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You just don't get it. Do you know what it even means for someone to be born again?
Here is a pastor who led a pedophile ring. The first reaction of the world is "See! It was a "Christian" Pastor.
The first concern of a regenerate Christian is for the children and families involved.
The second concern is "Was this man born again or a christian in name only?
Here is a pastor who led a pedophile ring. The first reaction of the world is "See! It was a "Christian" Pastor.
The first concern of a regenerate Christian is for the children and families involved.
The second concern is "Was this man born again or a christian in name only?
Well I tried and it seems I've failed. Your defensive and your position is focussed on protecting the name of the church. I really don't care and nor does the raped girl whether he was truly born again then fell from Grace - or whether he never was...or..WE JUST DONT CARE. The issue is he was hiding in the ranks of good Christians and whats more leading them. That was the point and I think you know it but it seems the issue your focussing on isn't the women who suffer but protecting the image of the church..... which btw I don't have a problem with - why should everyone be tarnished by the action of the evil - but u do it in such a way as to hide the dirty linen - its exactly what the churches here have been doing, but an Australian Royal Commission is now showing just how ugly and destructive that attitude has been.
A
I do. One isn't a genuine Christian unless they have been spiritually reborn with a new godly nature by God Himself (that reflects God's holiness). In Christianity, to be born again is to undergo a "spiritual rebirth" (regeneration) of the human soul or spirit from the Holy Spirit, contrasted with the physical birth everyone experiences.
The apostle Paul in Ephesians 2:1 says, "And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins" (NKJV). To the Romans he wrote, "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). Sinners are spiritually “dead”; when they receive spiritual life through faith in Christ, the Bible likens it to a rebirth.
Only those who are born again have their sins forgiven, a new godly nature, and a very real new relationship with God with a new citizenship in His spiritual kingdom.
Jesus said, "Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born again" John 3:3. One is either spiritually regenerate by the power of the Holy Spirit or in an unregenerate state. There is no in between or exceptions.
If they are regenerate, then they have a new godly nature from God Himself that has changed what they are as a person in their core as well as their relation to God. This new godly nature naturally aligns with and seeks God's holy normative morality. Though Christians are not yet perfected and do sin and repent as they are sanctified after salvation: this is is why you don't find genuine Christians living their lives immersed in great wickedness unrepentantly.
You do see fake or professing Christians (unregenerate people who merely profess to be Christians but are not in reality) living lives of great wickedness, misrepresenting God's Word to try and justify their wickedness, mislead others, etc... but they are pretenders and false teachers whose fruits do not align with the Holy Spirit regeneration each genuine believer actually experiences.
Anyone can call themselves anything. I've met mentally ill people that believed and acted as if they were historical figures. Jesus was a popular one for some reason. None of them were Jesus. They were just lost mentally ill people and this guy was but a pretender as well.
The apostle Paul in Ephesians 2:1 says, "And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins" (NKJV). To the Romans he wrote, "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). Sinners are spiritually “dead”; when they receive spiritual life through faith in Christ, the Bible likens it to a rebirth.
Only those who are born again have their sins forgiven, a new godly nature, and a very real new relationship with God with a new citizenship in His spiritual kingdom.
Jesus said, "Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born again" John 3:3. One is either spiritually regenerate by the power of the Holy Spirit or in an unregenerate state. There is no in between or exceptions.
If they are regenerate, then they have a new godly nature from God Himself that has changed what they are as a person in their core as well as their relation to God. This new godly nature naturally aligns with and seeks God's holy normative morality. Though Christians are not yet perfected and do sin and repent as they are sanctified after salvation: this is is why you don't find genuine Christians living their lives immersed in great wickedness unrepentantly.
You do see fake or professing Christians (unregenerate people who merely profess to be Christians but are not in reality) living lives of great wickedness, misrepresenting God's Word to try and justify their wickedness, mislead others, etc... but they are pretenders and false teachers whose fruits do not align with the Holy Spirit regeneration each genuine believer actually experiences.
Anyone can call themselves anything. I've met mentally ill people that believed and acted as if they were historical figures. Jesus was a popular one for some reason. None of them were Jesus. They were just lost mentally ill people and this guy was but a pretender as well.
@AoK. I get your point - honestly I do. What if you have a church with a great congregation and one of them ISNT the type of true Christian you describe. If he was as you described there wouldn't be issues....this is about the ones that are hiding in the ranks. It causes so much suffering to their victims, their family...n the rest of the congregation suffers as well. So I actually agree AoK...My message is don't be silent with people u suspect...don't look at other way at kids or women with funny bruises or kids that seem to have extraordinary depression like issues. They are a sign u may have a problem in the ranks. This pastor was a stark example - a stark reminder
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Zoii, you are a wonderful young lady, and I pray that you will maintain your zest for the truth.
You find these people in virtually every corner of the world. The best thing for us to do is root out and identify the perpetrators, and prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law. We should also wrap the victims, and their family and friends, in the love of God and help them recover.
Thankfully, with time and the love of God the Church can recover, and become a strong witness for Christ. Sadly, the congregation is usually so embarrassed, that they lose much of their zeal (to the point of turning their back on Christ), and the church involved dies.
This note to the elders of all churches, God expects you to vet your ministerial leaders.
You find these people in virtually every corner of the world. The best thing for us to do is root out and identify the perpetrators, and prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law. We should also wrap the victims, and their family and friends, in the love of God and help them recover.
Thankfully, with time and the love of God the Church can recover, and become a strong witness for Christ. Sadly, the congregation is usually so embarrassed, that they lose much of their zeal (to the point of turning their back on Christ), and the church involved dies.
This note to the elders of all churches, God expects you to vet your ministerial leaders.
H
Hi Zoii,
First, I really appreciate the fact that you're drawing attention to some problems that are deeply entrenched in contemporary society, including the church -- various forms of gross sexual immorality, ranging from pornography to rape, pedophilia, and other evils. A crime like this pastor's should never be excused. And from what I can tell, no one on this forum has made an excuse for him, or defended him.
When cases like this come up, we need to respond to them in a Christian way. And how we ought to respond individually as Christians will depend on our place in life. So, first of all, you're correct that we should be concerned about the welfare of the girl(s) (and/or other victims). They need to be loved, counselled, protected, encouraged, and otherwise treated in a godly way. She probably also needs to be put in a position where her privacy is respected, as she is likely very humiliated right now despite the fact that she is not responsible for what happened.
And as for the man? We need to respond Biblically to him, too.
For instance, Biblically:
The civil government ought to try this man and, if found guilty, punish him for being a rapist. Biblically, the punishment for rape can be as severe as the death penalty. (Deut. 22:25-27) So a slap on the wrist isn't appropriate for his crimes.
The church government should be concerned with his soul -- his overall spiritual state. So, they should be seeking repentance from him or, if he refuses to repent after appropriate steps, excommunicating him in the hope that he will repent and return.
And Christian individuals, like us, are still required to love this man and seek his spiritual well-being. Of course, if he hasn't been turned in to the authorities we ought to do that, too. We should never protect him from the legal consequences of this sin, nor should we do anything that would enable him to harm additional people/children. But we are still obligated to love him, desire the best for him, hope that he repents and is restored to the faith, etc. Remember: Jesus came to seek and save the lost. This man needs Christ as well, and he'll only find Christ if there is someone willing to share the Gospel with him.
Thanks for bringing attention to this very serious and emotional case. It is important that we all take whatever steps we can to prevent predators from harming more children and young people.
Regards,
Hind Let Loose
First, I really appreciate the fact that you're drawing attention to some problems that are deeply entrenched in contemporary society, including the church -- various forms of gross sexual immorality, ranging from pornography to rape, pedophilia, and other evils. A crime like this pastor's should never be excused. And from what I can tell, no one on this forum has made an excuse for him, or defended him.
When cases like this come up, we need to respond to them in a Christian way. And how we ought to respond individually as Christians will depend on our place in life. So, first of all, you're correct that we should be concerned about the welfare of the girl(s) (and/or other victims). They need to be loved, counselled, protected, encouraged, and otherwise treated in a godly way. She probably also needs to be put in a position where her privacy is respected, as she is likely very humiliated right now despite the fact that she is not responsible for what happened.
And as for the man? We need to respond Biblically to him, too.
For instance, Biblically:
The civil government ought to try this man and, if found guilty, punish him for being a rapist. Biblically, the punishment for rape can be as severe as the death penalty. (Deut. 22:25-27) So a slap on the wrist isn't appropriate for his crimes.
The church government should be concerned with his soul -- his overall spiritual state. So, they should be seeking repentance from him or, if he refuses to repent after appropriate steps, excommunicating him in the hope that he will repent and return.
And Christian individuals, like us, are still required to love this man and seek his spiritual well-being. Of course, if he hasn't been turned in to the authorities we ought to do that, too. We should never protect him from the legal consequences of this sin, nor should we do anything that would enable him to harm additional people/children. But we are still obligated to love him, desire the best for him, hope that he repents and is restored to the faith, etc. Remember: Jesus came to seek and save the lost. This man needs Christ as well, and he'll only find Christ if there is someone willing to share the Gospel with him.
Thanks for bringing attention to this very serious and emotional case. It is important that we all take whatever steps we can to prevent predators from harming more children and young people.
Regards,
Hind Let Loose
Boy, THAT is a topic I wish we could rationally discuss. Because we ARE NOT doing much of ANYTHING to protect our children. In fact, in many cases, we are actually INCREASING the danger they are in from this menace. And this is coming from a man who worked directly in the trenches of this area for two and a half decades.
Oh hearing that is .... I feel anxious hearing it. I just hope our churches' leaders see the terrible traumas in churches around us and take the lesson to step up and stay vigilant..... but they need the help of the congregation too. I can't express strongly enough what it must be like to be a victim of this.... I feel I am inadequate in highlighting the trauma and fear