One family is not at fault. Not in the least bit.
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Dealing with a particular church problem
- Thread starter Reynolds
- Start date
They should stay, but other be shown the way out!
I know there are two sides to every story. I would tell the 'innocent' ones they are responsible to get the authorities involved and to report the 'assault and battery' and get an order of protection. If they aren't willing to do that, they're as guilty of bringing the conflict into the assembly as the others and to stay away until they do.
I would tell the 'guilty' ones if they can't keep their kids under control, they have no business at church.
I would still offer to counsel and arbitrate if all parties agreed. But if they can't keep their private conflicts out of the assembly, then they can go their separate ways.
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If the baby can't come clean, then yes.
The innocent family has no moral obligation to prosecute.
K, but they don't get to retaliate by demanding the church leadership step in to a private affair.
So, your advice is that they should seek the secular authorities to deal with an issue that happened in church, but they should not seek the leadership of the church to deal with a problem at church?
If you had that incident happen in your church, you as church leaders would call the Police and totally wash your hands of the issue? Doesn't sound like the way Paul instructed the church to handle it.
Scripture seems to say the opposite. Scripture instructs it to be dealt with by the church leaders.
Scripture is plain that church issues should be dealt with by church leadership. Resorting to secular authorities is a last resort.
If something else happens that causes physical injury, and church leadership did not take appropriate steps, if the victims seek civil recourse; the church will lose in civil court.
How do you base your advice in Scripture?
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Philippians 4:2-3
I entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to agree in the Lord. Yes, I ask you also, true companion, help these women, who have labored side by side with me in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.
I entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to agree in the Lord. Yes, I ask you also, true companion, help these women, who have labored side by side with me in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.
You said it was assault and battery. Was it or was it not? Yes, the church delivers violent criminals to the civil authorities. The church does not mete out justice.
If the 'innocent' family wants justice and protection, they need to go to the ministers God ordained to mete it, i.e., the civil authorities.
What obligations do Christians have to prosecute everyone who commits a crime against them? Does this not fall fully in line with a case of New Testament church discipline.
You really think it is better for the name of Christ for the secular authorities to handle something the church is commanded to handle. It really would be a black eye on the church to be in the police blotter of the local newspaper with all the dirty laundry of the incident in print for all the world to see. "Arrest made at --- ----- Baptist church. A juvenile attempted to choke to unconsciousness a fellow member of the youth group at the Sun evening church service........ "
The update to the situation is pastor had a talk with offending family. As predicted, it made situation worse. The good family is leaving. From the looks of it, I believe more will follow
Paul instructed Church discipline for a reason. Fail to do it, you get a mess.
We never joined there. One of the deacons and the pastor talked me into coming to try to train and mentor the deacons. They were all new. None had experience. They are neither trainable nor mentorable it appears. Pastor is scared to act because his last church split and fell apart. Guess we will see how it pans out for them. It will pan out without our family. Back to our home church.
Paul instructed Church discipline for a reason. Fail to do it, you get a mess.
We never joined there. One of the deacons and the pastor talked me into coming to try to train and mentor the deacons. They were all new. None had experience. They are neither trainable nor mentorable it appears. Pastor is scared to act because his last church split and fell apart. Guess we will see how it pans out for them. It will pan out without our family. Back to our home church.
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Well they're trying to 'prosecute' it in the church. It's obvious to me now that it wasn't that serious an issue, and you obviously have a personal interest in the matter that seems to me to be clouding your judgment.
What is Church Discipline for?