I found out about this topic while listening to a Christian ministry podcast (this ministry helps people get out of pornography addictions and stuff) last night. So I would like to know what other people think about this.
Do you believe that a pastor who has strayed from God should NOT be kicked out of the church?
Let's put it this way. Say for example, a senior pastor has a pornography problem and he admits to it and wants to get help. Should he be kicked out of the church or should he be allowed to work at the church, but not be in a position of leadership? What happens if the guy was caught instead of apologizing? Should he be kicked out or given a chance to redeem himself?
No smart aleck questions, please. Those will be ignored.
2007-09-15 16:28:37 · 15 answers · asked by chrstnwrtr 7 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Hello,
The whole point and bottom line of Christianity is to forgive your fellow man or women, even if they have been your enemy. Sometimes we put ministers and priests on a higher pedestal and never expect them to have the same temptations and problems plaguing many of us.
I would say that no one, including the pastor should be kicked out of the church but at the same time he has breached his position of trust and while being allowed to carry on with work he ought not be in a leadership position; especially if he was caught red handed. He should be allowed to redeem himself and regain his higher responsibilities but he would be wiser to move on to another church where there would be no one bringing up his indiscretions over and over again.
Cheers,
Michael Kelly
2007-09-16 03:55:32 · answer #1 · answered by Michael Kelly 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Is masturbation or watching a pornographic movie really straying so far from God? Masturbation is extremely common among all people - men and women, and porn is just a tool to facilitate the sexual release. Watching a tape or DVD in the privacy of one's home should do no harm to anyone. No child or woman is hurt by this AS LONG AS the pornographic material has been appropriately produced with professional, consenting actors who are of legal age.
If this pastor has admitted he cannot stop, he can receive help from counselors. This is certainly less distressing than having priests molest innocent children. Let those among us who have never masturbated and never committed any private sin cast the stones at this pastor. I feel sorry for the guy if he was caught masturbating to pornography - very embarrassing for anyone let alone a pastor who is supposed to be setting an example for us all. I'm sorry if you think I trivialize this sin, but I look at the history of the Christian Church and recall popes so depraved they make todays priestly pedophiles seem tame.
Look up Rodrigo Borgia - Alexander VI, 1492-1503 - and he was not the only one. A number of popes and cardinals in the 15th and 16th centuries openly had mistresses and produced children while preaching to others about their sins.
{As I reread and edit this I recall you do know quite a bit about the bad popes in history.}
What's the passage concerning a person worrying about the speck in someone else's eye and ignoring the plank in his own?
The pastor you mention will have a difficult time regardless since his particular problem has become public knowledge. He will have a tough time coming back from this disgrace. Too many people like to point fingers at others. Many Christians are not as forgiving as Jesus. I think Jesus would have given this man a break if he gets help and overcomes his problem.
2007-09-15 17:10:57 · answer #2 · answered by Spreedog 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It Is a sin and pastors are to be held to a different level then layperson's. Not to say that a church member can't and shouldn't be removed from a church for grevious sins. But that the pastor is the leadership, which people will follow and hold respect too. And this isn't how Christians should act like.
1 Timothy chapter 3 as well as 1 Corinthians 5: 11-13
speaks of this sort of thing, and how it is handled.
2007-09-15 17:04:47 · answer #3 · answered by Kathy H 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Honestly no, I don't. Now if he was a pedephile or a violent criminal well then yeah. But other wise no.
I used to live in Memphis, right now the street from Bellvue Baptist Church. It's like the Vatican for Baptist. The preacher there would come into the resteraunt and order a jack and coke but ask for it be in a regular glass. He wasn't an alchoholic. It was ONE drink. But he was SO afraid of what people might think. I felt bad for the guy. He was just being human but everyone expected him to be perfect.
Christians always say they are not perfect, they are just saved. A Pastor is no different. Is his message any less passionate just because he has a personal battle? That's silly. You either believe your own message or you don't.
2007-09-15 16:35:12 · answer #4 · answered by ~Heathen Princess~ 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
This is why where I fellowship there is no leader in charge. We share the duties. He should not be kicked out but he should not have a postion of leadership. If he repents, then he will be foregiven. This is the risk a church with a set pastor takes. If something happens then there is no one to lead.
2007-09-15 16:38:32 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you are going to kick him out because he has an area of sin in his life, then you might just as well kick them all out. We are all sinners, and so are all pastors. That's why we need a Savior. If a pastor is bringing public scandal on the church by his behavior, that's one thing. But the fact that he has an area of sin in his private life that he needs to address just means that he is human.
2007-09-15 16:39:50 · answer #6 · answered by PaulCyp 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Its a complex issue, for on one side we are all susceptible to sin, but on the other hand ministers should be living examples of the righteousness brought by the Holy Spirit. I don't really believe in permanent ministry positions though, people should preach only when directly inspired by the Holy Spirit, it should not be just "their job".
2007-09-15 16:44:12 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
i beleive pornography is like any other addiction..we can be addicted to a wide variety of things..is coffee and food..ofcourse no one makes too big of a deal if a pastor is obese because he is addicted to food...i woudl say to let him get redeemed..get help...however i realise that there are many judgemental people in church and therefore i beleive it would be very hard for him to continue preaching and have the peoples trust and respect..he would have to leave at least for a while...
2007-09-15 16:35:35 · answer #8 · answered by carlita 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I really think it would depend on the style of porn he was using. If it were Child porn, then I would say bye bye right away.
If not and it is an adult scenario then i think a second chance should be considered but only after a vote of his peers based on how the church members themselves feel.
i think that would be a fair way to handle it.
Without knowing the exact porn crime it could be a few ways.
2007-09-15 20:23:35 · answer #9 · answered by Legend Gates Shotokan Karate 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I believe the Pastor should be taken out of a leadership position. If he can not control his own sinning how is he supposed to be an example of how someone should live their lives? Peace
2007-09-15 16:35:39 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 1⤋