So I just learned that a guy I grew up with, who became a pastor, ended up committing adultery.
This guy found Jesus while we were in high school, got his god degree, started up a mega church in Kentucky, got married, had 2 kids, and published a couple books. From what I've read and heard, he was seen as some sort of charismatic leader, and the "church" was borderline cult with the way they held him on a pedestal and treated him as a celebrity. When the affair was discovered, he offered a public apology (which said the multi-year affair didn't go as far as intercourse...whew! kudos on the willpower bro!), and stepped down. It was discovered after that the church's books were cooked, and over a dozen people were laid off.
I'm curious about this obsession with sin: the attempts to prevent it through teachings, the free pass people get if they sound sincere enough, and the judgment from others that comes naturally. In this case, this guy and his mistress (also a church pastor or sorts) must have known he was "sinning" but only came forward when the affair became known to others. Some of the comments supporting him included phrases like "the devil is strong" and "hate the sin, not the sinner."
I don't believe in sin; it is made up to control people, and they can get booster shots at your local church. I do believe that if two people get married, they should take whatever vows they made seriously. If they wish to loosen things up, fine. If they aren't happy, see if it can be worked out, and if not, get separated or divorced.
This guy found Jesus while we were in high school, got his god degree, started up a mega church in Kentucky, got married, had 2 kids, and published a couple books. From what I've read and heard, he was seen as some sort of charismatic leader, and the "church" was borderline cult with the way they held him on a pedestal and treated him as a celebrity. When the affair was discovered, he offered a public apology (which said the multi-year affair didn't go as far as intercourse...whew! kudos on the willpower bro!), and stepped down. It was discovered after that the church's books were cooked, and over a dozen people were laid off.
I'm curious about this obsession with sin: the attempts to prevent it through teachings, the free pass people get if they sound sincere enough, and the judgment from others that comes naturally. In this case, this guy and his mistress (also a church pastor or sorts) must have known he was "sinning" but only came forward when the affair became known to others. Some of the comments supporting him included phrases like "the devil is strong" and "hate the sin, not the sinner."
I don't believe in sin; it is made up to control people, and they can get booster shots at your local church. I do believe that if two people get married, they should take whatever vows they made seriously. If they wish to loosen things up, fine. If they aren't happy, see if it can be worked out, and if not, get separated or divorced.
