What is it with the "Christian" leaders these days?

Question

First, Mark Foley, next Ted Haggard, and now a Christian youth minister accused of raping a 14 year old girl. Your thoughts?

http://www.jacksonsun.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061121/NEWS01/611210310/1002

Answer 1

They are forced to deny their nature by the artificial demands of the church. Thus, their nature will turn on them and make them commit acts that bring harm to others.

Many atheists, agnostics, pagans, Satanists, and other freethinkers don't have this problem since none of us are forced to fight our carnal nature; thus, our sexual desires do not become twisted.

Answer 2

Kathyrn, you really don't want anyones "thoughts" on these matters. All you really want to do is point the finger at Christians. Do we have people in our faith that claim to be Christian yet do deplorable things? You bet we do. You as an atheist must have people who claim to be atheist that do things or say things that you would prefer they not do or say. Do you think that messed up individuals like these are representative of the Christian body as a whole?? No, you know better. What you are doing is making a feeble attempt to point the finger and say"How can you Christians explain this away." The answer is we can't, these men are completely guilty of commiting these acts and destroying their credibility as Christains. Do I as a Christain approve of their actions, nope, I surely do not. Can I forgive them, yep, I surely can. Why, because it's not my place to judge. What should happen to the youth minister who raped the fourteen year old girl? He should be sentenced to the stiffest punishment allowed by law. He has ruined that childs life. So, there is your answer to your question.
Our leaders are many more than those few that you have named. I don't know any atheist leaders that come to mind. I would say Hillary Clinton, but hey, she "claims" to be a Christian. If she runs for President, and she is a Christain, will you vote for her? I mean, you being an atheist and so against Christianity. Or will you forgive her that "trespass" as she is a Democrat after all.

Answer 3

First off, I don't believe Mark Foley ever claimed to be a Christian. Second, for every one Ted Haggard, there are thousands of pastors who serve their flock well, are faithful to their wives and seek to do God's will daily, but they don't get the headlines in the media.

Answer 4

Titles people hold never make them perfect or beyond reproach. There is always corruption in every area, like Drs who intentionally kill their patients, molest/rape them when they're unconscious, cops who steal people's money and drugs. Politics has been corrupt since day one also so Im not surprized when church leaders get busted. All these peoople are in (or feel they are in) possitions of power, and nothing corrupts more than power.

It usually comes with WHY the person goes for that position in the first place, are the looking for prestigue and power or looking to actually help? Most in all those positions I think want the power more than anything.

Answer 5

Satan at work! Remember, these leaders are also only human and fall into temptation like everyone else. Its really sad. Some of them also (because of Satan) get caught up in pride and begin to Glorify themselves, which is a sin. That leads to all this other behavior (Satan sitting there cheering) and then they fall from Grace.

The best we can do is to pray for our Christian leaders and Pastors that they will not sub-*** to Satan and his evil ways. Also, that is another reason to test whatever a Pastor, etc., says with the Bible itself, so many have strayed and gone down the wrong path.

God Bless!

Answer 6

It has probably always gone on. It is more publicized now because we have media that loves this sort of thing. Also, in the case of Ted Haggard it was a mega-scandal because it was a mega-church with a very well known guy.

I think it has always gone on, we just here about it more now because of our advanced technology compared to previous times.

Answer 7

They're obviously not being very Christian. But don't slam the rest of us. You can't judge the whole by the few. Say what you will.

EDIT. I've always wondered (kinda' like some politicians) if some of these started out "good" but the power trip took them to the wrong places. Or if they felt they would never get caught because of their positions.

Answer 8

Unfortunately, this is nothing new. Since the First Century, the church has been plagued by imposters peddling the Gospel for their own selfish gain.

Consider Paul's words in Philippians:
"Some, to be sure, are preaching Christ even from envy and strife, but some also from good will; the latter do it out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel; the former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition rather than from pure motives, thinking to cause me distress in my imprisonment." - Philippians 1:15-17

Answer 9

It makes you wonder too, about the people that put these criminals in positions of authority. Don't they realize that a group is almost always identified with its leader? Yet still, we get people like Swaggart, Bakker, Haggard and more who are as far from Christ-like as you can possibly get. You also get people like Robertson and Falwell and others who spew hate rhetoric, and greedy fakes like Benny Hinn, who bilk people of their money to support their lavish lifestyle.

Christians, are THESE the people you want representing you?

Answer 10

hmm interesting. at my christian school the basketball coach had an affair with one of the students. he had a wife and 2 kids of his own. i think it was the year after i left that i read it in the paper. i hear so much about these christian schools and proclaimed christians that pull this nonsense far more then i hear about public schools.