What would you do if you found your senior pastor was having an affair?

Major said:
Many years ago, in Deltona Fl. our daughter went to a private, non-denominational church. As time went on we kept hearing rumors and comments. We did not attend that church and the school was part of that church.

In her senior year, the Pastor was arrested and convicted. It was proven that He owned a topless bar and was arrested selling cocaine to an under cover FBI agent in that bar.
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As a follow up after talking to my wife, this same "Pastor" was charged with several counts of sexual battery and died wainting for sentencing.
 
Major said:
He did not back slide my dear brother.

Anyone can disagree with me, but what I have observed is not backsliding but instead it is instead compromising with sin.

One of if not the #1 warning sign is when the Individuals avoid accountability or disregard biblical teachings that challenge their lifestyle or their compromise with their sin.

Now, that is me, but God says in 1 John 2:19.......
"They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us."
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Bible states to us that th saved can be a prodigal, but will sonner or later "come to their senses" and return back to God, but the ones who never were saved shall depart back into their own vomit and mud and go back to "their lifestyles"
 
Major said:
As a follow up after talking to my wife, this same "Pastor" was charged with several counts of sexual battery and died wainting for sentencing.
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Reminds me of ravi Zacharias, who on the outside was outstanding apologist and spokesman for Jesus, but on the inside like a ravenousness wolf among the flock
 
In Awe of Him said:
My heart was deeply broken when this SCANDAL played out.... but what was even more disturbing to me... than the revelation of yet another pastor caught in sexual sin... was to find out that RAVI actually owned some "massage parlours" which were called DAY SPAS.
That is something I CANNOT wrap my brain around. I don't have a clue how this fact went UNCHECKED... it's severely DISTURBING to me.

This is a very good topic because hopefully the CHURCH is coming back to the world of HUMILITY.... TRANSPARENCY... and PROPER... BIBLICAL correction.

In line with this topic.... I have seen the likes of pastors that have fallen deeply into SCANDAL be re-instated in positions of power... which I ABSOLUTELY do NOT agree with.... I am thinking of Jim Bakker..... He had NO business coming back into the LIME LIGHT ... but just like EVERYTHING.... these DECEIVERS seem to have their own CULT followings.

Anyways.... this is a good topic.....
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God can still use those who have been broken by Him, who have been reaping what they jave been sowing, but the problem is that God is not restoring these men into areas of position and authority, but their own "say yes" elder boards and groups over them afraid to lose their name and prestige
 
bobinfaith said:
Good morning, Pastor Mei;

A Pastor's number one priority are the sheep. To leave the Church and become a Buddhist monk is escaping to a more prudent life of simplicity and meditational study (to whom?) There is still a "service" to the people with shared beliefs but minimal.

A Buddhist doesn't have a day to day relationship with Christ. When we ignore God is sin because we violate His authority and dismiss His plan for one's life. We reject Him.

About 15 years ago I spoke to a man who had trained to be a minister but the troubles in his life discouraged him from going forward. He never confessed that he "thought" he was called into ministry and dropped out. After that he never wanted to talk Jesus with anyone. I continue to pray God used circumstances to get this man's attention, if not by now.

A truly saved person is vulnerable to backsliding and apostasy. This is why each of us have a responsibility to pray, study God's Word to empower our relationship with Him, our Protector, the Almighty God.

This topic you initiated is something for all of us to think about, not just Pastors.

God bless you, Mei.

Bob
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May we all have the spirit of a David who when confronted by the Lord agreed with God that "he was the man sinning", and also Peter who did confess repent and get fully restored by same Lord he had denied even knowing
 
YeshuaFan said:
God can still use those who have been broken by Him, who have been reaping what they jave been sowing, but the problem is that God is not restoring these men into areas of position and authority, but their own "say yes" elder boards and groups over them afraid to lose their name and prestige
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Yes. That uselly comes from the fact that those men were good money makers. "Follow the Money"!
 
YeshuaFan said:
Bible states to us that th saved can be a prodigal, but will sonner or later "come to their senses" and return back to God, but the ones who never were saved shall depart back into their own vomit and mud and go back to "their lifestyles"
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There are several examples of men returning to God. We should note I think that In the Bible, the concept of returning to God transcends mere physical movement; it embodies a profound spiritual reawakening. It signifies turning away from paths that lead to despair and embracing divine grace.

This act of returning is often framed as repentance, a transformative journey where individuals confront their shortcomings and seek restoration in their relationship with the Creator.

Yes, I would say that the Prodical son would fit into that picture.
I would also say that David would as well.
I think you can add Johah too.
Probably Peter as well.
King Manasseh of Judah is one of the most surprising examples of repentance in the Bible.
Paul! Paul was so far gone he persecuted the church and many believe he threw the first stone at Stephen.
 
Mei Kor said:
I always reflect on myself about the past and sometimes it becomes a moment of life experiences.

It was a terrible moment I had ever had in life. After I received a call, I joined the bible school and when I graduated, I entered the ministry in 2014. I still remembered it was in April, a hot summer season, when I registered my name in the church office on the first day, I was overjoyed and a tear came. I was a church clerk cum Sunday school teacher. My mother church has over 2,400 members. They are in all parts of the country but in the local office in Yangon, we have no mission location but stands as office and very few, like 20-40 including the school children.

We have a Field Director, under him as his assistant, he appointed a pastor who is already ordained, he is very close to me and a senior pastor for me. He has one daughter but his family was living far in the village and he alone moved to the office. His village is a week trip to get there.

One day, I found out that he was having an affair with a young girl, who is single. The girl usually sent some gifts to him for nutrition and even gave gifts to church kids. But nobody knew except me. The pastor was on the phone all the time, but I couldn't do anything for him. I had no idea at that time. If I told the Field Director, he would certainly fire him and he would be ashamed and his wife would leave him. Their daughter would experience a broken family.

A year later, I urged him to do further studies together, and we then joined a certain college. He lost connection with the girl as I observed him. The school is a fundamental college and has many restrictions. We are not allowed to use the phone during weekdays. In three years of studying, I became a student leader from my second year, I had to closely check students for their proper manner, study life regarding rules and regulations and overall. I was informed again by his roommate that this pastor whom they had respected at first was having an affair. It was another girl. When I closely observed him, he really was in an affair again.

I dared not tell anyone about this situation, if the college found out he would be expelled and it would be a lifetime shame. The church would no more accept him. This time, I called him to my room quietly as a student leader to counsel him personally. We had some conversations and fellowship with fun, then when I entered his affair topic I said, "I was reported by your roommate that they suspected you of having an affair, and the evidence is true. I believe as a pastor, it is not good." I remembered, I told him again that "I was not a married man but still didn’t do such stuff but you are a pastor and students respected you, you should be an example for us."

It was winter and a very cold season but he started sweating, but yet denied the news. We then had good conversations, and departed to our personal room. We graduated together from the college, and we both reentered the ministry today but in different locations.

I heard that he got promoted and has a happy family and even got another kid. He is also pastoring in a remote village and we sometimes have connection when he got signal.

My conclusion is: If I had reported about his case to our Senior pastor or the Field Director at that time in 2014, his life would have been miserable OR If I had reported to the college authority in 2017, he wouldn't have graduated and earned a degree to serve again in the ministry. Our journey was indeed very difficult, through work scholarship like a farmer.

Do you think I failed or I saved him? What would be your view? What would you do since the beginning if you were me?
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he should been reported but it would been best to talk to him one on one... he could have been restored ..question was he a pastor or a hieling
 
Major said:
There are several examples of men returning to God. We should note I think that In the Bible, the concept of returning to God transcends mere physical movement; it embodies a profound spiritual reawakening. It signifies turning away from paths that lead to despair and embracing divine grace.

This act of returning is often framed as repentance, a transformative journey where individuals confront their shortcomings and seek restoration in their relationship with the Creator.

Yes, I would say that the Prodical son would fit into that picture.
I would also say that David would as well.
I think you can add Johah too.
Probably Peter as well.
King Manasseh of Judah is one of the most surprising examples of repentance in the Bible.
Paul! Paul was so far gone he persecuted the church and many believe he threw the first stone at Stephen.
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And Judas would be THE example of one professing to know Jesus and to being saved, but was never saved
 
YeshuaFan said:
He still should have been disciplined and also counseled, and maybe even prevented from ever serving in a pastoral role period
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Good morning, YeshuaFan;

I agree. Pastors put so much time in prayer, study, training and preparation in their calling. Discipline and counsel should be done for the restoration in firm love. As the Lord leads the outcome of that particular Pastor can include stepping down from their pastoral ministry and serve in a different ministry.

Galatians 6:1, 1 Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Look to yourself, lest you too be tempted. - RSV

Pick Him Up - The person who picks up a weaker brother ought to do so with an attitude of humility.

Galatians 6:2, 2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. - RSV

Hold Him Up - A burden is a spiritual weakness that threatens to induce a person to fall into sin.

Galatians 6:5-7, 3 For if any one thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4 But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. 5 For each man will have to bear his own load. 6 Let him who is taught the word share all good things with him who teaches. - RSV

Build him up - This is a restoration process. The one who teaches and one being restored are to share in the spiritual blessings resulting from that relationship.

I borrowed these teachings early in seminary from the late John F. MacArthur, Jr., The Master's Plan for the Church and have applied the practice throughout and currently today.

Copyright The Moody Bible Institute of Chicago 1991 ISBN 0-8024-7841-7

God bless everyone.

Bob
 
bobinfaith said:
Good morning, YeshuaFan;

I agree. Pastors put so much time in prayer, study, training and preparation in their calling. Discipline and counsel should be done for the restoration in firm love. As the Lord leads the outcome of that particular Pastor can include stepping down from their pastoral ministry and serve in a different ministry.

Galatians 6:1, 1 Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Look to yourself, lest you too be tempted. - RSV

Pick Him Up - The person who picks up a weaker brother ought to do so with an attitude of humility.

Galatians 6:2, 2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. - RSV

Hold Him Up - A burden is a spiritual weakness that threatens to induce a person to fall into sin.

Galatians 6:5-7, 3 For if any one thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4 But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. 5 For each man will have to bear his own load. 6 Let him who is taught the word share all good things with him who teaches. - RSV

Build him up - This is a restoration process. The one who teaches and one being restored are to share in the spiritual blessings resulting from that relationship.

I borrowed these teachings early in seminary from the late John F. MacArthur, Jr., The Master's Plan for the Church and have applied the practice throughout and currently today.

Copyright The Moody Bible Institute of Chicago 1991 ISBN 0-8024-7841-7

God bless everyone.

Bob
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What strikes me in that so many of the current scandal's involing Pastors seem that few of them repent and confess and forsake, as its only done once caught out in the open
 
YeshuaFan said:
What strikes me in that so many of the current scandal's involing Pastors seem that few of them repent and confess and forsake, as its only done once caught out in the open
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If this is the norm for our Pastors in the community and across the nations, then we have a real problem (and I'm sure this does exist.)

But I have also experienced Pastors who opened up and surprised me by confessing their sin when one or two were gathered. It helped release the weight from their hearts and spirit;

And based on my experience I can relate to the weight part, confession of my sins and stupid mistakes to my wife, marriage counselor, mentor Pastor or close friend, brother, cousin, uncle and my Dad.

Bob
 
YeshuaFan said:
He still should have been disciplined and also counseled, and maybe even prevented from ever serving in a pastoral role period
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totally agree once is a mistake twice is pure lust sounds like he canbt keep his pants up... a southern gosple male singer once announced he was gay.. he later retracted if memory serves me.. there was a pastor assigned to him... i guess he about lost his entire family . very talnted person...
 
A pastor who has had an affair should NEVER be allowed to PASTOR again. There are certain positions ( in my opinion ) that just cannot tolerate
this kind of behaviour. ANYONE in LEADERSHIP within the church should be made to WALK away from ever having any role of authority... and that has NOTHING to do with REPENTANCE... .It has to do with abusing a title that was appointed to someone.

I am not stating they be SHUNNED ... but repentance or NOT.... there should not be the opportunity for an unfaithful pastor to return as HEAD of the FLOCK.
 
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In Awe of Him said:
A pastor who has had an affair should NEVER be allowed to PASTOR again. There are certain positions ( in my opinion ) that just cannot tolerate
this kind of behaviour. ANYONE in LEADERSHIP within the church should be made to WALK away from ever having any role of authority... and that has NOTHING to do with REPENTANCE... .It has to do with abusing a title that was appointed to someone.

I am not stating they be SHUNNED ... but repentance or NOT.... there should not be the opportunity for an unfaithful pastor to return as HEAD of the FLOCK.
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Think that the Pastor should fellow his churches guidelines, as know many groups will have official guidelines in place where a pastor caught in sexual sins must remove himself for no less tahn 1 yera, and get serious counseling and has to resubmit to Board and to his overseers in the demonization to Ok him to return, and even than under probation
 
In Awe of Him said:
A pastor who has had an affair should NEVER be allowed to PASTOR again. There are certain positions ( in my opinion ) that just cannot tolerate
this kind of behaviour. ANYONE in LEADERSHIP within the church should be made to WALK away from ever having any role of authority... and that has NOTHING to do with REPENTANCE... .It has to do with abusing a title that was appointed to someone.

I am not stating they be SHUNNED ... but repentance or NOT.... there should not be the opportunity for an unfaithful pastor to return as HEAD of the FLOCK.
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there should be a time for him to prove himself. naturally he cant be followed. being a pastor is up to the church ..if ordained the presbytery can take his credentials away.. but they cant stop him from preaching . each church and each association is different the association is the churches that form it . the presbytery is your ordained officials who take of of those called to preach . the local church votes in the pastor. the presbytery in charge of ordination. so they must be led of the spirit and vote.
 
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