Was I too hard on the Cheating Pastor?

Question

This Pastor is on Myspace looking for sex. (Without question). This is how I responded.

Trevor, if you love God I want you to read all that I have to say!

Do you not fear God? Do you think you will not be held accountable? You were "chosen" to teach and educate us and here you are letting the Devil use you in the worst way. I HAVE LOST TOTAL FAITH IN THE CHURCH; AND IN MAN. These supposed men of God do not practice what they preach. Your congregation are poor sinners looking to you for guidance and direction and here you are on Myspace looking for sex on Easter Sunday!!!! I will NEVER EVER gain trust in the clergy ever again in my life................................. Thank you for opening my eyes wide! All churches are ruled by Satan. I fear the man that does not fear God.

I'm sure there are others. Here is his website.
http://www.myspace.com/pastortrevorl

THIS IS HIS LAST RESPONSE:

Of course I fear God and I am not here looking for sex. YOU caught my attention and yes, I am weak for YOU. Never forget that we are ALL human and struggling for perfection and still have flaws. I AM accountable! Don't ever let any MAN stop you from trusting God nor the church. That's the reason we are all there...to get better!
So, the best thing that you can do for me is pray for me...and I will appreciate that! Who is perfect, let him cast the first stone!

Answer 1

I don't think you were too hard on him. I do, however, think you should maintain your trust in the church. Don't let him make you turn your back on the church. And the bible says, do not put your trust in man, but in God. Hang in there! Not all clergy are like that. God Bless!

Answer 2

Well, your generalization that based on this one event you can never again trust any clergy and that all churches are ruled by Satan is a form of distorted thinking.

Additionally, I don't know what you saw that made you believe, without question, that he was looking for sex, but for the purpose of this discussion, I'll assume that your belief is correct. Ministers, while often held to a higher standard, are in fact just people. People who are subject to the same desires and feelings and thoughts and errors as anyone else. No minister, and this is one case where I can very safely use a superlative, has ever lived a life without error, flaw or poor discretion. This is not a condemnation of the clergy (though I could easily take that route) just a simple fact. Misters (rabbis, monks, priests, shamen, etc.) are all just people and sometimes people make mistakes or do things that others are not going to approve of. It's a fact of life.

Answer 3

Without question? How do you conclude that? There is nothing on there at all suggesting that he is looking for sex. Only three people have responded to his space, and one of them was a family member. He has men and women on his friends list. He is looking to meet "Positive people, goal oriented people, intelligent people, saved people, struggling people, loving people, people who have something to offer mankind!" Nothing in there about hooking up with them. Nothing about sex. Nothing about seeking women or "just men." Nothing at all. The one suggestive comment does not indicate anything, either. Her picture MIGHT be suggestive, but her message was not necessarily. "Happy Easter." That's it. And it is not like you know he responded to it, or has any control over who comments. I think you formulated your opinion about clergymen, THEN filled in the blanks in your imagination to fit your opinion of clergy in general. It is ridiculous.

Now let's assume you are right. It is possible that I am missing something here. I'm not perfect. If you are right, then you certainly were NOT hard on that pastor at all, but you made a faulty and illogical extension of your argument when you extended your distrust toward all pastors, churches, and people. One man does not represent everyone, no more than does everyone represent one man. If you are going to use logic like that, then you cannot trust ANYONE for ANYTHING. That's a rough way to live your life. That said, I would have gone further and sent a letter to his church if I really believed it. You are right that guys like you describe don't need to be in positions of authority. The fact is, however, that all guys in that position are not like that. You are stereotyping.

Answer 4

I didn't see anything on his myspace that indicates he is cheating on his wife. However, if you know for sure he is & have proof, here is what I have to say. If you put your faith & trust in man or in the 'church' in general, you will ALWAYS be let down. God did not say in the Bible to put your trust in man. He said to put it in GOD. It is unfortunate that there are ppl out there who call themselves men of God or Christians & continue to be like the world. The Bible says, "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him." I John 2:15 (KJV) That's not to say we shouldn't love the ppl in the world, we just can't love the sin they commit or associate with ppl who are bad influences to us. It goes on to say in verse 16, "For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life is not of the Father, but of the world." If this pastor is looking for sex, as you say, he is letting the lust of his eyes (which is the door to his mind & dirty thoughts) to get the better of him. If he's already actually cheated, he has allowed lust of the flesh to enter, as well. We must pray for him and his congregation, whom he is leading astray. I would not associate with him any longer & definately wouldn't go to his church. In time, God will reveal his infidelity.

Answer 5

I don't know too much about Myspace, but it doesn't' look like he's looking for sex to me. It looks like he is pretty happy with his own works in life. I would definitely like to see a more humble man. I think you went off the deep end though. Who will cast the first stone? Obviously you! Do you even know this man?

Answer 6

I see nothing on his myspace page that indicates he's looking for sex.

Even if he is, though...he is but a man, and he can err, just as any human being can -- and does. You are so correct...they do not always practice what they preach. They, like us, are sinful human beings, and require God's forgiveness as much as anyone else.

No sin is too great for Jesus to have died for; no sin is too big that God cannot forgive. Any sin, whether its cheating on your spouse or telling your mom a lie...is enough to condemn one and all to eternal damnation, and it is ONLY through the blood of Jesus that we are redeemed.

All churches are ruled by Satan? Where do you get that?

I think you're being way too hard on him.

Answer 7

Ok, I looked at his page. How do you see him looking for sex? To give out his url and feel that we will draw the same conclusion is ridiculous. I have a myspace page, as does my husband, our youth pastor and our minister to children and families. Are we all looking for sex. What were you doing on myspace?

Answer 8

I can understand that you are upset with your preacher, but don't give up on God just because your preacher failed to practice what he preachers. My dad is a Methodist minister and he would never deify God, there are honest clergy men and women out there. Your preacher will have to answer to God himself and ask for forgiveness. Keep your faith! Good luck!

Answer 9

I didn't see him take responsibility for his sin nor ask for God forgiveness. Do Christians sin of course we do but we don't live in it. When we see it in us or it's pointed out we repent. Turn from it, forsake it.. It sound to me like he is still out there trolling to feed his lusts. No you weren't to hard on him. I only with you could inform his wife and congregation... Jim

Answer 10

Did he remove a comment that he made that said he wanted sex? I see no blogs and nothing that intimates that he is not Godly. I see that he likes Grey's Anatomy, and while that is a good show, is really sex-oriented. What did you see that made you realize he was looking for sex?
The picture of his scantily clad friend wasn't appropriate, I think...