"Methinks thou doth protest too much."
posted by CS | 12:00 PM 
From the Wittenberg Door Insider:
This story is all too typical - in several unfortunate ways. Firstly, you have an individual who viscerally fights against something in which he himself has a struggle. History is replete with examples of this psychological effect.
Secondly, and I think more importantly, there's the expected reaction from authority figures (the church hierarchy), while couched in phrases such as "our ability to extend Christ's love".
The greater sin on Latham's part was not coming clean - admitting to the transgressions (particularly the breaking of the trust of his flock). Instead, he lied in an attempt to cover up the earlier lies. But he's human and we can expect as much, given the heap of lies under which he was living.
Who is in the better position to administer mercy in this case - the man living under the heap of lies or those with the stones in their hands?
I understand that the members of the church feel their trust in him has been lost, as it has. And as with a marriage which has suffered an infidelity, the earlier relationship may not be repairable. But this is up to the character of the parties involved and - ultimately - their commitment to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
I'm not telling the church to forgive and forget - pretend that such things don't happen - didn't happen to them - but use this instead as an amazing gift to realize everyone is broken and in need of the Lord - that everyone is just a few bad decisions away from propositioning an undercover cop, if metaphorically. There is something in each of our lives that could easily be our ruination if we give enough life to it. Am I alone in this belief?
What a beautiful thing it would be if the former pastor and this church could use this as an example of Christ's love and - even if the pastor ultimately does not stay there - show others that we really believe what we're preaching.
Firebrand "Anti-Gay" Pastor Arrested for SolicitingIf you check the church website, you'll see no mention of Latham on the staff page and several official statements concerning him on the main page.
According to police records, 60-year old Lonnie Latham, senior pastor of South Tulsa Baptist Church, has been arrested on a complaint of offering to engage in an act of lewdness with a male undercover officer. Latham denied the charges to reporters as he left the Oklahoma County jail and claimed, "I was set up. I was in the area pastoring..." Latham, a Southern Baptist Convention executive committee member, has often spoken out publicly against homosexuals, saying they lead a sinful and destructive lifestyle. Lonnie's lewdness charge carries a maximum penalty of up to one year in jail and a $2,500 fine.
This story is all too typical - in several unfortunate ways. Firstly, you have an individual who viscerally fights against something in which he himself has a struggle. History is replete with examples of this psychological effect.
Secondly, and I think more importantly, there's the expected reaction from authority figures (the church hierarchy), while couched in phrases such as "our ability to extend Christ's love".
The greater sin on Latham's part was not coming clean - admitting to the transgressions (particularly the breaking of the trust of his flock). Instead, he lied in an attempt to cover up the earlier lies. But he's human and we can expect as much, given the heap of lies under which he was living.
Who is in the better position to administer mercy in this case - the man living under the heap of lies or those with the stones in their hands?
I understand that the members of the church feel their trust in him has been lost, as it has. And as with a marriage which has suffered an infidelity, the earlier relationship may not be repairable. But this is up to the character of the parties involved and - ultimately - their commitment to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
I'm not telling the church to forgive and forget - pretend that such things don't happen - didn't happen to them - but use this instead as an amazing gift to realize everyone is broken and in need of the Lord - that everyone is just a few bad decisions away from propositioning an undercover cop, if metaphorically. There is something in each of our lives that could easily be our ruination if we give enough life to it. Am I alone in this belief?
What a beautiful thing it would be if the former pastor and this church could use this as an example of Christ's love and - even if the pastor ultimately does not stay there - show others that we really believe what we're preaching.
1 Comments:
I am all for the healing of the relationship of this pastor and his church, at least to the point they can both move on. But as far as the pastor's part, Christ extends His love and forgiveness (personally and through the church if he is truly repentant) with his struggle, but He also instructs us to "go, and sin no more." This pastor apparently needs some help in this area of his life, especially as this has been publicly acknowledged. In the meantime, perhaps he can serve in a different capacity until he gets this worked through with God's healing and forgiveness.
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