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Should our churches fellowship with repentant criminals?

Discussion in 'News & Current Events' started by canadyjd, Feb 14, 2019.

  1. Yeshua1

    Yeshua1 Well-Known Member
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    I agree with you on principle here, but God can and has changed homosexual/lesbian orientations, but He cannot change pedophiles?
     
  2. Yeshua1

    Yeshua1 Well-Known Member
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    Always best to err on the side of caution...
     
  3. Rockson

    Rockson Active Member

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    Well churches should make sure the repentive have it set up for them to have fellowship and strengthening. People are only human and maybe right to have concerns. I'm sure when people heard about the conversion of Saul, to Paul it most certainly wasn't overnight that he would have been so quickly received without question. As years passed on however where his testimony all viewed absolutely credible I'm sure they're concerns would have been naturally alleviated. But it's only right that these things take time and much time. Whatever it takes to make each individual saint to feel comfortable.
     
  4. canadyjd

    canadyjd Well-Known Member

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    Nothing is impossible with God. But since I can't look into a person and see whether God Holy Spirit indwells, I not going to put children in their presence.

    I wouldnt allow someone convicted of embezzling to handle the finances. I wouldnt allow someone with a history of defrauding the elderly to do their taxes.

    We can be smart, while giving folks the chance to fellowship.
     
    • Agree Agree x 2
  5. Yeshua1

    Yeshua1 Well-Known Member
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    Yes, would totally agree with you and others that we need to safeguard our children in church, was just addressing if one in that kind of sin can be delivered out of it by God or not...
     
  6. Scarlett O.

    Scarlett O. Moderator
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    God can heal anyone of anything.

    But the church should never put anyone who has sinned - to the point of harm to the helpless/themselves and criminalization - in the path of temptation. That's not denying a change. That's protecting the innocent and being a wise church.

    I would be unhappy if my church put a person who has spent time in jail for embezzlement on the counting committee [counts money after church], financial secretary, or anyone directly in charge of the accounts of the church or handling the money directly.

    If I were at a church that used real wine in their Lord's Supper, I would not want a reformed alcoholic being in charge of filling up the cups. That person in my church [we use grape juice] does that by themselves early before the church service.

    It's not about God not healing people. It's about the church not putting a reformed person in a place where he or she could relapse. The church would be legally liable and people would blame the church moreso than the individual who relapsed.
     
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  7. canadyjd

    canadyjd Well-Known Member

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    The last point you made is insightful. Those outside the church will blame the church even more than the person who commits the crime because they knew about the background and did nothing to avoid the relapse.
     
  8. Yeshua1

    Yeshua1 Well-Known Member
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    I totally agree with you on that, but also just saying that to God, aren't we all in the same boat as any else, for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God?
     
  9. Yeshua1

    Yeshua1 Well-Known Member
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    I am not disagreeing with anything posted on this issue, but wonder how the person that Paul rebuked for having his fathers wife repented and came back to Christ and the Church?
     
  10. Scarlett O.

    Scarlett O. Moderator
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    Yes, our sins are all a stench to God - all of us.
     
  11. canadyjd

    canadyjd Well-Known Member

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    I'm not sure scripture gives us the details beyond that he was repentant and Paul urged the fellowship to accept him back.

    What role he played, if any, in that fellowship remains unknown as far as I know.
     
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