"We Want Our Ministry To Flourish"
"We want our ministry to continue to flourish" is a quote from some members of Trinity Baptist Church in Jacksonville. It was discovered that the current pastor covered up the molestation of several children by the previous pastor, Bob Gray. Watch this film clip for the full story.
The current pastor, Tom Messer, admitted that he knew 15 years ago the molestations were true. And now the big question is should Messer resign.
Do people not read or study the scriptures anymore? Obviously, some pastors don't! He should resign from the ministry because he does not love truth. He does not love scripture and he does not love children...the least of these. He should resign because he has been living a lie. He has lied by deception and omission for 15 years. He is a hirling with a title.
But he has not resigned from ministry yet. A liar, who happens to have the title 'pastor' is not resigning after living this lie for 15 years. Yet, some members and the current pastor want their 'ministry to continue to flourish'.
The truth is this church has NO ministry. They are fooling themselves and God is not mocked. I pray that they will fall on their faces in repentance and will seek out the victims and beg for forgiveness. Beg these victims to forgive them for NOT believing the truth all these years.
The fact this church thinks it has a ministry at this point only proves how blind they are to the truth of God's Holy Word.
There is plenty of forgiveness for repentant molesters and those who lie for them. But that does not mean they can stay in ministry and deny the truth of our Lord and Savior with their perversion and lies. They are no longer qualified for ministry.
I just weep for the children who have been molested by those who are in positions of trust. These men pervert the grace of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Trinity, Wake UP! Clean out the temple. Seems you are more worried about a guy losing his job than you are about the innocence of children. Sure sends the wrong message to children who may think twice about not 'keeping that secret' their molester has told them to. Why bother? The adults are more worried about the adults.
God help us.
Jude 1
3Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. 4For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.
3 comments:
Lin,
I feel like all I can say is "thank you" for this post. I wish I had more time to respond - I just read your recent post on jensgems (wordpress) and my husband and I were both commending what you wrote and how you wrote it and then I decided to check out your blog.
Anyway, mind is full of thoughts: In Matthew 23, Jesus comes down very hard on those who love the accolades that come with being a "leader." He says there is only one "Leader." And that's Him, himself. And that the "greatest" is the servant of all.
I was struck that great danger springs upon us when we take our eyes off of Jesus. When we see what Jesus endured for us - "resigning" from a prominant ministry right in the prime of His life and suffering the ultimate ignominy, death on a cross (a "sure" sign of God's complete judgement on a person)- how in the world can someone be so proud as to not step down from ministry when they are caught in a lie? Are they greater than their Master?
I guess it is the parable of the sower: the world's cares and riches have grown up alongside of the fruit and have choked the Life out of them (Jesus said, "I am the Way and the Truth and the Life").
How accurate you are to declare that they have no ministry left (made me think of Rev. 2 & 3). To cause these little ones to stumble is a grave offense indeed.
Well, got to go, but I'm terribly glad to have found your blog.
God bless!
PS. The story of my former church's history and the hypocrisy and discipline of Vision Forum's NCFIC director, Scott Brown, is found at: ephesians511.wordpress.com
What a sad state the church is in right now - that even the elect are being deceived if possible.
justanothermom, thanks for stopping by. Yes, I am afraid even the elect are being deceived.
One of the things that bothers me the most is when people believe we must not mention sin or problems within Christendom or we will hurt the Name of Christ. How silly. Even the rocks will praise Him if He so chooses. It is the continual sin and hypocrisy that hurts the witness.
I believe we have kept many of the temple traditions of authority within Christendom. You are right...the greatest is the servant of all and Christ is the ONLY leader.
I will check out the blog you mention.
Grace and Peace of our Savior to you
Lin,
I also want to personally thank you for standing up for the truth. Why do churches and pastors cover for each other and other men who prey on children? I just do NOT get it. It is so hard to go through these things and so frustrating. Sadly, our family knows from personal experience that the men who lead churches will cover up for sexual abusers of children and then turn around and revictimize the family and the victim again. Oh, how I wish there were more people like you who will stand for righteousness and truth.
There needs to be some training program for pastors, so they can know how to deal with these things when they happen in the church. They need to know how insidious these things are and how abusers are so good and putting on a facade and fooling others and LYING to others. They are the ultimate con-men! Pastors need to start putting the Lord and His word and the protection of His littlest ones before their own comfort. They need to stop protecting the good ol' boy network and start protecting the sheep from the wolves.
I know SO many stories of these things happening in the church.
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