the fallen

[creativemechanic]

I'm watching a Christian low budget movie called Hush. Basically, a 15 year old youth leader gets pregnant from other double life of sex with an older  man. Her mother who was Sunday school super indendent freaks out and insists she get an abortion because of what happened to her wherein her church put her out when she got pregnant with her.  This was obviously wrong as the pastor himself admitted it was. Eventually the poor girl tries to (unsuccessfully) self abort and nearly dying

Interesting  scenario. But a qn is raised: what would be the correct response to such an occurrence with a member of a congregation.  You don't want to be so heavy handed as to turn them away  but a should a person be allowed to participate in service?

Edited August 29, 2015 by creativemechanic

[missmuffet]

I'm watching a Christian low budget movie called Hush. Basically, a 15 year old youth leader gets pregnant from other double life of sex with an older  man. Her mother who was Sunday school super indendent freaks out and insists she get an abortion because of what happened to her wherein her church put her out when she got pregnant with her.  This was obviously wrong as the pastor himself admitted it was. Eventually the poor girl tries to (unsuccessfully) self abort and nearly dying

Interesting  scenario. But a qn is raised: what would be the correct response to such an occurrence with a member of a congregation.  You don't want to be so heavy handed as to turn them away  but a should a person be allowed to participate in service?

Forgiveness.God has forgiven her as a Christian we should do the same.

[oldzimm]

I'm watching a Christian low budget movie called Hush. Basically, a 15 year old youth leader gets pregnant from other double life of sex with an older  man. Her mother who was Sunday school super indendent freaks out and insists she get an abortion because of what happened to her wherein her church put her out when she got pregnant with her.  This was obviously wrong as the pastor himself admitted it was. Eventually the poor girl tries to (unsuccessfully) self abort and nearly dying

Interesting  scenario. But a qn is raised: what would be the correct response to such an occurrence with a member of a congregation.  You don't want to be so heavy handed as to turn them away  but a should a person be allowed to participate in service?

Forgiveness.God has forgiven her as a Christian we should do the same.

Good answer.

[gdemoss]

The answer is dependent upon the heart of the individual concerning any sin they have committed. 

2Co 7:10

For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death

Is she aware of her sin in this?  Is she sorrowful?  Is it godly sorrow or worldly?

To accept an unrepentant sinner who boasts in their sin is to do them harm.  We cannot enable those within our midst to continue in sin but rather are commanded to reprove them instead.  We are to be sensible, tactful, considerate and humble yet careful to care for rather than beat the sheep.  It is a delicate matter indeed.

I work with some very disturbed individuals in my ministry work.  A lot of them are Romans chapter one reprobates as I once was.  Each one needs to be brought to a place of repentance and brokenness without being destroyed in tge process.  My experience has taught me that many of them understand that they are wicked and have tried to change but found they could not.  God had given them over to their sin.  They honestly tried to change and cannot so therefore began to deceive themselves further by blame shifting everything to that which is outside of them.  When they knew God they did not honor him as God but God so loved them he has sent his messangers to minister to their needs and help them see their need for repentance.   We labor night and day planting and watering travailing in birth till Christ be formed in them.

Thanks for the topic.

[FreeinChrist]

The answer is dependent upon the heart of the individual concerning any sin they have committed. 

2Co 7:10

For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death

Is she aware of her sin in this?  Is she sorrowful?  Is it godly sorrow or worldly?

To accept an unrepentant sinner who boasts in their sin is to do them harm.  We cannot enable those within our midst to continue in sin but rather are commanded to reprove them instead.  We are to be sensible, tactful, considerate and humble yet careful to care for rather than beat the sheep.  It is a delicate matter indeed.

I work with some very disturbed individuals in my ministry work.  A lot of them are Romans chapter one reprobates as I once was.  Each one needs to be brought to a place of repentance and brokenness without being destroyed in tge process.  My experience has taught me that many of them understand that they are wicked and have tried to change but found they could not.  God had given them over to their sin.  They honestly tried to change and cannot so therefore began to deceive themselves further by blame shifting everything to that which is outside of them.  When they knew God they did not honor him as God but God so loved them he has sent his messangers to minister to their needs and help them see their need for repentance.   We labor night and day planting and watering travailing in birth till Christ be formed in them.

Thanks for the topic.

Totally in Agreement.  If someone has committed what we believe to be a gross sin, they should show true repentance, which is described as:

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and contrite heart, O God, thou will not despise.  Psalms 51:17

The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.  Psalms 34:18

For thus saith the High and Lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, Whose Name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.   Isaiah 57:15

...Thus saith the Lord; but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.  Isaiah 66:2b

The Lord Jesus even commanded us to forgive or brother not 7 times but 70x7, Matthew 18:21-22 and this was spoken just right after Jesus gave commands to Church how to discipline see Matthew 18:15-20,  Paul commands us to forgive one another as Christ has forgive us in Ephesians 4:32, which is not surprising as we see to the extend that Christ Jesus has saved us from ourselves Romans 7:15-25.  When the individual and the Church practice forgiveness, God can so richly forgive us.

25)  But when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any, that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.

26)  But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.

Mark 11:25-26

This is very similar to Matthew 6:14-15.  Plus the words in James 2:8-13, for we find out that mercy rejoiceth against judgment in that 13th verse, so that if a believers show true repentant we should always forgive, cause we need such forgiveness ourselves from the Father.  For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath showed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth again judgment.  James 2:13

[creativemechanic]

Oh I'm not debating forgiveness. But what should their status or role in church be afterwards

[AllTheGoodNamesAreTaken]

That of the Prodigal Son ?

[Ezra]

Oh I'm not debating forgiveness. But what should their status or role in church be afterwards

When a person has truly repented and been forgiven, then God has fully accepted them. Therefore Christians must accept them fully, since we all were sinners who repented and were forgiven. We should always remember Peter, who denied Christ but later became the chief apostle to the Jews. He repented, and was fully forgiven, and restored to fellowship with Christ and his fellow apostles and disciples.

[AllTheGoodNamesAreTaken]

Amen Ezra. As Jesus himself taught, that;

"And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:"

 

 

[thereselittleflower]

When someone has broken trust like that, even though they repent and are restored to fellowship, it doesn't meant hey are restored to ministry.  Repentance must be accompanied by proof such repentance is indeed real, and that can only be established over time.    It would be sheer foolishness to allow someone who has broken trust like that to just go on as if nothing happened to that trust.  Trust needs to be re-established and that can take a long, long time.