Svt4Him said:
Do you get that from my post? We talk about love, but love keeps no record of wrong. It seems to me that in Christian circles it's ok, because we're talking about their sin, and we don't want to tolerate sin now do we, even if someone repents of it.
I guess I could be sounding self-righteous, S, Ill admit. I honestly do believe that I am nothing more than a sinner saved by grace and still capable, in my flesh, of all the sinfulness I ever performed as a bonafide sinner. But that is not the point.
I am wondering why Mr. Cain, because of his problem with alcoholism and homosexuality, did not simply step off the stage and either get some help or get him a job selling vacuum cleaners. Why did he persist in speaking for God and willfully deceiving people? The problem, as I view it, was not as much with his addictions and orientation as it was with his hypocrisy. Maybe he felt that alcohol and homosexuality were bigger than him and he could not control his cravings, but he could control his deception and lies. He willfully chose to deceive and betray good (albeit gullible) people for money (see 2 Cor. 2.17 below).
If I do, as an appointed leader of one of the Lords flock, no matter how insignificant that appointment is, I am expected (required) to give an account of my stewardship to the Master. There are character qualifications for anyone who serves in any position of leadership in the church. True leadership is by example as well as by preaching we lead with our life as well as by our words.
Philippians 3 17Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you.
If character does not matter all that much in our appointed (or self-appointed) leaders , then what is all the following about?
1 Corinthians 3. 10By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds.
Romans 2. 21you, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal? 22You who say that people should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? 23You who brag about the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law?
2 Corinthians 2. 17Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, like men sent from God.
2 Corinthians 4. 1Therefore, since through God's mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. 2Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.
1 Thessalonians 2. 3For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you. 4On the contrary, we speak as men approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please men but God, who tests our hearts. 5You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed--God is our witness. 6We were not looking for praise from men, not from you or anyone else. 7As apostles of Christ we could have been a burden to you, but we were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her little children. 8We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us. 9Surely you remember, brothers, our toil and hardship; we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you. 10You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous and blameless we were among you who believed. 11For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, 12encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.
1 Timothy 3. 1Here is a trustworthy saying: If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer, he desires a noble task. 2Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 4He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect. 5(If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God's church?) 6He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. 7He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil's trap. 8Deacons, likewise, are to be men worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain. 9They must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience. 10They must first be tested; and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons. 11In the same way, their wives are to be women worthy of respect, not malicious talkers but temperate and trustworthy in everything. 12A deacon must be the husband of but one wife and must manage his children and his household well.
1 Timothy 6. 11But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. 13. . . I charge you 14to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Timothy 2. 4No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs--he wants to please his commanding officer. . . . 15Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. 16Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly. 17Their teaching will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, 18who have wandered away from the truth. They say that the resurrection has already taken place, and they destroy the faith of some. . . . 22Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 23Don't have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels.
Titus 1. 7Since an overseer is entrusted with God's work, he must be blameless--not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain. 8Rather he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined. 9He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.
Titus 2. 1You must teach what is in accord with sound doctrine. . . . 7In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness 8and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us. 9Teach slaves to be subject to their masters in everything, to try to please them, not to talk back to them, 10and not to steal from them, but to show that they can be fully trusted, so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive.
It is in these areas that so many of our self-anointed leaders have failed. If it is due to spiritual or moral weakness, they should step out of the limelight and get some teaching and discipleship. They should be in the pew and not on a pedestal. If it is willful sin, hypocrisy, deception, dishonesty, they should be in jail, not in a pulpit or on a TV screen.
I am surprised that these clear and understandable requirements are only enforced on our pastors (and maybe our presidential candidates) but televangelist and celebrity ministers get a flying pass.
Why is this?
I dont get it.
\o/