These were the instructions given above a video posted by a church pastor.
“Please no divisive words in the comments. The way we love one another will either point people to Jesus or away from Him.”
In the video, the pastor eventually reveals that his girlfriend is pregnant. It would be divisive to ask any questions. It would be divisive to offer any criticism. It would be divisive to say anything except, “We love you, Pastor!”
Christians are good at following the rules. So the congregation replied as instructed. The comment section filled up with encouragement and even some congratulations. The way we celebrate sexual promiscuity will either point people to Jesus or away from him.
Another church gal is pregnant outside of wedlock and I’ll be told I’m divisive for saying it. But that’s not true. It is not a sin to point out sin. It is not wrong to notice wrong. If there is any leadership at the church, somebody should tell the pastor that it is sinful to tell Christians that they aren’t allowed to confront sin.
Christians: Did you know that pregnancy doesn’t negate the sin of fornication? It’s true! Sexual immorality doesn’t transform into a beautiful expression of love just because it produces a baby. It is abominable to use an innocent child to justify your selfish lust.
What bothers me most about this is that I’ll get scolded for writing about it. I’ll take more heat for this post than the pastor will get for knocking up his girlfriend. Self-righteous saints will remind me that ‘nobody is without sin’ and ‘Jesus loves sinners.’ I’ll be told to ‘check my heart.’ And, of course, I’ll be told that I’m not funny and that the pastor’s humble brokenness is a much more attractive kind of Christianity than mine. A few people will probably even accuse me of hating women and babies.
But notice that I’m not telling anyone they aren’t allowed to be divisive. Because I’m not hiding anything. I’m not dividing the body of Christ with some secret sin. I’ve not done anything that it would be awkward to talk about. You are free to say anything as long as it’s true. The way we speak truth to one another demonstrates whether or not we really love one another. And THAT will point people to Jesus or away from Him.
“Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body.”
(Ephesians 4:25)
3 Responses
What a mess. I believe, as Christ’s body, we will be held accountable for not holding people accountable in accordance with Matthew 18. The Lord’s desire is that we are cast out so that there is hope for us and that we can be restored to the flock. If we ignore (or congratulate) the sin, are we not then culpable for being a road block to true repentance?
If the pastor is held to a much higher standard and he can be loved and accepted with no admonition or consequence, how much more can I justify my sin?
But by the grace of God go I.
Truth does not mind being questioned falsehood does not like being challenged
I’m sorry….a Pastor getting his girlfriend pregnant? Flag on the play!!! The audacity of him to say “no divisive comments allowed” is laughable. Now we’re supposed to CELEBRATE your sin? Nope, nay, nabob, however you want to say it, it’s wrong. I mean who would even go to this guy’s Church? It has nothing to do with love, casting the first stone, blah blah blah……it has to do with disqualification. Does Jesus forgive him? Yep…Does Jesus forgive her? Yep… Is he qualified to be a Pastor anymore? Nope….See while sin can be forgiven, consequences still need to be borne a lot of the time. (Sometimes God in his mercy even takes many of those away) however this guy either doesn’t know his Bible, or doesn’t believe it. Either way, he is unfit for the position. He forfeited that when he chose sexual immorality over the position of Pastor….
There, now the haters can hate us both John…😁