News-Record.com

apparently there are at least two of us who have watched dateline!
in this age of instant gratification it is no big surprise to me that this sort of thing happens - even to ministers. after all they are flesh and bones like the rest of us and subject to backsliding at moments of separation from God. with the advent of the internet and seemingly little oversight of it - one can simply 'key up' most any subject and spends countless hours following the internet trail, whether it be porn or legitimate research. discipline and respect (i.e for God, for yourself & for others) would go a long way in the inappropriate use of our computers. we (including myself) on occasion will use our computers to hide behind and say things that we might not (and ought not) to say to others that we would not say to their face. it (computer) becomes an easy mask to wear and provides us a venue to perhaps do some venting and stress releasing - not saying it right but i think we all might be a little guilty at times.
as for this pastor, if he is a sincere man of God, he knows what he must do to reconcile himself with God (starts with repentance) and he will have to pay the price to the civil authorities as well. God is forgiving if we are just and faithful to confess our sin(s) and repent - i hope he (pastor) does !!

I've never watched Dateline, but I have heard an awful lot about this practice. While I agree that it's vital to keep kids from being drawn into this sort of tryst for real, this practice sure sounds to me a lot like "entrapment."

I think it's sad that so many people end up ruining their lives over the hope of an hour or so of illicit pleasure. Men can be so stupid at times, thinking with the wrong part of their bodies....

Nancy, make that three who have watched Dateline! I am still baffled at mature adults (by their number of years [age]) who are so out of touch as to attempt something of this nature in this time. There has to be a lapse of touch with reality somewhere. How sad to ruin a career and disgrace a family.

Shalom

What we have here is a tragic example of the awful power of sin. The Scripture informs us that it is deceitful and destructive - and makes a total fool out of ALL its victims; and spares no gender, class, age or ethnicity. For "All we like sheep (real dumb animals) have gone astray, and the Lord hath laid on him (Yeshua) the iniquity of us all." At least this is a subject (sin in general) that all of us are experts at - if we're honest, that is.

The real question is what to do about it. If left unchecked and undisciplined it can indeed ruin lives, marriages, families - and NATIONS. Buz is right: our society is replete with almost limitless opportunities to indulge the old sin nature, especially the Internet, for the reasons he stated. And it is destroying out culture, from top to bottom.

God's solution is, first and foremost, the new birth, through faith in Messiah's atonement (Gospel); then, living daily in the power and presence of the Holy Spirit. In Galatians it says, "If you walk in the Spirit you will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh." TRYING hard not to sin, by human will power, is futile, as history, OT and secular, shows. God's answer is totally divine and totally positive: to be filled with the Spirit, Who inclines the redeemed heart and mind to righteousness and good. The Law reveals what we shouldn't do, our experience shows we cannot keep it fully and consistently, and the Gospel provides us with the power to overcome sin - IF we choose to avail oursleves. Apparently this foolish fellow failed to do so, and allowed sin to gain a foothold, and finally to overtake him. The Gospel does not make us willess puppets, but victorious partners in grace.

As the OT records, the apostasy and sinfulness even of the priesthood went hand in glove with the fall of the nation into sin. In fact, the failure of the Church precipitates the spiritual decline of the nation, which in turn further undermines the Church. This is where our nation is today, and why things like this happen, even in the Church.

"While I agree that it's vital to keep kids from being drawn into this sort of tryst for real, this practice sure sounds to me a lot like "entrapment." "

Namtac, you really need to look up what entrapment actually means. The police are merely presenting themselves online as what these scumbag pedophiles are looking for. They are merely presenting the opportunity. It's solely the scumbag's decision to take the bait.