News-Record.com

Who better to preach of a forgiving God than one who has experienced what I consider to be in our society a true forgiving experience?

However, after suffering a nervous breakdown 10 1/2 years ago, I recall what a fellow pastor told me; Christians are the only group to kill their wounded.

It sounds like the media helped to provoke this incident in Illinois.

I consider what FBC-Romeoville did to be complete love. This is especially true since they knew his past.

My prayer is that this congregation find a pastor who will help them work through their pain and hurt. Before that new pastor is called to serve, the church needs a time of healing. So, I believe that an interim would be best for quite a while.

Shalom

“I consider what FBC-Romeoville did to be complete love. This is especially true since they knew his past.”

Darryl, I know you are trying to be kind and gracious in your attitude, but your statement reflects one of the main deficiencies of the Christian Church in today’s humanistic milieu: a blindness to the Law of God and to the reality of human nature, in its depraved fallenness and corruption.

Actually, what this congregation did was complete foolishness and deluded pietism. It may have titillated their need to FEEL tolerant and PC; but for any potential victims it was the height of stupidity. NO “pastor” who has committed ANY sexual offense against minors, or adults, should EVER be allowed back into the pulpit or any position of leadership in the Church. His ordination should be rescinded, and then he should be placed under loving care by able Christian counselors/psychiatrists in an effort to complete any repentance necessary; and only then offered restoration to communion and fellowship. He should also be accountable to an authority the rest of his/her life on earth – for his/her good as well as potential victims. But to put him/her into any position where youthful charges (or any charges) are under his/her influence or control is sheer lunacy.

It is my opinion that anyone who sexually molests a “child” (whatever age span is laid down in the legal codes) should face capital punishment after due process: teacher, scientist, preacher, whoever. From all that we can glean from later testimonies of such victims, it virtually destroys their lives – depending on the person and the circumstances. It can be a protracted living hell. And so, from every angle, it is one of the most grievous offenses a human being can perpetrate. No biblically informed church would ever place such a perpetrator in the pulpit again. Love must always be tempered by truth and wisdom. Gushy feelings alone spell disaster! It’s NEVER worth it to place precious children in danger.

This isn't love by any stretch of the imagination. It is sheer insanity. The man is a child predator and can't be trusted around children, ever.

I stand by my statements above. While I do not know all of the people or specifics of the issue; I believe that it was an act of sacrificial love on the part of FBC-Romeoville. That congregation is paying for exercising that love.

As for the "Law of God," I believe that Jesus the Christ is recorded as noting that he (and he alone) came to fulfill the Law AND the Prophets. And when asked what was the greatest commandment he is recorded as noting that would be to love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul (all that you are); and then to love others as you would love your own self. And then Jesus the Christ noted that ALL of the Law and the Prophets could be hung upon these two commands.

That seems pretty clear to me.

Shalom

i won't argue that Jesus said that darryl. it is unfortunate that you don't believe paul(i.e. saul) is an apostle and that his writtings are not part of scripture - because he provides us with a narrative on this very issue in 1cor. and 2cor. He spelled out how to deal with someone in a congregation who was boasting in sin (fornication) - boot them out and turn them over to satan and let that play out its course - but.......... when that same person repents (2cor2) bring him back into the fold (congregation/church) and nuture him in love lest he be swallowed up in grief. this is not an unconditional release into the congregation without checks and balances - we must examine other scripture(s) and apply its teachings and tone to each situation......Jesus told the man "to go and sin no more lest a worse thing come upon him". yes i agree that the body of believers is to receive a repentant believer back into the fold, but not to be left unattended and held unaccountable. darryl this would have been an excellent point for you to make had you placed any authority in pauls teachings, too bad you wrote him off as a heretic, how sad for you, he had a lot of neat stuff to teach.

Ok buz, I get it now; Paul trumps Jesus. Thanks for clarifying that!

buz, help me out a bit more if you would. Where is it noted that the interim pastor who resigned was "boasting in sin?"

The article that I read on this was clear. He was open, honest, and upfront with FBC-Romeoville. It appears that he was not seeking to keep his past crimes hidden. Why is it so difficult to give the man credit for being that open? Aside from the old adage about Christians killing their wounded!

Shalom

darryl,
oh boy, ok here is what i thought you'd get from this....when i said "boasting in sin (fornication)" did you notice the word inside the parenthesis, i.e. fornication ! i was implying hannas sin was fornication not that he was boasting in sin.

"He was open, honest, and upfront with FBC-Romeoville"..............apparently not so with others darryl (read on)....

"In talking to the Sun-Times last week, Hannah, 42, was unapologetic about his crimes, saying his first marriage had been troubled and he'd had "urges."

"I honestly believe that had I been a college pastor, I'd slept with college girls," he said. "But I was a youth pastor. It was less about age and more about who I spent all my time with."
The Rev. Steve Farish, pastor of Crossroads Church, which has relocated to Grayslake, said he considered Hannah so dangerous that he warned the Romeoville church and a regional Southern Baptist official.
"We thought he could still potentially be a danger to women and children," Farish said. "He was never repentant and never told the truth."

just what would it take for someone to do to cause you to be indignant darryl? this guys had 'urges', well don't we all (it's called temptation, which btw is not sin) - he says it would have been 'anyone' he spent time with...it's bad enough it was young teenagers - just think if he had been involved with 3-5 yrs. olds.
paul trumps Jesus......hmmmmmm.......i suspect if paul had not spoken out about homosexuality that you probably would endear his teachings. considering that paul is responsible for most of the nt writting apparently your bible is a much shorter version that what i studying from.

so let me ask you (and please reply), if Jesus (the) Christ had spoken those exact words verbatem that paul spoke, would you then place value on them ? are you saying that pauls teaching is flawed and not one that Jesus would endorse? pauls message was about forgiveness, and loving others as one loves themself.

buz, I give more validity to the words attributed to Jesus the Christ than those of Paul. I will not get into a discussion on whether Paul did/did not write much of the Christian scriptures.

Sadly modern Christianity could very easily be deemed Paulistic. Far too many people trump the single basic teaching of Jesus the Christ with Paul's writings or writings attributed to him.

buz, indigence is not something that comes easily for me. For me to live peaceably, lovingly with my fellow humans, I must seek to tender anger. To live a life with integrity and equality towards all, this cannot be something that would be thought of when I am considered.

While people may disagree with how I view this man from the article, I am commanded to love others as I love myself. So, how does one deal with the teaching of Jesus the Christ regarding love and yet, still find areas to tear down rather than build bridges?

I would rather be accused of loving a person like Hannah than known for disagreeing with someone who sought to follow the commandment of "love others" regardless of who the "other/s" may be.

Shalom

This non-believer finds Mr Hanna(H) (can't recall the correct spelling ) is a sleazy opportunist who used his failure to nurture and preserve his own ( and no doubt, " covenential" and till death do they part) marriage as an excuse to sleep with teenaged girls. Yeah, now THAT'S someone you want having alone time with the kiddies.

The parents of those teenaged girls trusted this guy to look out for their daughters' spirtual, emotional and physical well being- he was a " man of god" , for cripe's sake.

I believe in forgiveness. I also believe that a congregation has the duty to LOVE their members- by protecting their young from someone who might hurt them- especially somebody who didn't seem particularly sorry he'd previously sexed-up jailbaiters.

Why did they have to hire him for a position with " spiritual" authority- that only shiws contempt for the young'uns in that church.

alice i knew the day would come when we agreed on something !!

" Far too many people trump the single basic teaching of Jesus the Christ with Paul's writings or writings attributed to him.".............. darryl it is called 'rightly dividing the truth'.

let me ask you, when in your opinion the new testament began ?

Wow, now "rightly dividing the truth." I thought the sentence in scripture was "rightly dividing the word of truth." Anyway, now that trumps following the words attributed to Jesus the Christ. Will it never end?

My concern is what is wrong with exercising love to the very type of people Jesus would have fellowshipped according to the few stories that we have recorded of Jesus. Which "camp" would people rather be affiliated; the one which exercises love or the one that alienates, casts out, etc?

I would rather err on the side of caution, knowing that God will forgive me if it is error on my part. I guess some forget what the word Christian means and that is is not an adjective.

Shalom

darryl,
i hope the omission of the word 'word' doesn't disqualify me from heaven in your sight. thanks so much for the much needed correction though.
darryl the issue is not about fellowshipping with this person - the issue is putting him back in a position of spiritual authority and in direct contact with those same people he had 'urges'about - good grief can't you see the difference. there is NOTHING wrong with exercising love - even to a fallen brother or sister in Christ. it's the exercising of good sound judgement that is in question here !
"Anyway, now that trumps following the words attributed to Jesus the Christ. Will it never end?"....will you explain to me what you mean ?

First buz, I do not care for the comment; "i hope the omission of the word 'word' doesn't disqualify me from heaven in your sight." I nave NEVER implied to know who is/is not disqualified for heaven! I wish others would practice that discernment.

I am still amazed that it took this long to finally say what was really meant. I have been doing that all along.

And none of us know Hannah's heart. None of us have been privy to his communication with God. Therefore, we do not know what has transpired. I trust the people of FBC-Romeoville more than what I have seen expressed in this blog. Maybe that is a fault of mine, trusting of others.

buz, if the statement beginning "anyway" is not clear, I see no other way to make it clearer. I do not write in double-speak (as a normal practice). Therefore, I see no need to go back to restate what has already been stated.

Shalom

darryl,
it was important enough for you to correct me so i thought that my omission might have dire consequences. the omission in no way changed the import of my statement, so i can only wonder why the correction other than to perhaps embarrass me ?
"....say what was really meant. I have been doing that all along.".............. darryl you may say what you mean but obviously that does not mean that others always 'get' what you are trying to convey - so thanks for nothing in trying to help me understand your statement - it seems unimportant (to you) that people have a clear understanding of your posts.
if anyone else out here can clairify what darryl meant when he said "Anyway, now that trumps following the words attributed to Jesus the Christ. Will it never end?" please help me understand - and yes i am sometimes slow to understand but at least i make it a point of at least trying !!

12hrs and 42 minutes later.....no one either wishes to help me understand or they themselves also don't understand. hmmmmmmmmmm ...........

i know what i want to say even if i can't say it the way i want to say it but i mean every word i say and if you can't understand it then it must be your fault not mine because it was clear to me, so if it isn't clear to you then i will not explain myself because i said what i meant and i meant what i said .... or something similar to that !? and no i won't explain what i just said !! good nite all :-)