Immorality in Ministry

I can't believe this thread is still going on. Why are we even discussing the ways a church can defraud anyone else. Why were we even wondering how to handle a minister involved in such a action. ( I believe when she admitted it was going on then she should have been immediately removed in a loving way) Then you would handle just as you would a member living the state of unrepentant sin.

 

From my perspective she is married in Gods eyes, usually states have a time limit for common law to be holding, ours is seven years. States MUST recognize common law as legal marriage for the simple fact that it is not a CRIME to be married without a state license. The "time limit" is really a subjective point that the state could nver prove in most cases.

 

ROFLOL!!!! Well sinner, maybe you feel the need to pick up a few stones also?

 

My sister in law is currently living with a man. She has 4 girls and he has 4 boys. (Sounds like a 70's sitcom, but this aint funny). They both claim to be devout christians....(charasmatic)....and say that they are doing what God "told" them to.

They recently moved to Indiana al the way from Oklahoma just to go to a certain church. (The church recently allowed them to take the youth group on an outing...good example for the youth huh?) The pastor of this church has given his blessings to the arrangement and declared them "married in God's eyes".

The only problem is this.....he is still married to another woman (in the state's eyes).

So, if just living with a person makes us "married in God's eyes", how do you explain the fact that he is actually married to someone else?

And, how do you actually know what is in "God's eyes"? I ask this because you are advocating that living together makes folks married "in God's eyes" and that goes completely against what the Bible teaches.

Do you "see" through the eyes of God? Do you have divine knowledge? Are you a prophet?

I have never understood phrases like this, they sound more like human reasoning and justification more than they do divine knowledge.

Sorry if I sound harsh, but I really want to know how and why you "see" something that goes against the teachings of the Bible and declare it the will of God.

AJ

 

It depends on the state you are in. But in most states as I understand it, common law marriages requiring living together for a certain amount time ... which means until that time is up you aren't married.

The state isn't performing these services on God's behalf.

I don't even know what that means. It is unintelligible.

[quoteLet’s face it, there are many things we as Christians must do with or without state approval. (spanking our children comes to mind)
[/quote]Marriage doesn't come to mind. There is no biblical command to marry. There is a biblical command to live under the laws of the state and no biblical disobedience that is brought on by doing so. So there is no biblical reason to refuse a marriage license in accord with the laws of your state. If you refuse, you are disobeying God.

Yes, and God said to obey the laws of the state.

 

The Bible never establishes your perspective as meaningful to any standard of obedience. IOW, what you think doesn't matter.

 

Marriage is a spiritual act performed before God. The state has nothing to do with it, the state "union" is meaningless to God and is not "marriage". It is not illegal to be married without a state license; therefore it is LEGAL to be married without a state license.

It makes perfect sense when you see marriage as a spiritual union between two people and before God. Just wait for your salvation license, you'll be the first in line.

 

No state license is required by God to be married, this is my point. It takes two people to perform a marriage, one man and one woman, no state, no preacher, no witnesses.

 

I can't help but think you are missing the point. First, marriage is not only a spiritual union before God. It also deals with our relationships with other people. Second, God has commanded us to live under the laws of the state. Therefore, if your state requires a marriage license, you are sinning against God if you don't have one. Period.

Again, I don't know what a salvation license means. I have never heard of that and don't know anybody who has. If you can explain it, then perhaps I can interact with it and understand why it is similar or dissimilar to what we are talking about here.

 

Yes, but it is a bad point.

So two teenagers in the back seat of a car on Friday night can declare themselves to be married and they are?

 

As I have said, it is not ILLEGAL so it is therefore LEGAL.

 

Its not illegal to get drunk in the privacy of your own home.

Its not illegal to get an abortion.

Its not illegal to be a homosexual.

Its not illegal to be a wiccan, or buddist, or muslim or atheist.

What is your point?

Lots of thing are not "illegal", that doesnt make it right to God.

AJ

 

I do not recall ever saying we should stone anyone. If you would read the scripture you would find that there is a specific way to handle this type of situation. This would include loving kindness and gentleness. What to do about the situation is a no-brainer tho. Do not be so judgemental before you start name calling it just shows your immaturity in the word.

 

I understood your post. I also plead guilty to being somewhat stone-footed when a situation arises that is close to me but should require swift yet deliberate action. It seems that in these situations that the answer lies openly in the scripture and with prayer we can receive the wisdom to find that scripture. I would question the intent of anyone who could find any joy when handling this type of situation. My prayers are not only with you and your church but the stumbling saint in which you speak of. While she may have destroyed her ministry position, I hope she can be lifted up to full fellowship in a loving church. She has only yielded to a weakness and we all have weaknesses.