Sexual Immorality — ALL Sexual Immorality Defiles the Church
It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that even pagans do not tolerate: A man is sleeping with his father’s wife. And you are proud! Shouldn’t you rather have gone into mourning and have put out of your fellowship the man who has been doing this? For my part, even though I am not physically present, I am with you in spirit. As one who is present with you in this way, I have already passed judgment in the name of our Lord Jesus on the one who has been doing this. So when you are assembled and I am with you in spirit, and the power of our Lord Jesus is present, hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord.
Your boasting is not good. Don’t you know that a little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough? Get rid of the old yeast, so that you may be a new unleavened batch—as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. Therefore let us keep the Festival, not with the old bread leavened with malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. But now I am writing to you that you must not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or slanderer, a drunkard or swindler. Do not even eat with such people.
What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked person from among you.”
1 Corinthians 5 — English Standard Version
There has always been some degree of sexual immorality in the Church. It is why we have this letter from the apostle Paul to the lost and worldly church in Corinth for our instruction that this will happen and when it does how to respond and what actions to take.
Tragically in the latter 20th and 21st century sexual immoralities within the church have increased to historical highs. Never before has so much perversion, sexual deviancy, sexual immoralities existed.
And instead of being Bible literate and fluent, rather than knowing and going to the Word of God as to the course to take whenever, wherever, among whomever the church over the past number of decades to the present — and there is no reason to believe anything will improve regarding this in the future — take a worldly approach, a New Age approach and turn away and aside from the Bible.
Instead of correction there is appeasement and placating and no consequences. Pretending in doing so they are being “Christian” when in truth they are the exact opposite of how a true Christian ought to not only react, but take actions accordingly.
The offender, or offenders — in all sexual immoralities — are to be judged within the church and then cut loose. Removed. Because if the decay, if the rot, if the sin, if the immorality is swept under the carpet, made less of than it actually is, ignored and lessened in any manner? Thus excused? And the rot, that spoiled little lump of leaven will ruin the whole batch. That spoiled yeast will infect and spoil the whole dough. This is not some cutesy metaphor. It’s doctrinal instruction. Fact. Revealing how those in a true Christian body need to deal with any and all sexual immorality within that body.
Yet, in these times more times than not it is hidden. Excused. Made into something other than what it is. Lied about. Denied. Or if it does come to light? It’s dealt with in a hippieism, most worldly pagan manner — yet if reading carefully there are many sexual perversions and immoralities even the pagans would not accept that the professed church does!
And you believe this is a good thing? That you can’t judge? That if direct and proper action according to the Word of God is taken you’re what? Doing something wrong? Being too judgmental?
How lost and crawling around in utter darkness can you be if you believe in such a way!?
Read the Bible.
Discern wisely and well what is in the Word of God.
THE WORDS FROM GOD to us. God’s words. Not man’s. God’s
And we know better? Something has changed. What?
And you believe when before the Lord when it’s your turn to be before Him as each one of us will be judged justly according to the Word that your errant worldly modern age dung is going to somehow excuse you? Change the mind and heart and eternal Word of God?
Really?
May I strongly urge more face time in the Bible. In prayer over the Bible and within the Bible. Deep study. Deep contemplation. Deep meditation upon, within, about, throughout the Bible. And it be the worldly wisdom, the New Age dung, the modern-day lying doctrines and false teachings you set aside and no longer follow and believe and you adhere to the Word of God and only the Word of God. In all things. And especially in light of the massive escalation in sexual immoralities over the past 50 years or so that have really taken off worse than ever and are not ever going to be restored to a more moral way.
It’s only going to get worse. Increasingly immoral. And much of it around human sexuality.
The cancer has spread as it has within the church because for far too long though known those within the body have refused to operate to cut out, remove the cancer and thus they have allowed it to spread. To kill. To injure.
Delusion kills.
Ignorance is not bliss.
Denial doesn’t make the truth disappear.
And no matter who commits sexual immorality within the body? Anywhere? Be they the beloved senior pastor, youth pastor, worship leader, any person within the body — the Word of God as written and instructing applies to every, any, and all equally. There is no distinction. No letting someone slide because of their position, so on.
Home – National Center of Sexual Explotation (endsexualexploitation.org)
Ken Pullen
Wednesday, March 2nd, 2022
ACP — A Crooked Path
Sexual Abuse in the Church
Sexual abuse allegations against Christian leaders must be investigated swiftly and dutifully.
Wednesday, March 2, 2022
By Hannah Meador
Reprinted from American Family Association
In 2019, the Houston Chronicle released an article that exposed 700 Southern Baptist leaders to their involvement in sexual abuse and misconduct cases. It didn’t take long for this piece to spread like wildfire among the Southern Baptist denomination and others alike.
At that year’s convention, leaders hosted a sit-down conversation with the convention’s then-president J.D. Greear, and many other big-name leaders, as well as victims of sexual abuse. Intrigued to see how they planned to attack the problem, my mother and I drove over four hours to attend that discussion. We left feeling hopeful!
They released guidelines and reports that they hoped would “spark a movement of healing and reform.” Well-respected SBC leaders were so apologetic and regretful for the things they hadn’t done to protect the victims of this crime. It seemed that change was going to come from these conversations. Filled with emotions and a little bit of hope, we came home excited for what was to come.
Three years have passed since that bombshell article was released. So, I was curious when last week I noticed an article concerning the SBC’s “mishandling” of a sexual abuse case…that happened to have begun in 2019. You know, during that time back when they were so very remorseful.
The case involves Jennifer Lyell. In 2019, she was a well-known Christian publicist and had a lot of good things happening in her life. Until she realized that her seminary professor-turned-abuser was coming back to the states. While at seminary, Lyell was repeatedly abused by a man she thought to be a “man of God.” And when he returned to ministry, she knew she had to protect future girls from the same fate.
So, she stepped forward and told the story of her abuser. Lies about Lyell spread as a Baptist news organization spun the story and placed the blame on Lyell. Those sources have since been retracted. However, Lyell’s reputation and life were destroyed.
It wasn’t until February 22 of this year that Lyell received a public apology from the SBC, alongside a (much deserved) “undisclosed financial settlement.” Thankfully, Lyell got that apology and her case was settled. Many other victims (especially within the church) do not get this type of care and attention. But I just cannot get past the truth – it took three years for justice to be served. Yes, I understand our court system and how things take time. But what I cannot understand is how the church didn’t act like the church to this victim.
In choosing to step forward and warn of a wolf among the flock, Lyell lost her job, health, and reputation. What happened to those leaders in 2019 who were set on starting “a movement of healing and reform?” Where was that attitude when it came to Lyell’s abuse?
On average, every 68 seconds, an American is sexually assaulted. It should come as no shock that this awful travesty has made its way into the church. But what we should not do is blame victims or let abusers off the hook.
It took a victim three years to receive just an apology from one of the largest protestant organizations in the world. Sure, she did receive some compensation. But we are talking about a woman who was blackballed because she was brave enough to speak out against her abuser – who happened to be in ministry.
So, what do we do about it?
From personal experience, I have seen that the ultimate tactic used in churches is “grace.” But more times than not, grace is for the offender instead of the victim. Do I think that there shouldn’t be grace offered to everyone? Of course not! But I also think there should be consequences for unjust actions – and help for victims.
Here’s the thing, when it comes to being the victim of abuse, it can take everything in you to come forward. That is why things such as delayed disclosure are an issue. Studies show that fewer than 25% of child victims come forward immediately. Likewise, adult victims wait long periods before sharing what happened to them.
If the church doesn’t expose the darkness happening with these cases, who will?
Pride kills. (See Proverbs 16:18.)
We cannot let that be the reason these cases go unnoticed. Rather, we should follow protocols and help stomp this vicious crime out of the church and world. Below are a few examples of ways to be proactive and minister to victims of abuse.
- Security and boundaries.
It might seem excessive to some, but it shouldn’t be. We live in an age where everything is filmed. Why shouldn’t we have church security cameras? Or glass doors? Children should never be one-on-one with adults. Set clear policies with teachers and volunteers before they are allowed to work with children. Background checks are easy to complete. However, studies show that less than 10% of abusers ever face law enforcement.
- File a report.
In the event a victim comes forward with allegations of abuse, it is vital to file a police report. It is important to never belittle the accusation. Sure, we don’t want to believe that “he/she would ever do that.” But the fact is, the heart is deceitful (Jeremiah 17:9). And unless we are Jesus Himself, how would we really know a person’s intent and actions? It is important to have law enforcement involved so that they can work with victims and abusers. Don’t become prideful and worry about “what if it gets out.” Our job is to minister to the hurting, not worry about church attendance numbers.
- Help with healing.
When a victim admits something so severe, believe them. As I mentioned earlier, it is a very hard thing to do, and it may take months or years to confess. When they do – take it seriously and follow through with reports. It is even a good idea to have a list of counselors or trusted volunteers that will be willing to speak and minister to these individuals. They need the hope and truth found in the Word of God.
- Be the Church.
Show the love of Christ. Be there for them. Make victims feel seen as an image-bearer of Christ. Not someone who is dirty and worthless.
The body of Christ is an important place to be. We should be on the front line of this cause and fight till the bitter end for the hurting. Will we though? Or we will offer half-hearted apologies and revisit the issue in three years? I know what I plan to do.
Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves,
for the rights of all who are destitute.
Speak up and judge fairly;
defend the rights of the poor and needy (Proverbs 31:8-9).
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