wholeness-n-holiness replied to your post: Christians are offended by Driscoll because he’s…

Not sure how credible the source is, but I’m just curious as to your opinion on this… matthewpaulturner.net/j…

For those curious, here’s the full link that she’s responded with. 

I read the article. I think it’s a bit silly though. Perhaps that makes me insensitive, or something.

Regardless of the article’s credibility and assuming it is a legitimate situation, I don’t have a problem with how the it was handled. If someone is a leader in a church (a large church, mind you) and has fallen into sexual immorality with others in the community that can be very devastating for those under that particular leader. This contract is a good way to be held accountable while trying to overcome the sin itself. Didn’t Jesus say we should hold others accountable and help them?

A contract is more about integrity, accountability and accepting a lovingly provided and guided plan of repentance and restoration. The 3xWatch software (for pornography) I have installed on my laptop is a form of accountability. If I were to decline the offer to download it, I feel like that says a lot about my repentance (or lack thereof). I don’t see how this contract differs. The things listed in it really aren’t bad at all.

I honestly don’t see what is wrong with any of this other than an unwillingness to embrace loving rebuke, conviction, confession and repentance. It sucks and is exhausting to look at one’s own sin, but Jesus endured all that on the cross. That is why we all need Jesus because we’re terrible people in need of a Saviour.

Also, the reason why there was a lot of harshness in terms of him leaving and saying he’s left in a bad standing is because he AGREED TO CHURCH DISCIPLINE when he became a member. That is their obligation to him as he agreed to it and it is their way of loving them.

When someone is in sin, we’re to be tough on them in love. If we didn’t call them out, if we didn’t point to Jesus, if we just crossed them off the list of our church and move on, we wouldn’t be loving them. If we actually cared about someone, we wouldn’t just cross them off a list like a number. Instead, we would look at them as a child of God who needs to be held accountable with the hope that he is restored.

This is all I see with this situation, and I think it says a lot for a church like MH to do this, given the size of the congregation. I say good on them.

I just feel like whoever wrote this article is a Driscoll h8er. ;)

In Christ,
Ashley