Psa 51:3-4 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. (4) Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment.
Psa 32:3-5 For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. (4) For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. Selah (5) I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,” and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah
Well, still another pastor of a typical mega-style church has been discovered to be a rapist of a child. You’ve no doubt read about it in the news. This one happened in Indiana. Then the guy continues in his sin for some while, and keeps right on preaching! For like 20 years or more I think it said. Now he comes forward, minimizing his sin by calling it “adultery.” Fortunately his victim had the courage to march right up to the microphone and tell everyone exactly what this man did to her.
What I specifically want us to think about in this post is the issue of conscience. As you know, I maintain that abusers – the kind we expose here in this blog (many of whom claim to be fine christians) – I maintain that abusers never change. They never repent. Change and repentance for them is all fake and self-serving. They have no conscience. Think it through. How could this criminal do what he did and yet keep right on being the pastor of that church, standing in the pulpit and preaching every week, and not be ripped up with guilt inside? Well, he could do it because he is a wolf. He has no conscience. He is not born again.
So his recent “confession/repentance” is fake. You can bet on it. I suspect that some circumstance was taking place that forced him to confess in order to save his own hide. And it is quite possible (I’m not sure what Indiana law is on this) that he knew the statute of limitations had expired so that criminal prosecution is not possible. Something happened. Perhaps he knew the victim was coming forward. But you can be sure of one thing – this guy is not repentant.
This is a typical mark of this kind of evil person. They have no conscience. They are easily able to be a devil behind the scenes and then put on the saint disguise in public. As I read recently – “A man may smile and smile and still be a devil.”
Jacob
Very true. Had a friend (who is no longer a friend) that would brag about cheating on his wife. When I called him out on it he said he already repented and confessed everything thing to his priest. It was like second nature for him to start on his rant about being repentant and forgiven. Absolutely disgusting. These people take pride in their sin and prance around acting holy. Even when they get caught. I wasn’t as wise being a young Christian but the Holy Spirit will open your eyes to the truth.
Lynn
What I have noticed from those pastors and elders whose abusive tactics are revealed publicly recently is that there is no genuine repentance.
There is silence.
There is minimization but both the abuser and those reporting the abuse (rape of a minor is NOT adultery). Shame on anyone calling themselves a Christian who doesn’t call out the abusive behavior for what it is. Stop sugarcoating abuse. It’s not adultery. It’s not a moral failing. It’s not a slip up. It is an intentional abuse of power for the pleasure of the abuser and no one else.
There is victim blaming/shaming. There is name calling of survivors and advocates who are crying out for justice.
Repentance is no where to be found.
None of the responses we have seen from the abusive pastors whose sin has been exposed has evidenced genuine repentance. They are not sorry. They are not broken up by the damage they have inflicted on countless people made in the image of God. They are wolves disguised as sheep being exposed for the frauds they are. Any response that doesn’t include immediate resignation from any church leadership position with the promise to never seek it again, voluntary restitution and submission to the authorities for the laws they broke is manipulation.
Predatory pastors and church leaders will do everything they can to hold onto power. That is why we are called to expose and excommunicate such people. They are not welcome in God’s house with his people.
Those who extend mercy to abusers profane the name of God by misrepresenting his character. God is not sitting on his throne looking at the abuser and thinking, I must extend mercy to this person. God is holy, holy, holy. He will utterly destroy the wicked who remain unrepentant. He can see where or not the abuser is genuine even more clearly than we can. So repent of your sin while God’s mercy still affords you the opportunity to, lest you perish.
Jeff Crippen
Nailed it! Thank you.
Jacob
Amen!
HealingInHim
“Those who extend mercy to abusers profane the name of God by misrepresenting his character.” End of April I joined an online prayer group meeting via ZOOM. We live thousands of miles apart and sensed the need for corporate prayer. I am now debating whether I should back away because several members keep espousing John MacArthur and the stand he took about keeping the church open.
The sexual abuse cases that are being exposed within the Grace Church community has me sickened . I have contacted the moderator of the prayer group sharing my concern at how even the mention of J. MacArthur’s name triggers me because several years ago one of the Grace Church counselors said something very inappropriate during a phone call. It shook me to my core but I did not lodge a complaint because I felt I wouldn’t be taken seriously. The prayer moderator has not contacted me and others continue to share sermons by J. MacArthur.
The MacArthur ministry seems untouchable. Amazed how members of the church have talked highly of the abuser while he is in jail because he is holding Bible Studies.
Grace
Can you imagine what is being taught in those Bible studies? I hope it’s the truth of Scripture, but it’s very unlikely.