Church Ousts Family

[Brian30755]

Was this the Biblical way to handle this?

http://www.wrcbtv.com/story/2320342...ollegedale-church-ousts-gay-detectives-family

 

[Don]

Was this the Biblical way to handle this?

http://www.wrcbtv.com/story/2320342...ollegedale-church-ousts-gay-detectives-family

Why wouldn't it be?

 

[Brian30755]

I don't know why it wouldn't be. I'm not implying that it's not. Let me rephrase the question: Would this be, or would it not be, the Biblical way to handle this situation?

 

[preachinjesus]

From the article:

Leaders at Ridgedale Church of Christ met in private with Kat Cooper's mother, aunt and uncle on Sunday after the regular worship service. They were given an ultimatum: They could repent for their sins and ask forgiveness in front of the congregation. Or leave the church.

I'm confused was it the couple or their relatives?

Because if it was their relatives and not the actual couple, I'm not certain what the biblical ground for this might be.

 

[Brian30755]

From the article:

I'm confused was it the couple or their relatives?

Because if it was their relatives and not the actual couple, I'm not certain what the biblical ground for this might be.

As I understand, it was the mother, aunt & uncle of one of the couple. I think it was the fact that this family openly supported the couple, petitioned for them, etc, during their fight for same-sex benefits from their employer. I'm assuming the church called them to repentance for supporting a sinful lifestyle, but I'm not sure.

 

[Zaac]

Was this the Biblical way to handle this?

http://www.wrcbtv.com/story/2320342...ollegedale-church-ousts-gay-detectives-family

Is the church dealing with all unrepentant sinners who are members of the church the same way? They say yes.

But Willis, Ridgedale's minister, says the church regularly approaches people to repent for all sorts of sin. Church leaders have given other members a similar choice to repent or leave for sins such as living together before marriage, he said. And the Coopers' battle was public, captured by television cameras and newspaper stories, giving the church no choice but to take action.

"When a person is in sin they are asked to repent, to make a statement, renouncing their participation in sin," he said.
http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2013/aug/21/repent-or-leave/

The church does seem to be off on the procedure though. According to the husband, most of the church didn't even know about this. Before the church means before the church.

Church of Christ congregations are mostly independent of one another, with church elders and ministers setting the tone at each. So the Coopers suspect church authorities are mostly behind their confrontation. Many congregation members didn't even know of the situation, Hunt Cooper said.

This is a Church of Christ congregation in which elders run the place. I would expect that there's quite a bit that they do which is out of BIBLICAL order.

But like the beliefs taught by the Church of Christ Church that the Duck Dynasty folks attend, it should be evident that the Church of Christ examples a lot of things that are unBiblical.

 

[Don]

I don't know why it wouldn't be. I'm not implying that it's not. Let me rephrase the question: Would this be, or would it not be, the Biblical way to handle this situation?

Me personally? No. There's a specific way to handle these things, as outlined in Matthew 18. That said, we don't know for sure whether the elders of this CoC followed this pattern, and we're hearing about the last step (public before the church).

What's your opinion?

 

[Zaac]

Me personally? No. There's a specific way to handle these things, as outlined in Matthew 18. That said, we don't know for sure whether the elders of this CoC followed this pattern, and we're hearing about the last step (public before the church).

What's your opinion?

According to the husband, before the church seems to have been "before the leaders", which would lead one to believe that they did NOT follow BIBLICAL procedure if his account of events is accurate.

 

[Brian30755]

Me personally? No. There's a specific way to handle these things, as outlined in Matthew 18. That said, we don't know for sure whether the elders of this CoC followed this pattern, and we're hearing about the last step (public before the church).

What's your opinion?

I tend to agree with Zaac, it doesn't appear that they went to the entire church, only the elders.

 

[Aaron]

Boo hoo.

:rollseyes:

 

[saturneptune]

Matthew 18 is quite clear on procedure. Scripture is also quite clear that the sins of a child are not the sins of a parent. The final authority should rest with the church, not a collection of elders elected on a social status basis.

 

[Don]

Matthew 18 is quite clear on procedure. Scripture is also quite clear that the sins of a child are not the sins of a parent. The final authority should rest with the church, not a collection of elders elected on a social status basis.

Agreed. :thumbs:

 

[thisnumbersdisconnected]

Was this the Biblical way to handle this?

Right attitude, wrong execution. Nothing in Matthew 18:15-20 tells the church to humiliate its members. Counseling and biblical doctrine were in order for the family, but nothing in the Bible says the church should make us stand up and publicly apologize for our sin.

 

[Zaac]

Right attitude, wrong execution. Nothing in Matthew 18:15-20 tells the church to humiliate its members. Counseling and biblical doctrine were in order for the family, but nothing in the Bible says the church should make us stand up and publicly apologize for our sin.

Part of the Matthew 18 procedure is coming before the Church. The lack of confessing and repenting is what pushes it from stage to stage. So yes, once it's gotten to that point, they ARE to publicly acknowledge and repent of their sin if they are to remain in the church.

Scripture says 20 Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear. 1 Tim 5:20 It is specifically to elders but the PRINCIPLE applies to all.

 

[thisnumbersdisconnected]

Part of the Matthew 18 procedure is coming before the Church. The lack of confessing and repenting is what pushes it from stage to stage. So yes, once it's gotten to that point, they ARE to publicly acknowledge and repent of their sin if they are to remain in the church.

Most people in any given local church are not mature enough to handle the process, and should therefore not take part in it. The process belongs to church leadership, i.e., deacons and pastors.

 

[Zaac]

Most people in any given local church are not mature enough to handle the process, and should therefore not take part in it. The process belongs to church leadership, i.e., deacons and pastors.

By the time it's to be presented to the church, it should be the leadership of the church presenting it. Specifically the Pastor AND his staff.

 

[thisnumbersdisconnected]

By the time it's to be presented to the church, it should be the leadership of the church presenting it. Specifically the Pastor AND his staff.

They don't need to share the failings of the membership with others to immature spiritually to hear such a confession. That you don't understand that explains a lot about your other interactions on this board.

 

[Zaac]

They don't need to share the failings of the membership with others to immature spiritually to hear such a confession. That you don't understand that explains a lot about your other interactions on this board.

That speaks about YOUR interactions because the BIBLICAL process was handed down by GOD. Before whom it is to be presented isn't up for debate.

And again, your own words betray you.Let the wicked fall into their own nets, while I pass by in safety. Psalm 141:10