I see news reports of preachers that have been found out for sinning. Here's this guy who makes people think he's got God's ear and he's all full of Holy Spirit. All of this praying to God hasn't removed or bared his sin and he still gets to convince the world that this is what a spiritual man looks like but he's just a fraud. Isn't that just humiliating for the congregation? Doesn't that put all evangelists under suspicion?
2007-07-15 18:21:35 · 26 answers · asked by ? 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Can you believe that faith healer who got caught getting info from his wife instead of God is still being believed as if nothing happened?
2007-07-16 05:10:39 · update #1
Because there is no god.
2007-07-15 18:24:20 · answer #1 · answered by Patrick 4 · 2⤊ 5⤋
Free will baby! ...and have you considered that it could be God who caused the whole thing to be "found out" to remove him from leadership?
Would it me humiliating for the congregation...most definitely. As a teenager, I got to witness first hand what happens to a congregation when they discover that their pastor isn't who he claimed to be.
The truly humiliating thing for these congregations that end up in the news is that if they had been paying attention (and following God's instructions), in most cases, they would have seen the signs that their pastor was a fraud BEFORE it made the news! The New Testament gives pretty explicit instructions (e.g., 1 Timothy 3:1-7) for selecting (and evaluating) a person in leadership in the church. Even as a teenager, I saw the signs in our pastor long before many of the adults did...and at first, those that did, left the church. Eventually, a group of people who were willing to stay and fight for the church instead of finding another one were able to remove him from leadership before it destroyed the church (and that pastor eventually did make a few local news headlines when his next congregation didn't heed the warnings)!
Should it put all evangelists under suspicion? If by suspicion you mean that you should assume that are also corrupt, then no. However, I do believe that every believer has the responsibility to evaluate his or her pastor in terms of how he lives AND what he says...if suspicion means that you shouldn't accept an evangelists word on faith alone, then yep, be suspicious of all of them!
2007-07-15 18:55:32 · answer #2 · answered by KAL 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Two things
1. Who said that God allowed him to lead the congregation?
2. All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God
In the western world, Christianity does not follow what the Bible teaches on the selection of pastors, preacher, teachers, etc...
In fact the attendance of and successful graduation from the college of that particular is about all that is needed to become a pastor anymore. It has been that way for centuries!
The 'normal' 'Christian" church in the western world does not even follow 1 cor 14 concerning the congregation of believers, but follows the jewish, intercessory model of the high priest standing before the congregation and in front of God, an intermediary
JESUS'S DEATH DESTROYED THIS!
The 'Church' in 2007 is nothing like what it was in year 1 after the death of Christ!
2007-07-22 21:17:22 · answer #3 · answered by athorgarak 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yeah it probably is just humiliating for the congregation, maybe even disappointing. You could be considered one of the greatest pastors, preachers, evangelists, missionaries, or just a Christians and still do sinful things. Being a Christian doesn't give you an anti-sin-shield or something like that. You have to realize that no one is perfect no matter who they are and you just have to forgive them
2007-07-15 20:12:33 · answer #4 · answered by robertthemagicalninja 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We have free will and can be liars... God allows free will but only for a short time, then "all things will be exposed to the light." the Bible says.
There is alot of talk of integrity and transparncey in the church, and that is because we are broken people who sin and do broken things, hopefully not too many or too often - ot harm is done. And the harm of lying leaders is awful - the church is a wonderful plaace but those outside of it see this and are turned off and away from it.
The Bible also says that those who lead are judged more severely as well... it is not a good place to lie and deceive. But remember - they are people too, not God, and like you and I are not perfect. That is why we learn to look at Christ, not people.
2007-07-15 18:32:18 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
God has infinite patience, and just like He does for anyone else, He gives preachers a window of time to judge themselves, repent, and stop sinning.
When these preachers are found out it means that God has closed that window. Since the person has not judged themselves and repented, God has to expose them. He cannot let them continue to preach in His name if they continue to live in sin.
But God is not quick to judge. He is infinitely more kind and patient than any one of us. Truthfully, if we think about it, not one of us would have given the person nearly as much time to repent and change as God does. We would have been on their case from the moment we knew.
If we put ourselves in their place, considering that every single person alive has sinned in some way, at some time in their lives, I don't know about you but I am glad that God is the one doing the judging, and not people.
2007-07-15 18:31:51 · answer #6 · answered by missmuffin 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
do not fear, for no-one can fool God. these guys will reap what they sow...if you sow the wind, you will reap the whirlwind.
God knows what they're doing and if they do not repent, they will pay the full price. People should however learn not to put thier trust in people. They should read the Word for themselves and have a personal relationship with God in Christ. The they will not be deceived, for as you grow in your relationship with God, the Holy Spirit guides and direct you. Soon you will be able to discern between good and evil. You will learn to compare whatever people are saying with God's Word. \if you cannot find evidence for their word or lifestyle in there, you will know that it is evil in origin.
2007-07-15 18:28:18 · answer #7 · answered by godshandmaiden 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I know you are talking about Peter Popoff. It completely boggles my mind how people can be so gullible but, even more mind boggling is how people can say "how can a God of love do this, allow that, turn His back on whatever...etc. etc." You know the one gift that our Creator entrusted to us? Freedom of choice. We are free to choose anything we like. It's not God who turns a blind eye to "O, so the head pastor likes hookers. O well... la dee dah. Maybe hookers aren't so bad. Maybe he's actually trying to turn them towards a cleaner life." Yeah, right. And I got a road to sell ya. They choose to believe the lies for whatever reason. Is it no wonder we are referred to as sheep in the Bible. Many will come in My name. Many are called, few are chosen. When you see stuff like the Popoff "ministry" and others, it becomes clear - many are called but... few are chosen. We are only human and to forgive is a good thing. Has he truly repented? Has he changed his ways for the betterment of the trusting believers? [ trusting believers in whom, I have to ask myself.] Only time will tell. Unfortunately, "being only human", I can't stomach the guy. My spirit just wants to freak out when I see him, as I flip thru the channels. He has a lot to prove by me. No one is perfect and never will be but, come on now... once a con? always a con?? Yes... time will tell.
2007-07-23 17:28:46 · answer #8 · answered by talon 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That is why it is so important to not follow man...If you are in the gospel daily and with a study group, and in prayer daily, you will have a faith based on what the Holy Spirit does for you, and not some man...Man is foul able...God usually does not allow these ministers to go unexposed forever........
When there is something terribly wrong in your church, you can Feel it..pay attention to those feelings and promptings.
2007-07-16 04:44:05 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
God gave us the opportunity to make choices...hopefully learning from them as we grow! Being that we are human and make mistakes and that we are equally loved by God no matter who we are or what job we choose. So even those who are suppose to preach the word of God and direct us in the enlighten path are able to make mistakes and who are we to judge ..we are all Gods children and it is his job to guide us so if someone is attending a church with a minister they find immoral they should/could allow themselves to be direct to another church
2007-07-15 18:31:11 · answer #10 · answered by chelelovesyou81 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it is nothing short of hilariously absurd how some christians have responded the ted haggard scandal by saying that it says nothing about faith and that they claim that, if anything, it has emboldened their faith.
The truth is that at most all churches, if you look closely enough, you will see that god is not "IN" that church anymore that he is in your bathroom while your taking a crap.
I hesitate to say that "church" is a BAD thing, but people need to realize that no matter how much you respect any particular pastor, he is no more in touch with god than a homeless man selling crack on the street.
we are all just human beings here.
just becuase you THINK you have special revelation does not make you any better than someone who does not believe in your "holy word"
2007-07-15 18:29:25 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋