biblical standards etc. What I mean is .... for example .... if someone in your faith divorces ..... and there is no justifiable cause for the divorce ( according to your faith ) .... what does the church do in regard to this person ?
2007-10-21 10:17:35 · 14 answers · asked by burlingtony 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
We follow Matthew 18. It tells us to confront them in private, this is usually done by someone close to the person. If the person does not respond to the confrontation, like they don't acknowledge they did anything wrong, the next step is to bring another friend along and confront them with 2 "witnesses."
If that doesn't work, they are brought before the leaders of the church. If they still don't repent, they are disfellowshiped.
Basically, if a person is caught in sin and refuses to admit it was wrong according to scripture, and they won't repent, they are showing that they are not walking the path that Jesus laid out for us to follow. They are to be treated as an unbeliever. In that, we still can hang out, but there isn't the close connection with them that there is with fellow believers who are pursuing the path of holiness.
If a person is in a leadership position, they are treated differently. They are asked to step down from their position until the matter is resolved. A pastoral staff does not want someone to be in a representative role if they don't agree with the leadership of the church.
Some who choose to repent are asked to confess in front of the whole congregation. This is a huge step in helping them to turn from their sin and be fully restored to the body. I've seen this happen in cases of adultery.
The thing is, this structure of authority and discipline doesn't go over too well with most people. Unfortunately, this doesn't happen in very many churches. Most people, if they are even confronted at all, would just walk away and go find a church that was more willing to tolerate sin, and sadly, those aren't hard to find. A person must have a humble and willing heart and be willing to receive confrontation and respond accordingly. Without that, Matthew 18 doesn't do any good.
2007-10-21 10:28:31 · answer #1 · answered by BaseballGrrl 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The Catholic church has a code of Canon Law. There are certain offences here that someone can be punished for. However, they are serious offences such as Abortion, Apostacy (renouncing the faith), Heresy (denying truths of the faith, or Schism (creating a division within the Church). Such ecclesiatical crimes are punished by excommunication. Under such a penalty the person is barred from all sacraments (except reconciliation), until they repent and recant. Minor violations that breach God's laws are dealt with in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Catholics confess their sins to a priest who then offers forgiveness in Jesus Christ.
While there were times when certain groups may have come under scrutiny, such as divorced persons, there is less of that today. We do not "kick people out" of the Church. Rather we encourage people to be reconciled with God and the Community.
2007-10-21 10:31:49 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The church in general (the people)
Or the Pastor & board..
The person would not be let to teach or minister in the church if the situation was out of order, but apart from that we don't investigate every person unless we see something that is bad.
About divorce, it is justifiable when the other party commits adultery. But if they separate because of problems that is not a problem, although if this person is in ministry in the church they should notify the Pastor about it.
2007-10-21 10:21:19 · answer #3 · answered by † PRAY † 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I go to the http://www.riveroflifefellowship.org & I don't recall the Pastor every preaching condemnation on those who went through a divorse. He wouldn't name anyone either.
Once though the associate Pastor had an affair. He was talked to about it but he wouldn't repent or stop the affair. He was married with 2 children. My Pastor prayed the prayer in the NT over him in front of the whole Church. To turn him over to satan for the destruction of his flesh so his spirit is saved in the day of the Lord.
My Pastor just preaches the Word & the Holy Spirit will convict someone if they need salvation or if they are being disobedient to God in an area. If they are selective in their obedience. Meaning they want to not forgive so & so, or something else. Then they usually just don't like the Pastor anymore & they may or may not leave the Church. If they stay, then they learn that forgiveness is necessary for A Christian to show to others.
2007-10-21 10:26:14 · answer #4 · answered by t a m i l 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Our church uses the Bible for our rules. We know that in this society there are people with problems. We love those who have those problems and gently help them to be restored. Whether it is an addiction or divorce or any other problem. the members are kind and compassionate to that person. So, with love and guidance, that person will grow in Christ. hope this helps.
2007-10-21 10:37:09 · answer #5 · answered by Yo C 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
For divorce my church does nothing. My friends' parents have been divorced three times each...
2007-10-21 10:23:47 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Why are you so interested as to what is happening in any other religion than your own. Are you looking to find something wrong, to condemn, to judge. Why are you wasting your precious time on this earth worrying about what someone else's life is like, when you should be concentrating on your own. Be the best that YOU can be and this world will be one step further to becoming a more peaceful and loving place.
2007-10-21 10:22:52 · answer #7 · answered by Maureen S 7 · 1⤊ 3⤋
Typically, nothing. People have to submit themselves to religious regulations voluntarily. But they may be excluded from the clergy or the parish council, if applicable.
2007-10-21 10:28:27 · answer #8 · answered by NONAME 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The fellowship I attend doesn't have "rules," dear one. People who attend, want to be there and are welcome.
I think you're talking about things the Bible calls sins, rather than church rules. And those (like divorce, etc.) are up to God to deal with and judge, not the church.
God bless!
2007-10-21 10:23:22 · answer #9 · answered by Devoted1 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
I'm a Taoist, and we don't have rules per se that everyone is supposed to follow... but, when I get really uptight about somethng, my husband tries to get me to relax by making fun of me not being a proper disinterested Taoist. I tell him I study Taoism because I need its wisdoms, not because I'm already adept at them. :-P
2007-10-21 10:22:11 · answer #10 · answered by KC 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋