Married Preacher Commits Adultery

[FallenPreacher]

Between November last year and last month, I have been visiting escorts, going to strip clubs, and watching inappropriate contentography. During most of this time, I was preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ to hundreds of people. I told my family and abandoned them when the guilt became too much to bear. My wife wants me to submit to the authority to a church up north from where I live and undergo their version of restoration, and I am very willing to do so in order to win back her trust as well as her heart. The question I am asking this forum is this: What does the Bible say of my situation? I cannot use David as an example, because his sin occurred in the Old Testament, and I want to know the New Testament answer of how to deal with this sin. Please keep in mind, I believe the Bible forbids divorce, and my wife believes the same thing, so please do not respond with scriptures about divorce. I need help, please. God is good, and he is in control, but I would like to know what the Bible tells me about when preachers commit adultery. I do not want to end up like some other preachers who lose their faith, and I don't want to dissappoint anyone ever again, nor do I want to disappoint God, either; because I do recognize that I have sinned against God when I broke my covenant with my wife (since it is a breaking of God's covenant as well).

Please help. Lord bless you all!

 

[thepianist]

First of all, let me say that you should be ashamed of yourself - which I'm sure you are. Second, you know as well as I do, that God has already forgiven you of your sin. YOU are the one that has to deal with the fact you committed it! I'm sure, given your position in the church, the devil will NOT make that easy for you. He will continue to bring up that guilt right in front of your face to keep you from preaching the gospel. My friend, you must repent of that sin, and throw it into the deepest part of the sea (like God does) and remember it no more.

My husband is a preacher. I cannot imagine this happening in our life. The devil is sly, to say the least, and he will do all he can to stop the spreading of Jesus Christ. You - and your family - and your church - will be in my prayers.

Dear Heavenly Father, Please touch this man, cleanse him and make him truly repentant for his actions. Lord, bless his dear family as they strive to deal with this situation. Please, Oh God, give them a peace and comfort in their household that surpasses all understanding. Dear God, please keep this preacher of your Bible on the straight and narrow from here on out. Lord, if he compromises your Word, in any way, take him out of the pulpit. I ask this in your wonderful, saving name, my Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

God Bless you

 

[Annoula]

dear friend,

i don't know what the Bible says... i don't know if your denomination believes in confession to a priest... maybe not...

what i have seen in my life is that i can easily condemn and critisize people about their sins and mistakes.
but when i do the same mistakes myself...well...it's not easy for me to critisize and condemn anymore... it seems different... my sins may be forgiven...there might be no spiritual guilt no more...but whenever i come across a person with similar mistakes i remember of what i did and try to lower my head and ask God to help this person because he/she is in a very difficult situation - I have been in their shoes and i know it's not good.

May God enlighten your way to Him.

 

[rocklife]

Between November last year and last month, I have been visiting escorts, going to strip clubs, and watching inappropriate contentography. During most of this time, I was preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ to hundreds of people. I told my family and abandoned them when the guilt became too much to bear. My wife wants me to submit to the authority to a church up north from where I live and undergo their version of restoration, and I am very willing to do so in order to win back her trust as well as her heart. The question I am asking this forum is this: What does the Bible say of my situation? I cannot use David as an example, because his sin occurred in the Old Testament, and I want to know the New Testament answer of how to deal with this sin. Please keep in mind, I believe the Bible forbids divorce, and my wife believes the same thing, so please do not respond with scriptures about divorce. I need help, please. God is good, and he is in control, but I would like to know what the Bible tells me about when preachers commit adultery. I do not want to end up like some other preachers who lose their faith, and I don't want to dissappoint anyone ever again, nor do I want to disappoint God, either; because I do recognize that I have sinned against God when I broke my covenant with my wife (since it is a breaking of God's covenant as well).

Please help. Lord bless you all!

tell God, and ask Him to help you stop lusting after every person you see, Jesus says even doing it in your mind is same as adultery. God is more powerful than the devil, you can resist sin with His help.

Do you get paid to preach? maybe you need to let go of money too.

 

[squatpuke]

Publically preaching the gospel holds you to a VERY high accountabilty; believers, non-believers as well as the chruch you attend. However, your highest accountabilty is to God.

The funniest and strangest part of this post is that YOU, an educated minister of God, is asking a moron like myself about the "New Testament answer of how to deal with this sin." C'mon dude.

Hate to take this avenue, but maybe it's time to quit the day job.

 

[Shown Much Mercy]

I suggest that you find a Church to sit as a member of the congregation. I would not be concerned with preaching until the issues that lead up to this event were dealt with.

 

[jollyjosh]

i think you should be thankful that your family still wants to be with you

 

[Evee]

I keep rehearsing all the ministers that has fallen to sexual sin.
Jimmy Swaggart Jim Baker and many others.
I believe none of us are truly innocent, however it is a must in my opinion to confess your sin and pray for forgiveness.
Pray God will help you with your temptations.
Step down from the pulpit a while and really pray that you can stand firm.
I know many women are attracted to ministers and this is just an extra distraction.
Then you could think of temptations like this as a thorn.
The secret is to pray you will not be attracted to anyone other than your wife in that way.
Also consider it a bitter lesson that it is not worth all the guilt.

 

[Anti Existance]

I hoped this thread was a joke, however i have to consider it as real. Look You have brought yourself in a serious pickle, the thing is can a wolve teach sheep how to live their lives? I am seriously having severe troubles with your case. If you stay a preacher and preach Jesus Christ to hundreds of people then you are doing a good thing, however if they find out that you have been visiting prostitutes and tons of inappropriate contentoghraphy then your position has become impossible. Therefore i want you to resign ,get a normal job and serve God by loving and helping people. You cannot preach the Word of jesus while visiting prostitutes -_- sigh

However God will forgive you this, and God still loves you. Condemning you will be useless as in who is without sin will throw the first stone. You have done TOO much damage , the church already has a very 'unstable' position towards sexuality, any scandal that you make will only make you drag the church down with it, people will stop going to church when the priests are wolves in sheeps clothes (pedofiles/adulturers/thiefs) As a representative of Jesus voice it is very important to have a clean record, if you have sins they can be forgiven, but things like prostitution and sexual expressions is like a weed that is hard to exterminate, God forsake you when your next 'urge' of sexual explicit behaviour emerges again on the surface, if i where you i would say thank you and leave your church in disgrace. Stop being a priest, become a volenteer that way you may be able to restore some of your dignity, and maby 20 years from now when your sexual urges are less active you may give it another try but even then i would say WATCH out because it can still come back at any age.

God bless your wife if she wants you back, which i honestly think she shouldn't. Why wasn't your wife good enough for you in the first place? When she takes you back bow down in shame ,and pray for guidance from God.

Now keep your chin up, your sins are forgiven Go now and don't sin anymore.

 

[rocklife]

Between November last year and last month, I have been visiting escorts, going to strip clubs, and watching inappropriate contentography. During most of this time, I was preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ to hundreds of people. I told my family and abandoned them when the guilt became too much to bear. My wife wants me to submit to the authority to a church up north from where I live and undergo their version of restoration, and I am very willing to do so in order to win back her trust as well as her heart. The question I am asking this forum is this: What does the Bible say of my situation? I cannot use David as an example, because his sin occurred in the Old Testament, and I want to know the New Testament answer of how to deal with this sin. Please keep in mind, I believe the Bible forbids divorce, and my wife believes the same thing, so please do not respond with scriptures about divorce. I need help, please. God is good, and he is in control, but I would like to know what the Bible tells me about when preachers commit adultery. I do not want to end up like some other preachers who lose their faith, and I don't want to dissappoint anyone ever again, nor do I want to disappoint God, either; because I do recognize that I have sinned against God when I broke my covenant with my wife (since it is a breaking of God's covenant as well).

Please help. Lord bless you all!

It is commendable that you are being honest and confessing your sins, it is a shame that you fell in this way, but thank you for sharing your burdens.

Your profile says you are a newbie, are you covering up another persona you have made in this forum? so you can be honest, but in an anonymous way?

I hope deceit isn't your christian habit. christians admit and confess their sins, we are sinners, that is why we need Jesus. This humiliation can be turned into good, if you get more honest, and forsake sins (and love of money, love of flattery, etc)

 

[Gramaic]

Between November last year and last month, I have been visiting escorts, going to strip clubs, and watching inappropriate contentography. During most of this time, I was preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ to hundreds of people. I told my family and abandoned them when the guilt became too much to bear. My wife wants me to submit to the authority to a church up north from where I live and undergo their version of restoration, and I am very willing to do so in order to win back her trust as well as her heart. The question I am asking this forum is this: What does the Bible say of my situation? I cannot use David as an example, because his sin occurred in the Old Testament, and I want to know the New Testament answer of how to deal with this sin. Please keep in mind, I believe the Bible forbids divorce, and my wife believes the same thing, so please do not respond with scriptures about divorce. I need help, please. God is good, and he is in control, but I would like to know what the Bible tells me about when preachers commit adultery. I do not want to end up like some other preachers who lose their faith, and I don't want to dissappoint anyone ever again, nor do I want to disappoint God, either; because I do recognize that I have sinned against God when I broke my covenant with my wife (since it is a breaking of God's covenant as well).

Please help. Lord bless you all!

Hi there. I commend you on your honesty. Of course we are all sinners. As the Lord Jesus Christ once said, "Those of you who have never sinned, cast the first stone." Then he said to the woman who was commiting the aldultery, "go and sin no more." FallenPreacher, the same goes for you, go and sin no more. You're in my thoughts Christian brother, and I'm praying for you.

 

[ub4me]

When you are in a position of authority as you are, many people will feel betrayed by such actions...and may even turn away from their faith...thinking that if you didn't have the strength not to stray...then what you were preaching to them was a lie. that dosen't make it so....because the Word is the Word...even coming from a sinners mouth...but no doubt some will stumble and it is sad.
That being said...your sin is no greater than my own...so I can't nor do I want to cast stones!!!You know very well, that no matter what sin you have committed(other than blasphemy of the Holy Spirt)God sent His Son to pay the price for that sin...so that you may be forgiven. To be forgiven you must admitt that you have need of forgiveness(which you have)You also have to repent...turn away from those sins, if you have done those things then you are forgiven.Do we deserve it? No!!! But He loves us...not as we love...for His ways are higher than our ways!!!
You are blessed to have a family...that is willing to stay with you...You just need to do what is right...in the eyes of the Lord...and in humbleness...work with your wife...as she takes time to heal and trust...for with God all things are possible!!! Understand her anger...realize she must grieve...for that which she has known or thought she knew...is no longer. It is just like grieving a death...and in a way it is....
Keep your eyes upon the Lord and don't look back...there is only death and destruction there!!!

But God is creator of the universe...he is able to create a clean heart...and renew a right spirit within you...and I hope that you and your family arise out of the mire...with your feet firmly planted in fertile soil.

Best Wishes

 

[Cappadocian]

What kind of a church were you preaching at?

Were you actually having sex with prostitutes?

Do you know if you contracted any diseases from them (like HPV)?

Why do you have a compulsion to do these things? Do you have some kind of an anxiety disorder or OCD?

 

[Johnnz]

There will be many issues to work through. These will take time. You will need tolook at several areas:

1. Why? There was an inconsistency between your morality and behaviour. There are many reasons for this, including some deriving from our Christian heritage itself!
2. You will need to regain the trust of your wife. Thsi will take time, and to be really confident again you both will need to have any issues around 1 thoroughly worked through.
3. You will need to reasses what ministry means. Obvioulsy you had levels of immaturity that were not recognised and now need to be worked at.
4. Maybe your direction in life was more a dream than a real calling from God. If so, that event could become the most important turning point in your life.

There are few professional pastors who really know how to work through the issues you face and can get you fully healed and restored. This is one big problem. One well know Christian went through this and wrote about it - Rebuilding Your Broken World - G MacDonald. Try that.

A great number of God's greatest saints in the OT had major blemishes. Life is not over yet, but there is some real work to do.

John
NZ

 

[madison1101]

According to my understanding of divorce and the Bible, your wife is free to divorce you because you committed adultery. If she still wants you, that is great.

If you are a preacher, you should already know the scriptures concerning the expectations of preachers. Since you are asking, I will give you what I know.

1 Timothy 3:2
Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,

Your behavior has not been above reproach. Having slept with another woman other than your wife, you have basically violated the husband of one wife. You have not been self-controlled nor respectable.

Given all that, you really need to step out of the pulpit. Confess your sin to the leadership of the church you have preached in and get therapy. You may have some issues from your childhood that have sent you into this area of sin. Often sexual abuse victims act out sexually.

I did not say this to be hard on you, but to be bluntly honest about what I see in your behavior.

God's grace is abundant and you need to accept His forgiveness and heal.

 

[UnitynLove]

It is ok. Youahve sinned now accept Christ forgiveness. Why should you reject what God has accepted, which is you. The Joy of the Lord is your strength, he had forgiven us of all our sins past, present, and future. Glory to God! Remeber God is not like man, he won't throw you away instead he will restore you and put your back to your position of Glory! I would suggest that you download a song named "God didn't Give Up" By Deitrick Haddon heres some lyrics:


CHORUS
God didn't give up on me
didn't give up on me
God didn't give up on me
didn't give up on me
when i'm weak God
well he didn't let me go yea
when i messed up
he restored my soul
oh it was God
that didn't give up

First Verse:
read in the paper the other day
about a preacher who feel from grace
he begged the church for forgiveness
he reaslized he made a mistake
and some folks left the church and said
he's suppose to be a man of the cloth
see they forgot he was the same man
that prayed for them when they were lost
oh i'm so glad God is not like man
he won't throw you away after you've done wrong
God will pick you up
and dust you off
and put you back where you belong

CHORUS

Second Verse:
listen
now it's easy to point the finger
when the spotlights not on you
well and we would be surprised what we'd see
if the truth had come out on you
and you need to show a little mercy and grace
for somebody else
and take your foot off your brother
and consider yourself
i'm glad God is not like man
when you've done wrong
he will pick you up
put you back where you belong

END CHORUS:
oh no no no never
you'll never never no never
oh never
never never
never let me fall
when i need you
i can call you
oh oh God!
Oh God!

 

[goldenviolet]

let this open a new door.

i think as your 'punishment' to help you on the side you sinned on, would be to join an out reach to the people on the streets. i'm sure your exsperiance has shown you that that side of lifestyle needs help too. you'd need accountability too with everyone fully knowing your old temptation. there is so many hurting people out there. pray about this? the temptation will be there, but so will the opportunity for fruit. there is a thread here for people exscaping the sex industry. moms, sisters, daughters, fathers, brothers, sons. very touching.

 

[Mr.Cheese]

Well...look at Peter. The one who made the Great Confession. He was an arrogant racist coward and apostate THREE times over. But Jesus went to him, found him, and restored him. Peter gave up and went back to fishing and Jesus went to him.

You learned the lesson of what you are not. You are not bullet proof. You're only human.

On the other hand, look at Jimmy Swaggart. That is an unrepentant man. Don't follow his example.

Do you know how many men and women are caught in the same traps?

This experience, although you do have to live with what you have done, I think can enhance your ministry. You didn't read about addictions to the sex industry, you lived it. You're a man who can make a difference.
Read Psalm 51 a few times.
Then go love your wife and feed the flock.

 

[princessA]

Hello,

To all others: How quick we are to judge one another....when we ourselves are not perfect.

You know what you need to do....acknowledge who is the head of your life and stay true to it. The bible is our guide on how to live....sometimes we tend to skip chapters in order to feel like we are living right.

You admitted to your problem...now deal with it....the devil will come at you harder now than ever before....stand strong....the book that you preach about.......start living it.......do whatever it takes to get your family back....ask for a Re-new Annointing and Convenant with God. All old things are passed away.....start with a new.

Look, I was on the receiving end.....my husband is a Minister...he made a mistake....he confessed....and I am not saying that it has been easy......but our relationship is stronger now than ever before....we still have quite a bit of hurdles to get over....especially me.......but I pray everyday for a re-new spirit to make me stronger than the day before....

You know what to do........do it!

I will pray for you and your family.....God Bless!

 

[Harlan Norris]

Between November last year and last month, I have been visiting escorts, going to strip clubs, and watching inappropriate contentography. During most of this time, I was preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ to hundreds of people. I told my family and abandoned them when the guilt became too much to bear. My wife wants me to submit to the authority to a church up north from where I live and undergo their version of restoration, and I am very willing to do so in order to win back her trust as well as her heart. The question I am asking this forum is this: What does the Bible say of my situation? I cannot use David as an example, because his sin occurred in the Old Testament, and I want to know the New Testament answer of how to deal with this sin. Please keep in mind, I believe the Bible forbids divorce, and my wife believes the same thing, so please do not respond with scriptures about divorce. I need help, please. God is good, and he is in control, but I would like to know what the Bible tells me about when preachers commit adultery. I do not want to end up like some other preachers who lose their faith, and I don't want to dissappoint anyone ever again, nor do I want to disappoint God, either; because I do recognize that I have sinned against God when I broke my covenant with my wife (since it is a breaking of God's covenant as well).

Please help. Lord bless you all!

Well in my opinion this disqualifies you as a preacher.At least now before you've repented. However if you went in front of your congregation with the truth,like Jerry falwell. I think they would forgive you. I know God will.Good luck and God bless you.