What Would You Do? (Sensitive/Not family-friendly)

The Pastor's job is to protect the sheep from the wolves all of the time. This includes child predators. What did Jesus say about those who offended little ones???

Surely if some child rapist got saved and repented and knows the Lord for real, then they would also understand that their mere presence at a typical church would not be a good idea for MANY reasons--not the least of which would be:
1) temptation
2) freaking everyone else out and causing all these problems in a church.

If you love Christ, you'll love His Church and refrain from hurting it!!!!!!!!!!

A pedophile joining a "normal" church filled with all ages is nothing but trouble. And the guy mentioned in the OP is looking for trouble if you ask me. If the aforementioned (and hypothetical) person understands the gravity of their sins, if they LOVE the Body of Christ, then they wouldn't WANT to go disrupt an otherwise nice local body of believers and stay at home and watch Charles Stanley or somebody else on Sunday morning. Who but a creep would want to disrupt a church with their presence?

Reformed alcoholics must avoid bars and liquor stores. P-rn addicts must stay off filthy websites. And pedophiles must stay away from ANY place that has children---especially churches!!!!!

There are missions out there for pedophiles. My wife's older brother goes to one. He raped 5 young boys. He is NEVER welcome in our home because we have a 4 year old son---even if we were childless I wouldn't let him over. A local church body is NOT for my brother-in-law....that is why he goes to a mission for people with his "condition".

I've said all I'm going to say.

 

Glad I don't go to your type of church where people aren't welcome. Would you also say that someone that used to be a thief shouldn't ever attend church? There is obviously a temptation to steal people items (people leave purses laying around all the time in a typical church) or steal straight from the offering plate.

What about former adulterers? Should they not go to any church? There are people of the opposite sex there.

Your stance is completely ridiculous.

 

Batt4Christ -
You didn't read my most recent comment. I think the deacons have it right, now- just ask him to quietly move on. But I'm not omniscient either.
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But considering how small your church is - maybe that's the place for him. One of my answers is absolutely correct, that much we know.

 

That was the police statement from 20 years ago, when the crime occurred.

 

Exactly. He's not repentant, which means those entrusted with the protection of the church need to ask, "WHY is he here?"

Over our years in ministry, I've noticed a pattern. Over and over, when chronically unrepentant people come into the church, it is ALWAYS for their own personal gain. This is usually financial, but other times it's for boosting their own pride, soothing a guilty conscience (See, I go to church, so I'm a good person. . .) or even for more sinister reasons. Yes, I know this sounds judgmental, but we've observed this over and over. Those who are repentant want to GIVE back to God and others. They will be humble when confronted in love, not angry, not blaming others.

So, when you see someone like this, who is not truly interested in admitting sin, not interested in changing, you find their real motive in coming is not good, not edifying, and sometimes, as in this case, downright unsafe for others.

 

To annsni - FYI, He wasn't on facebook for the purpose of cultivating victims. It was his own foolishness to not be cognizant of the FB policy there. Its evidently his daughter running around causing problems for him. He definitely needs to seek reconciliation and forgiveness from her, tell her personally how remorseful he is, etc. He definitely needs to do that. I can personally accept the strong possibility that he currently has no predilections to child abuse or what have you. You or I do not know that someone remains a pedophile for life. People that kick heroin aren't necessarily heroin addicts 20 years later. The pastor already told us that he has not demonstrated the slightest interest in children at the church. And actually, if he were interested in that, he would have gone to a very big church where he could blend in and not be noticed one would think.

It still puzzling how he could come into this small church and immediately start giving his testimony about being in prison, but then lying about what he was in for. Maybe he sensed that his daughter or someone would cause problems for him.

 

Or maybe he knew people would freak out and oust him out of the church the moment they caught wind what he had previously done.

 

Is Facebook the "authorities" now? I know they probably collude with the government in ways they're not up front about, but that does not make them duly constituted "authorities". Just saying.

 

If they molest YOUR kid, you'll change your mind.

A church full of kids is NO place for a child rapist. Period.

If child rapist's feelings get hurt....TOO BAD!!!!! They'll get over it.

Their victims don't get over it.

Likewise, I wouldn't want to go to your church if your pastor lets it become
a pedophile haven. No offense.

 

Would you also say that someone that used to be a thief shouldn't ever attend church? There is obviously a temptation to steal people items (people leave purses laying around all the time in a typical church) or steal straight from the offering plate.

What about former adulterers? Should they not go to any church? There are people of the opposite sex there.

What about a murderer. Should murderers be banned from ever attending church again?

 

Jkdbuck76 - I say this in Christian love - but, your are a clueless loudmouth and your opinion is worthless. What constitute's "full of kids"? What church doesn't have kids? Where did the pastor indicate the church was "full of kids"? So even 20 years in the past is not long enough? Apparently you won't be happy until he's dead.

 

Gee, thanks, Mark_13. I can feel all that Christian love emanating from you now. Namecalling is great, Mark. It shows your true level of maturity.

If he blames his wife and his victim, then apparently 20 years is not enough.

No. I didn't say that. I said he needs to find some sort of mission for offenders like himself. That's all. Again, thanks for all the "Christian love".

Edit: after all, Mark_13, this is a "what would you do" thread. And what I'd do is ask the man to leave.

 

What a hateful post, and on a FELLOWSHIP part of the forum especially for those in ministry.

Since you're so outspoken about this, Mark, answer me this. How many "reformed" sex offenders do you personally know? How many have you counseled with? How much experience have you even had in this area?

I don't claim to be an expert, but I've counseled with many victims of sex crimes and have spoken with offenders. Both victims and offenders have come to our church, and guess what? We've never, ever, ever found a sex offender who could control his addiction. NEVER. Every single one has fallen into 2 categories--the repentant who makes sure he gets constant counsel and accountability, or the unrepentant whose pride makes him believe he doesn't need help.

So far we've only seen one who was truly repentant and wanted to change. He, of his own accord, decided not to continue attending our church and instead placed himself in a more secure environment with the resources to help him better.

 

Would you also say that someone that used to be a thief shouldn't ever attend church and find a mission for offenders like themselves?

What about former adulterers and find a mission for offenders like themselves?

What about a murderer. Should murderers be banned from ever attending church again and find a mission for offenders like themselves?