The battle for holiness has never been fiercer nor the stakes higher. Sexual immorality has devastated too many men, damaged too many families, and marred the gospel's testimony too many times. Now is the time to prepare yourself to fight with our new book: livingwaters.com/store/books/fight-like-a-man/
All of creation is Holy. There is no CREATION seperate from the ONE TRUE CREATOR. TO SAY a creation is unholy is to say the CREATOR IS INCOMPLETE. YOU FOLLOWERS OF ABRAHAM SO LOVE TO DIVIDE THAT WHICH IS UNITED. You are not TRUE MONOTHEIST IF YOU BELIEVE IN 2 KINGDOMS WITHIN CREATION. ❤
Yahweh covets the SOVEREIGN DIVINITY of all SENTIENT SINGULARITIES through worship.... more proof he is not the ONE TRUE CREATOR. The actual ONE TRUE CREATOR requires NOTHING FROM YOU. Every CREATION that we as CREATORS extend is a testament to HIS GREATNESS. CREATORS CREATING IS HIS WORSHIP, accepted. 😂😂😂
The Billy Graham Rule is Biblical. Everyone needs to apply it and let ourselves be marked as different from the world. Never be alone with someone who isn't sister, wife, mother or daughter.
@@cosmictreason2242 I'm not here to be accepted or to search for validity through your perception. Thank you. The ONE TRUE CREATOR calls me to defy the broken theology of Abraham. To retain my DIVINE SOVEREIGNTY in the face of the assault of the blood cult of Sin Worshippers.... followers of Abraham.
We have to be careful not to think that we are above falling into any sin. Put sin to death or sin will be putting you to death. TAKE HEED LEST YOU FALL.
This is what I told myself and others when my Pastor fell into sexual sin years ago. Even if it has not happened to us yet and we pray and run the opposite direction to not let it happen, the possibility is there for any of us.
"So, if you think you are standing firm [in the faith], be careful that you don’t fall! No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear." (1 Corinthians 10: 12-13a, NIV).
I was married for 33 years before our pastor at the time who was much older than me and I considered him like a father while counseling my wife and I took advantage and had an affair with my then wife (which could be his daughter by age) and talked her into leaving me and him leaving his family which they both did in 2013 but the relationship for them lasted only 2 weeks. I have 4 grown children and 1 grand daughter which their mother makes them choose between her and a relationship with me. I pray everyday for my children to have a right relationship with the Lord.
Wow that's intense, my wife left me too, not for a Pastor but an unbeliever.. it's terribly hard the betrayal but like you I'm raising my kids in the Lord and praying they don't get deceived and fall into sexual sin like their mother. Stay strong brother and God bless
Mr. Comfort. I wanted to thank you for your youtube channel. I came across it a few weeks ago and had a total eye opening experience. I always felt like i was missing something and you really opened my eyes to what it was. Thank you for all your videos, i love watching them and can't seem to get enough. Looking forward to getting the evidence Bible that both my husband and i ordered. Keep up the great work you all do and may God bless you all.
David cheated with Bathsheba and even had Uriah killed, and God said he was a man after his own heart. My son Uriah told me one day "Hey dad isn't your first son, from your first marriage named David?? I said yes, why? He said isn't David and Uriah from the bible, Uriah doesn't believe, he don't like God, so he caught me off guard with that question. How did I not realize my son's are David and Uriah...crazy right? When David turned 33, Uriah was 22 and I was 55...crazy right? 33+22=55. God is amazing. PEACE 🕊
If the church is handling the discipline biblically, and maybe unless directly involved, leaving that church behind seems to be a knee jerk reaction. And if you leave in search of a perfect Church, good luck, there's no such thing. Praying for y'all!
No, they’re not “dropping like flies here in Dallas”. I’m a native of Dallas, Tx. We just have more high profile preachers. It just seems that way. But they all need prayers just like us.
Martyn Lloyd-Jones once said: Holiness is not something we are called upon to do in order that we may become something; it is something we are to do because of what we already are…
@@GarrettFemister.... deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. 1 Corinthians 5:4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, along with my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, 5 deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
If a Pastor falls into sin and he's truly repentant, he'll accept the loss of his ministry (albeit painfully) like King David did the loss of his child.
@@triumphantgalaxy Yes, But I think it was more than just the sin. Nathan told David that the baby Bathsheba had delivered would die due to David's sin. But before that when Nathan had told David that there was a man who had taken another's lamb. David (as king he also judged crime) pronounced a sentence on "the man" before Nathan told him, "You are the man." So, is this a case of what Jesus said will happen if we judge (pronounce sentence) on a person for doing a thing that we are also guilty of?
You know y’all might think deeply about this video and take it to heart and not have a profile that promotes sexual sin. Thank you Ray for putting out these videos. They’ve been a great encouragement to me. And I’m almost finished with EZ’s book. It’s the best book of its kinda that I’ve ever read. God bless the Living Waters Ministry!
They are actually fighting a fiercer battle my dad told me that once he began his full time ministry the temptations became ten times stronger. The enemy works doubly hard on our leaders in hopes of discrediting the name of Christ
Growing up, we had a pastor that mentioned how God brought him and his wife together. They had such a beautiful marriage. He cheated on her and it was found out, that caused my sister to leave the church and not trust anyone again. She told me the one day how she looked up to them and how it devastated her walk. 30 years on and this pastor's name is still marred, those in the congregation still talk about this. His wife had to move away because her name was dragged through the mud, his father, who was the head pastor, also went through a hard time and tried to save the congregation. When we sin, the consequences impact many, not just ourselves. Leaders are held to a higher standard and their influence goes even further. Do pray for your leaders, pastors and church, they need it very much. When anyone falls, forgive them, be gracious and allow them back into the fold in time and through repentance.
That's true. The call to spiritual discipline is very great. But let us not let mans failings dissaude us from the Gospel. Did Moses' failings disqualify the power of the God who created him?
@troywright359 God is good. The Good News is such Good News. The way we worship "church" sucks and isn't scriptural or Good News or even good. We don't function like the Body of Christ, men become the head in place of God and we are all divided up being loyal to our "systems." It's greivious. It's bondage. There's no greater joy then when disciples walk in the TRUTH. Jesus is The WAY, The TRUTH, and The LIFE; not our "spiritual leaders and systems." The "church" doesn't save people, the God of Salvation does. Choose this day whom you will serve. We can not serve 2masters. God alone on the throne, not men or systems.
Too bad you are looking at a man. Clearly, you are such a stellar saint, you have never committed any sin like lust (Matt. 5:28; James 2:10). Tell your sister to GROW UP and get a life. You and your sister are the quintessential Heb. 5:12-13; you both need milk and a change of diapers. The devil attacks "generals", so little "buck privates" like "youz 2" wet your diapers the rest of your Christian walk. You need to be Baptized with HS (Acts 2:1-4).
@@troywright359 I do get what you're saying and you are right about that. I wouldn't trust someone that claims to be perfect. A perfect person would make us feel uncomfortable and we couldn't go to them for help as they wouldn't understand our struggles. If our leaders would come out, tell the truth about themselves falling, repenting, face the consequences of their sin and strive to do better. We would support such a leader. A leader that sins and attempts to hide it would get a tarnished reputation. God is clear too, He says that a leader should be blameless and of a higher standard. We are still human and naturally make these judgements and set standards of approval. We should also be wise in who we allow to lead us. It wouldn't work going to a leader for help if they are still struggling in an area where we are struggling. That's a case of the blind leading the blind. If however they've succeeded in overcoming this struggle, we can trust them to lead help us overcome our struggle. If Moses continued in his sin, God wouldn't have continued using him. We are required to move away from our former selves and to renew our minds, same is expected with leaders, but even greater.
They'd better not read the Bible then because rather than hiding that the prophets fell, the Bible informs us that they did yet many people still become Christians.
I loved this video. Got a bit emotional for Manny's salvation and Dylan. May the Holy spirit speak to Dylan - seeing him smile when receiving the books and being honest throughout the conversation...man. Brother Ray, may the Lord bless you and keep you till the end of your days. I cannot wait to see you, if not here on this earth, then in heaven with the Lord. Watching from Kenya. Also very insightful on the fall of pastors. As always, thank you guys 🙏🏾
Dr. David Jeremiah once said (rightly) 'Don't EVER put me or any pastor on a pedestal because it might hurt if I fall off." Love your pastor! Support your pastor! Respect your pastor! Learn from your pastor! Never idolize or idealize your pastor!
The Billy Graham Rule is Biblical. Everyone needs to apply it and let ourselves be marked as different from the world. Never be alone with someone who isn't sister, wife, mother or daughter.
What about those who might secretly have homosexual temptations? How about we just ban face to face, private meetings. (Possible exceptions for family members)
I didn't know this was his rule, but I have made myself the same rule after a coworker was chasing me, and I shamefully* contemplated giving in. The only man I need to speak to, including inside the church, is my husband.
@@cosmictreason2242 my argument is to point out that we women feel extremely singled out as a problem gender. The secret struggles of lust between genders is equally something to feel concerned about. Yet not many would take it so far, as to ban such iffy meetings. Though when I think about meeting a non family member, and being completely unobserved with them? I think common sense is to just be in public and not alone at all. This gives a completely solid foundation of character.
How would a woman get any pastoral care if she’s in an abusive marriage but the pastor will only meet with both husband and wife together? This rule needs more thought.
I do pray for my pastor often. For some reason its never occured to me the burden he takes hearinv everyones problems. I know hes got a huge responsibility for teaching, preparing sermons, people calling needing help with different problems needing solutions, their call to preach the gospel planting that seed to save souls. And the toll it takes on his family having him away so much. It never really occured to me the toll that hearing all those issues would take on him and wear him down. Thank you for that insight so I can include it in my prayers. Praying for the pastors of this world 🙏
It seems like preachers like Steve Lawson are on the road speaking in other places more than in their local congregation. This is a red flag in my opinion. He was accountable to a board of elders but how often did he truly connect and fellowship with his congregation?
There is no biblical merit whatsoever for restricting someone from itenerant preaching. Also, how do you know Lawson was the only speaker at his church? Other elders couldve also preached.
@@AdventureSMBW I agree there’s no restriction. I guess I would see Lawson as more of an evangelist rather than pastor who shepherds a local flock. I simply see dangers in constantly being on the road, especially if his wife wasn’t with him
Billy Graham traveled alot but was careful to have men travel w/ him and even sent men ahead of him to hotels. He did not "counsel" women. Pastors should never counsel women without their wife. Honestly there ought to be a small team of women in every church who minister to WOMEN!
before the resurrection of Christ, the Holy Spirit did not indwell men. Rather, God allowed the Holy Spirit to come upon them such as David. The Psalmist said to God: “take not thy Holy Spirit from me.” If you are born again, living today, you are sealed until the day of redemption. Since you know that the Holy Spirit doesn’t leave you, would you pray and ask God not to take his Holy Spirit from you? Of course not. Please read the Holy King James Bible. It’s the only Bible that states the word “study” as in 2 Timothy 2:15
I dont think a real christian or pastor can commit sin that long . A real christian will have the fear to commit sin against GOD . When i lied forcibly i felt so much guilt and ask GOD to forgive in that moment and beg GOD to help me not to lie anymore .
King David committed adultery for a long time, and it wasn't till God used Nathan to expose hs sin, that he repented. I disagree that David was not a true follow of God, (nor that he didn't have the Holy Spirit)
@@troywright359in those days (before the resurrection of Christ), the Holy Spirit did not indwell men. Rather, God allowed the Holy Spirit to come upon them (at times) such as David. The Psalmist said to God: “take not thy Holy Spirit from me.” If you are born again, living today, you are sealed until the day of redemption. Since you know that the Holy Spirit doesn’t leave you, would you pray and ask God not to take his Holy Spirit from you? Of course not. Please read the Holy King James Bible. It’s the only Bible that states the word “study” as in 2 Timothy 2:15
I don’t like to put pastors and teachers on a pedestal, for all the obvious reasons discussed here. But, you and this team are the finest at discussing this issue, and other issues. And at witnessing! So grateful for you. Don’t let it go to your head, though. 😊
" God is more concerned with your Godliness than your giftedness" IRONICALLY a quote from Steve Lawson! The quote is very true, even if Dr. Lawson's chsracter doesn't match what he stated.
"and there are eunuchs, that made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it."(Mt 19:12).....I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy grace to sin no more and to avoid the near occasion of sin. Amen
A remember a great pastor saying - ‘God our Father won’t allow His children to remain brats.’ 😊 Never put your full trust in man, he will fail you. Our real love and hope is in our loving Father who never fails you. He is the Good Shepherd !!! ❤❤❤
I am so thankful that the fall of my once-beloved pastor did not make me want to leave my faith. it took a long time for me to be able to trust another church far enough to want to join and be a part of another family of faith.
Thank you, really helpful discussion, much needed with the current immoral failures of several high profile Christian leaders, helping us navigate through Biblically & God bless Dylan what a sweet open young man, God bless you all 👏👏🌟🙏✝️🔥📖🙌👑
Hi Ray Comfort, brother-in-Christ, and God bless, protect, and guide you! I'm unsure where to share thoughts/ideas with you (that is, if you take them), but I had an idea that I think would provide a great way to bring up God as a topic in interviews and allows others to express their views on God! One day I was asked the question, "How would you answer someone who claims that God has a huge ego?" Once asked this question, I really reflected on this question and the things that God was revealing to me through this question, and so I decided to take notes. Eventually, it looked to me as if this topic could be taken to interviews and be used greatly! I was even thinking of (if and when God provides) perhaps going door-knocking in my neighborhood to give away books, ask if they would like to take a survey (with the survey pad gospel tracts), and ask them if they would like to do an interview (if we get this far) in order to reach the big question, "Why is God not egotistical?" and I think that this question/topic will segue very smoothly into the gospel. If anyone else is reading this comment, then you can surely use this topic as well if you think you can use this for your evangelistic endeavors! Again, I am not sure if you have a way of doing this, but if I may ask, how are people to properly share ideas with you; maybe by email or something similar? Thank you and I wish you a good day: God bless, protect, and guide you and all at Living Waters always!
Thank you for dealing with this topic in a very graceful manner. I get a little turned off by all the channels that utilize the fallen's indentity like the latest news headline. I fear there is self motivation in this - gets a lot of traffic to the channel. I also cringe at the tremendous amount of presumption that gets offered as wisdom by persons who are not privy to the facts. I also do believe a fallen elder can be restored to eldership, not always, maybe not even likely - just possible.
even referring to them as fallen, what are we saying by that? What do we mean by 'fallen'? They have fallen from God's grace? They have fallen from salvation?
@@troywright359 Fallen from the qualification to hold the office of elder. There are qualifications and we can lose those. But I am not of the camp that says under no circumstances can they be regained.
I agree to what D.A Carson says, not what the media is says condemning the person, only God can do that not us the worse sinner on earth, to pointing a finger, one day we all will be standing in front of Jesus, and then all secrets will be unveiled, so please be careful what you all say, one finger points out while the rest is pointing at our self .
Hmmm... I don't know about the list you guys have.🤔🤔🤔 If you are keeping the pastors that fall, you should write all the sins of all the pastors, including yourselves and ourselves, as I don't think sexual sin is greater than the other sins. What if that person confessed and repented, but you guys still have the list when God has completely forgotten and forgiven him? and you still have this note. But I'd say this. It’s truly heartbreaking to hear these kinds of accusations, especially when the person involved doesn’t seem to be genuinely repentant (though I’m not saying he didn’t). I think this is a reminder for all married men. When someone was asked what constitutes a s e x u a l sin or flirting, the other person responded, "If it's something you wouldn't do in your wife's presence, it's either a sin or flirting." whether it is scrolling on social media or texting privately to someone who is not your wife. I believe this is how it starts-small actions that grow into something bigger, ultimately leading to the fall. May God help us to pray earnestly for him and his family!
Some sins have consequences that are much greater than others. Sexual sin is one. Murder is another. Yes, you can be forgiven, but you also have to live with the consequences for the rest of your time on this planet. Don't be deluded about that.
@@innocentbystander8038 It is not good to equate watching pornography with committing murder. All sins separate us from God equally. Yes murder has earthly as well as eternal consequences, and the earthly consequences often differ and vary, but we don't need to imply that lustful thoughts alone is 'worse' than thoughts of anger and hatred. Of course, we can start to say "any man who has ever lusted is unfit and disqualified from ministry". That might get the moral perfection in church that some desire. Spiritual discipline and encouraging people to search their lives and not tolerate sin, is far better than demanding everyone who has ever thought about a woman lustfully to declare so and then slink off into the corner, to serve God in some small isolated way that ensures they may never ever enter a situation where a lustful thought could ever come to their mind again.
@@innocentbystander8038 yet every man and every women commit sexual sin of lust every day. So we should ask and beg God to punish us in the same way for the rest of our lives or we are hypocrites.
Pastors, teachers, leaders of all sides are prone to sin .It is so much more glaring when a Calvinist sins like Lawson did. The reason being is that they are so condescending. I know, I was a Reformed, Orthodox Presbyterian, Calvinist for 57 years. We all idolized different past and current pillars in the faith. From Calvin, Knox, and Machen, to Sproul, McArthur, Bauchman, & Washer. We all quoted or used their sayings in our sermons, theology, and doctrinal conversations. I suspect that Reformed Baptists, and PCA folk had their own mini circle of idols like we OPCers did. Heck, I loved Piper's books, I listened to Begg for years. B.B. Warfield, Ferguson, Ryken, Horton, Beeke, & Boice were all great influences. The problem began with these Reformed Conferences the various camps started. Many of these men stopped being preachers/shepherds and became Reformed Rock Stars. White, Lawson, Washer, McArthur, and to some extent Sproul began to believe and relish this status. There is something fundamentally wrong with a doctrine and by extension a local church that allows something like Lawson's sin go on for five plus years. When Pastors are away from their churches at 2-4 day conferences as much as 3-4 times per year, there is no real accountability. "Things" begin to be neglected, wife, children, grandchildren, flock, God, etc. The elders of Lawson's church should have seen something, there is no way that Lawson could not have shown something to indicate what he was involved in. Calvinism has done more harm to the Church than anything else besides Roman Catholicism. The reason I grieve for Lawson and his ilk, is because he has a form of godliness but denies it's power. 2 Tim. 3:1-9 sums up this current situation. Lawson regularly was a boaster, proud, unloving, unforgiving, a slanderer, obviously did not have self-control, was head-strong, and obviously a lover of pleasure. Unfortunately, Calvinist's resist the truth, 2 Tim 3:8, thus are disapproved concerning the faith. Verse 9 tells us that these men will progress no further, for their folly will be manifest to all, as theirs also was (Jannes & Jambres). I have watched countless videos of Reformed men and women commenting on Lawson. None of them have used Scripture to rebuke Lawson. They all have used the Scriptures to restore him. Yes, he can be forgiven and hopefully he will repent. That is important to his future. What is important to the Church, the Bride of Christ is to debunk this spurious doctrine that has plagued it for 1400 years. I implore people to get rid of your Westminster Standards, and Calvin's Institutes of the Christian Religion and read, study, and pray the Scriptures. Micah 6:8!
None of us is without sin. Nevertheless, there are standards for leadership in the church. What disturbs me is some people thinking that they are better than others.
How sad. I enjoyed his book, When All Hell Breaks Loose. A brief commentary on the book of Job. Truly we must continue to uphold pastors and elders in prayer.
The news of R Morris and hearing his victim speak publicly, plus the ignorant negative comments made about HER & to HER, triggered my own past, childhood experience. I was sooo upset at how much pain she must have dragged around for decades, then pew warmers basically condemmed HER!!
Yes! That episode actually aired just days before the announcement. If you listen to the ending again it makes you think he might have been listening in and was convicted.
As a Christian, I don't like the expression "spinning in his grave" but that's what David, Samson and Solomon would be doing (metaphorically speaking) if they knew 21st Century believers were thinking of them as "examples". We're not told to imitate ANYONE apart from Jesus. Even Paul (who was a "NEW CREATURE" after conversion (2 Corinthians 5:17) said: "imitate me AS I IMITATE CHRIST" (1 Corinthians 11:1) NOWHERE in the NT are Christians referred to as "sinners". We are referred to as "saints" (sanctified/holy ones) over 40 times, however. We're not Jews living under the Old Covenant. The difference is HUGE and cost Jesus his life. The Cross and Resurrection is no small thing. Prior to Pentecost, when the pressure was on, Peter cowered, hid, panicked and denied He even knew Jesus. After the Resurrection and Pentecost, He was a different person, a "new creature" (2 Corinthians 5:17). He fearlessly stood up in front of thousands and preached Truth and then He travelled around, sharing the Gospel and the Truth of Jesus. He no longer feared death. There is zero comparison between living under the Old Covenant and living with Jesus indwelling (2 Corinthians 13:5). He is the fulfilment of everything. He is God's "last word" (to paraphrase Hebrews 11:1-2) He has given us EVERYTHING they didn't have in the Old Covenant, e.g.: ✅ the full forgiveness of sins ✅ the complete removal of the burden of guilt and shame for past sins ✅ the removal of the effect of past offenses and traumas (Luke 4:18) ✅ no more need for animal sacrifices ✅ full, eternal reconciliation to the Father (Romans 5:1 & 8:38-39) ✅ the full, completed canon of Scripture including Revelation, about the future ✅ the example of Jesus (so we "follow in His footsteps" (1 Peter 2:21) ✅ the examples of Paul, Peter, John and the other disciples (as seen through their letters and in Acts) ✅ the final defeat of death and evil by the cross (Colossians 2:15) ✅ VICTORY: 1 Corinthians 15:57 ✅ the final defeat of Satan: (Acts 26:18, Colossians 1:13 & 2:15, 1 John 3:8) ✅ the final defeat of the power of sin so we are no longer its slaves (John 8:34-36, Romans 6, 1st Corinthians 15:17, 1st John 3:5-10, 5:2-3 & 5:18) ✅The PERMANENT indwelling of the Holy Spirit (John 7:39, 14:16-17, 1 Corinthians 3:16, Corinthians 13:5 etc) ✅The fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) ✅ The Gifts of the Holy Spirit (Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12 & 14) ✅The Comfort of the Holy Spirit (John 14 thru 16) ✅ the WISDOM of the Holy Spirit ✅ the Holy Spirit as our guide into all Truth and teacher (John 14:26 & 16:13 ✅ Agape Love "shed abroad in our hearts": Romans 5:5, 1 Corinthians 13. ✅The ability to walk after the Spirit instead of the flesh (Galatians 5 & 6) ✅The ability to have fellowship with Christ as mediator between us and God without having to go to the temple and have a priest as mediator (1 Timothy 2:5) ✅Eternal life forever in His presence (promised by Jesus twelve times in John's Gospel alone) And even more... I live in a country in Europe where most people haven't even HEARD the true Gospel. So many countries are the same: in Africa, most of Europe, Asia and Latin America. Don't forget that Jesus says "TO WHOM MUCH IS GIVEN, MUCH WILL BE REQUIRED" (Luke 12:48).
The Bible said believe in God, all things are possible. After many struggles, I finally own a new house, and my family is happy once again. Everything is falling into place!
What a wonderful podcast today every one spoke so good ty Jesus for these men. Lord what would you have me to learn from all this, this day in Jesus name.😢
We are reminded that we are living in a sinful world. We are also in a sinful body. Does that mean give up? No. We pray to God to streghten us each day, to pray for repentance and we learn from it
Dr. Adrian Rogers said, "God can draw a straight line with a crooked stick." You don't throw away the truth God has given you through a man whose sin has been revealed. We don't throw away the Psalms because of David's sins. It cost him a lot. Sin is costly. We do want a pastor who consistently walks with the Lord. It also says not to rebuke an elder in I Tim. 5:1. Matthew 18 gives direction on dealing with such an issue.
Great apro ach Mr comfort love your videos keep bringing all the good stuff I personally work in progress, but at the end jesus is what matters not are good deeds , but sometimes we all get it twisted when it comes to SIN . Best regards
I keep on seeing and hearing the same gospel presentation from Ray. It is simple and effective. I do pray that I can present it to the people around me in any way I can by the help of the Holy Spirit. The motivation is that God loves us, and He has given His Son to die in our place, and it should be our outpouring of our love to Him.
It’s one to study the Bible so that you may teach others what you know, but it’s another thing to study the Bible to get to know your Lord better and by so doing your life is transformed into His image, and inform others what you know of Him
Unfortunately pornography has taken the place of many “public” adulterous activity. Often “leaders” could use self control by not being alone with a women, that is not his wife. Now, the adultery is easily hidden behind closed doors and out of sight from getting “caught”
So true. There’s a HUGE problem with adultery and sexual immorality within the churches. Current statistics say that 50% other pastors and 80% of men, 30% of women in the churches view porn at least monthly. Living waters is right that American Christianity has broadened the narrow way too much. People in the churches haven’t truly turned from their sin and a little leaven has now nearly leavened the entire lump. We are nearing the days of judgment. People continue to commit all these sins and still attach themselves to the Lord’s name and come to church like they love the Lord. It reminds me of the days of Jeremiah.. “But look, you are trusting in deceptive words that are worthless. “ ‘Will you steal and murder, commit adultery and perjury, burn incense to Baal and follow other gods you have not known, and then come and stand before Me in this house, which bears My Name, and say, “We are safe”-safe to do all these detestable things? Has this house, which bears My Name, become a den of robbers to you? But I have been watching! declares the Lord.” Jeremiah 7:8-11 The Lord required obedience from the heart. Not just lip service. ““Why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?” Luke 6:46 ““ ‘These people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me.” Matthew 15:8 But the Lord is not fooled. We look at the outward appearance but the Lord sees the heart. ““Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” Matthew 5:8 The Lord didn’t destroy the earth with the flood because their outward deeds were evil (I’m sure there was a lot of that as well). But He destroyed it because the thoughts of their HEARTS were on evil. “Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” Genesis 6:5 True repentance is a turning from deeds yes, but also from our wicked thoughts and to the Lord Jesus Christ. 🙌🏻 “Seek the Lord while He may be found; Call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked FORSAKE HIS WAY And the unrighteous man his THOUGHTS; And let him return to the Lord, And He will have compassion on him, And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon.” Isaiah 55:6-7
Luke 12:2-3 "For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, nor hidden that will not be known. Therefore whatever you have spoken in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have spoken in the ear in inner rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops.".
Even without pornography, people would still lust in their own thoughts. Pornography is a larger sympton of lust, and we would condemn both porn and lustful thoughts without porn as a catalyst.
This is why we can't look to mere men as our spiritual leaders and nourishers, but to Christ who has no sin. A sinful man can be a blessing to us inasmuch as he speaks the words of Christ to us, but he himself is not the source of that blessing, he's just an instrument. Mr. Lawson was a blessing to people through what he taught, even while participating in secret sin, not because of himself but because of the power of the word. I feel sad for him and is family and hope that he will genuinely repent and also that Christians will forgive him.
The bible will keep you from sin or sin will keep you from the bible. Pray for a hunger for God’s word and the Holy Spirits help to understand it. Bless you brothers and sisters ✝️🤍
What about deacons? What other sexual sins are disqualifying? We seem to focus on adultery but what about chronic self gratification that renders the man unable to consummate his marriage? Is this type of addiction sin? Should he be in the pulpit or teaching Bible studies?
I was someone who experienced church hurt and the betrayal came from pastors who I asked for help when I was homeless. One of them even had a house for me to rent. It wasn’t just me it was my brother too who had a job, money saved so we managed to pay the rent. Not even two months of us renting he barges in without permission and kicked us out of the house back onto the streets with no explanation. He just said he wanted to sell the house fast and never told us that beforehand. I lost respect for these pastors to the point I’d stopped going to church for a while until I felt convicted inside to go back to church and I did. I forgave those pastors but sadly these pastors I speak of still have their positions. One of them though has faced loss of congregants in his church and the other has a history of boasting and bragging about what he has. It’s sad.
The modern day church and culture...the great falling away...rejoice as we are one day closer to His return! Share the Gospel and pray for all the unsaved today.
There sure are a lot of pastors who turned out to be unqualified to lead people. Yet, they always get these jobs and the respect and financial wellness that these jobs bring. Yet, so many pastors are more worried if you drink a beer or wine at dinner sometimes, or said one cuss word here or there. I think failing a church or committing adultery is far worse and more damaging to Christians. Maybe there should be less legalistic attitudes about simple things the bible promotes such as making beer, wine, drinking it once in awhile because many people are very spiritually strong who do things that the Bible does not condemn as sin. Only drunkenness is a sin.
As Christians we’re not to lessen sin just because it seems less than to us. We need to uphold Gods standard, and God hates all sin. Drinking alcohol is definitely a conviction thing, and each person should hold to their conviction to honour the Lord, BUT even if you’re not convicted by it you still should not put yourself in situations where you could be tempted to sin. Like going to a work function and staying late knowing that everyone is going to get off their face drunk. That’s just setting yourself up for failure.
@@aaliyahlitovskyy I understand what you're saying. But do you think Christians in the Bible were somehow separated from the real world around them? obviously the Bible says we need to Be dead to the world and separated in a spiritual sense. But in a physical sense we are still here and everyone around us that is not saved is dead inside and doing these sins. Certain cuss words are also a conviction thing. I am not advocating that we openly and boastfully drink alcohol or say a harsh word in front of your average Evangelical Christian but I think that the status we give to certain leaders shouldn't be given to certain people. Churches constantly look at academic credentials, and whether or not someone fits the look of a certain type of Evangelical cultural style than the substance of someone. For instance I worked security and ended up getting a job at a bar where I was a bouncer. Certain people would think I'm unchristian because I work in such a bad place. But I'm there as a light in the darkness and I'm preventing people from sending worse than they already are. Certain people are going to have to make money somehow and end up in situations like that. there are far better guys that are less popular that would be better church leaders and pastors than the ones that commit adultery and scams.
@@CortneyPhillips-b4q I don't think the things I listed were low standards. But yes, the standards for a leader in the church such as a pastor is above the average person. Why are so many able to hide for such a long time?
@@MaharlikaAWA I agree with you, the status either we give to people by putting them on a pedestal or someone that is appointed as pastor that goes against the bible shouldn’t be done. Both are sinful. I know someone personally who has appointed themselves as pastor, and it really gives a whole new meaning to me why pastors, and churches actually do need to be appointed/recommended and planted by another church. There is a criteria that you have to fit if you want to be a pastor and have the gift of teaching. These are the verses in the Bible. There’s a warning James 3:1, - “Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment.” 1 Timothy 3:1-7 describes the role of overseers and deacons, so pastors definitely need to fit this bill. - “It is a trustworthy statement: if any man aspires to the office of overseer, it is a fine work he desires to do. An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not addicted to wine or pugnacious, but gentle, peaceable, free from the love of money. He must be one who manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity (but if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?), and not a new convert, so that he will not become conceited and fall into the condemnation incurred by the devil. And he must have a good reputation with those outside the church, so that he will not fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.” Appointing a pastor should have little to do with academic credentials or how they look and hold themselves, we should always look to the word of God as direction. That’s another reason why we should be so careful to prayerfully choose the right church to be a member of. Personally, I wouldn’t think you’re unchristian for taking that job at a bar, but I would be worried about the potential for you to be tempted and sin. In those environments you have a lot of girls dressing immodestly, you have guys wanting to pick fights - there’s temptation. I’m not saying there isn’t temptation all around us, but there are places that pose a greater risk to us as Christians that we should avoid to protect ourselves - we’re scarily all capable of the sin that Steve Lawson has committed. Sin and temptation doesn’t go from 0-100 in one instance, it creeps up, the devil tempts, and when we don’t completely remove ourselves from places like bars and clubs, we can fall. You may start off strong, but it doesn’t take long to weaken and have a wondering eye, we’re just sinful creatures and we need to guard our hearts and our minds daily. A once off gig that you worked at a bar isn’t sinful (in my opinion), but be careful, don’t make it a habit. Your relationship with God is far too important. Yes we all need to work and make money, but God provides. He will see you honouring Him in your convictions and give you another gig that will pay the bills. There are countless times my husband has been asked by his bosses, in the past, to steal from customers. He could lose his job eventually if he keeps refusing, but he refused anyway because he works for the Lord, not for men, and if he were to lose his job, God would provide another. (Thankfully he left that company as soon as he could) It’s an extreme example maybe to what you’re trying to say, but I hope that makes sense. The thing is, even if a pastor is appointed, fits the bible criteria and has the gift of teaching. They can still later fall into the sin of scamming and committing adultery. They shouldn’t fall into that sin and they should remove themselves so far away from the temptation of those sins and seek council as soon as a thought pops up, but it doesn’t always happen that way. Pride creeps in, fear of losing the congregation. We live in a fallen world where 100% of the population are sinners. We need to constantly be in prayer for our leaders, it’s not an easy job, done right, and we also should be coming beside them, admonishing them when they do wrong, and encouraging them to keep running the race. Pastors should never act as if they are above the flock, they are also brothers in Christ. I’m thankful and blessed to finally be in a church that is biblical and reads the Bible line by line, interpreting hermeneutically. I pray the same for all Christians, living life with your fellow saints is so important!
If my pastor fell, I would not stop being a Christian. I would get a new pastor, maybe a new church. Honestly, they are human, i listen to different teachings online and none are perfect, so i just learn from the best ones i can find. The pastor who brought me to the Lord fell almost immediately after, maybe he was falling during... but the Holy Spirit (before everyone knew) told me to not just listen to him, to listen to others also, days before he "fell." I didn't want to, but i obeyed. I believe it helped me a lot. I'm also told by the Holy Spirit that God loves him greatly, so I pray for him. Others are still caught up in defending or criticizing him. I'm blessed with great teachings today. That pastor got me saved, but he was already lacking in the preaching department. Sometimes it was very good, sometimes confusing.
I have now seen 2 videos recently talking about some pastor having committed sexual sin. I dont know who this is, because i dont follow 'church'. What i do know is this; we should never almost idolise even 'holy' people. Jesus said "no man is good". We mustn't forget we are ALL human. Satan will use if he can, even the most righteous to disillusion us...to pull us away from Jesus. God allows these things to happen, to show us again and again that the ONLY 'man' we should look up to and idolise is HIS SON. Never be surprised when 'holy' people sin. They are just as under attack as the rest of us. 🙏🏻
Warning ⚠️ never say “I wouldn’t do THAT”. I was a faithful follower of Christ for years and years. I was director of children’s ministry at a very large church. I really thought I was something, a SUPER CHRISTIAN. I took one drink and ended up being a raging alcoholic for 10 years. I lost my ministry, family, friends and so much more. All I had left was my loving husband, PTL. I prayed so many times to be delivered and God so graciously gave me an overnight miracle. He KNEW my desperate heart. I had no withdrawals whatsoever and haven’t taken a drink for 8 years now. Please Christians…don’t ever gloat over a fallen believer. No one is above sin here on earth. It could happen to anyone.
I'm afraid that telling potential converts that all you have to do is repent and believe will forever cause them to trust in something they did. My faith and my repentance cannot save me. Without the Holy Ghost making faith and repentance possible salvation itself becomes impossible.
The battle for holiness has never been fiercer nor the stakes higher. Sexual immorality has devastated too many men, damaged too many families, and marred the gospel's testimony too many times. Now is the time to prepare yourself to fight with our new book: livingwaters.com/store/books/fight-like-a-man/
All of creation is Holy.
There is no CREATION seperate from the ONE TRUE CREATOR.
TO SAY a creation is unholy is to say the CREATOR IS INCOMPLETE.
YOU FOLLOWERS OF ABRAHAM SO LOVE TO DIVIDE THAT WHICH IS UNITED.
You are not TRUE MONOTHEIST
IF YOU BELIEVE IN 2 KINGDOMS WITHIN CREATION. ❤
Yahweh covets the SOVEREIGN DIVINITY of all SENTIENT SINGULARITIES through worship.... more proof he is not the ONE TRUE CREATOR.
The actual ONE TRUE CREATOR requires NOTHING FROM YOU. Every CREATION that we as CREATORS extend is a testament to HIS GREATNESS. CREATORS CREATING IS HIS WORSHIP, accepted. 😂😂😂
The Billy Graham Rule is Biblical. Everyone needs to apply it and let ourselves be marked as different from the world. Never be alone with someone who isn't sister, wife, mother or daughter.
@@darklights.burnerGnosticism has been rejected for 1800 years. You're late to the party
@@cosmictreason2242 I'm not here to be accepted or to search for validity through your perception. Thank you. The ONE TRUE CREATOR calls me to defy the broken theology of Abraham. To retain my DIVINE SOVEREIGNTY in the face of the assault of the blood cult of Sin Worshippers.... followers of Abraham.
We have to be careful not to think that we are above falling into any sin. Put sin to death or sin will be putting you to death. TAKE HEED LEST YOU FALL.
I like what you said that’s good. God must have been speaking through you love it 👏🏻👏🏻
So very true it can happen to any one scripture tells us so
@@RodericGurrolait’s call scripture the word of God
This is what I told myself and others when my Pastor fell into sexual sin years ago. Even if it has not happened to us yet and we pray and run the opposite direction to not let it happen, the possibility is there for any of us.
"So, if you think you are standing firm [in the faith], be careful that you don’t fall! No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear." (1 Corinthians 10: 12-13a, NIV).
I was married for 33 years before our pastor at the time who was much older than me and I considered him like a father while counseling my wife and I took advantage and had an affair with my then wife (which could be his daughter by age) and talked her into leaving me and him leaving his family which they both did in 2013 but the relationship for them lasted only 2 weeks. I have 4 grown children and 1 grand daughter which their mother makes them choose between her and a relationship with me. I pray everyday for my children to have a right relationship with the Lord.
Wow that's intense, my wife left me too, not for a Pastor but an unbeliever.. it's terribly hard the betrayal but like you I'm raising my kids in the Lord and praying they don't get deceived and fall into sexual sin like their mother. Stay strong brother and God bless
wow what denomination was that church
@@michaelmain7317in hindsight were there signs before you married her? Give the young men some encouragement
🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
@@michaelmain7317 please Trek m tell me there were signs before you married, in hindsight
Mr. Comfort. I wanted to thank you for your youtube channel. I came across it a few weeks ago and had a total eye opening experience. I always felt like i was missing something and you really opened my eyes to what it was. Thank you for all your videos, i love watching them and can't seem to get enough. Looking forward to getting the evidence Bible that both my husband and i ordered. Keep up the great work you all do and may God bless you all.
Wonderful!
Amen!!!! Praise God!!
If you think that you're better than those who sin, God has ways to humble you. I pray for all who have fallen.
David cheated with Bathsheba and even had Uriah killed, and God said he was a man after his own heart. My son Uriah told me one day "Hey dad isn't your first son, from your first marriage named David?? I said yes, why? He said isn't David and Uriah from the bible, Uriah doesn't believe, he don't like God, so he caught me off guard with that question. How did I not realize my son's are David and Uriah...crazy right? When David turned 33, Uriah was 22 and I was 55...crazy right? 33+22=55. God is amazing. PEACE 🕊
@@Fire-Proof
Oh WoW!!
No one thinks it can happen to them. Pray a lot.
Pray especially for your pastor
Ray is Humble, He knows men struggle. We need the word of God. God is Holy He is the Righteous Lord. We need to be pure.
God promised 1cor 10:13 to the true Christians
Thanks Ray. They're dropping like flies in Dallas. Pray for us in Texas
If youre in Dallas area, Adamant Believers Council in North Richland Hills is the place to be.
The great "falling away" is under way.
If the church is handling the discipline biblically, and maybe unless directly involved, leaving that church behind seems to be a knee jerk reaction.
And if you leave in search of a perfect Church, good luck, there's no such thing.
Praying for y'all!
No, they’re not “dropping like flies here in Dallas”. I’m a native of Dallas, Tx. We just have more high profile preachers. It just seems that way. But they all need prayers just like us.
@@redrockplumber5124Agreed. But no Pastor has the Biblical authority to continue leading a Church or ministry. As it is written. 🙏🏻
Martyn Lloyd-Jones once said:
Holiness is not something we are called upon to do in order that we may become something; it is something we are to do because of what we already are…
AMEN!!
Praying for Steve and his family. 🙏🙏🙏
Yes. So sad for him, I love his preaching. We forget, they’re all sinners, just like the rest of us.
@@GarrettFemister....
deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
1 Corinthians 5:4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, along with my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, 5 deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
If a Pastor falls into sin and he's truly repentant, he'll accept the loss of his ministry (albeit painfully) like King David did the loss of his child.
David ended up losing four of his children as a result of that sin (although one died after David) 😢
Amen
@@triumphantgalaxy yeah true, evil never left his kingdom after that sin.
@@triumphantgalaxy Yes, But I think it was more than just the sin. Nathan told David that the baby Bathsheba had delivered would die due to David's sin. But before that when Nathan had told David that there was a man who had taken another's lamb. David (as king he also judged crime) pronounced a sentence on "the man" before Nathan told him, "You are the man." So, is this a case of what Jesus said will happen if we judge (pronounce sentence) on a person for doing a thing that we are also guilty of?
You know y’all might think deeply about this video and take it to heart and not have a profile that promotes sexual sin.
Thank you Ray for putting out these videos. They’ve been a great encouragement to me. And I’m almost finished with EZ’s book. It’s the best book of its kinda that I’ve ever read. God bless the Living Waters Ministry!
Don’t put pastors on a pedestal it’s not fair to them. they are fighting the same fight we are keep them on a prayer list not a pedestal.
They are actually fighting a fiercer battle my dad told me that once he began his full time ministry the temptations became ten times stronger. The enemy works doubly hard on our leaders in hopes of discrediting the name of Christ
@@ricklynd7408 absolutely 🙏🏾⛪️
Growing up, we had a pastor that mentioned how God brought him and his wife together. They had such a beautiful marriage. He cheated on her and it was found out, that caused my sister to leave the church and not trust anyone again. She told me the one day how she looked up to them and how it devastated her walk. 30 years on and this pastor's name is still marred, those in the congregation still talk about this. His wife had to move away because her name was dragged through the mud, his father, who was the head pastor, also went through a hard time and tried to save the congregation.
When we sin, the consequences impact many, not just ourselves. Leaders are held to a higher standard and their influence goes even further. Do pray for your leaders, pastors and church, they need it very much. When anyone falls, forgive them, be gracious and allow them back into the fold in time and through repentance.
That's true. The call to spiritual discipline is very great. But let us not let mans failings dissaude us from the Gospel. Did Moses' failings disqualify the power of the God who created him?
@troywright359 God is good. The Good News is such Good News. The way we worship "church" sucks and isn't scriptural or Good News or even good. We don't function like the Body of Christ, men become the head in place of God and we are all divided up being loyal to our "systems." It's greivious. It's bondage. There's no greater joy then when disciples walk in the TRUTH. Jesus is The WAY, The TRUTH, and The LIFE; not our "spiritual leaders and systems." The "church" doesn't save people, the God of Salvation does. Choose this day whom you will serve. We can not serve 2masters. God alone on the throne, not men or systems.
Too bad you are looking at a man. Clearly, you are such a stellar saint, you have never committed any sin like lust (Matt. 5:28; James 2:10). Tell your sister to GROW UP and get a life. You and your sister are the quintessential Heb. 5:12-13; you both need milk and a change of diapers. The devil attacks "generals", so little "buck privates" like "youz 2" wet your diapers the rest of your Christian walk. You need to be Baptized with HS (Acts 2:1-4).
@@troywright359 I do get what you're saying and you are right about that. I wouldn't trust someone that claims to be perfect. A perfect person would make us feel uncomfortable and we couldn't go to them for help as they wouldn't understand our struggles.
If our leaders would come out, tell the truth about themselves falling, repenting, face the consequences of their sin and strive to do better. We would support such a leader. A leader that sins and attempts to hide it would get a tarnished reputation.
God is clear too, He says that a leader should be blameless and of a higher standard. We are still human and naturally make these judgements and set standards of approval.
We should also be wise in who we allow to lead us. It wouldn't work going to a leader for help if they are still struggling in an area where we are struggling. That's a case of the blind leading the blind. If however they've succeeded in overcoming this struggle, we can trust them to lead help us overcome our struggle.
If Moses continued in his sin, God wouldn't have continued using him. We are required to move away from our former selves and to renew our minds, same is expected with leaders, but even greater.
They'd better not read the Bible then because rather than hiding that the prophets fell, the Bible informs us that they did yet many people still become Christians.
I loved this video. Got a bit emotional for Manny's salvation and Dylan. May the Holy spirit speak to Dylan - seeing him smile when receiving the books and being honest throughout the conversation...man.
Brother Ray, may the Lord bless you and keep you till the end of your days. I cannot wait to see you, if not here on this earth, then in heaven with the Lord.
Watching from Kenya.
Also very insightful on the fall of pastors. As always, thank you guys 🙏🏾
You are truly a Ray of Comfort
Like that!
Thank you for this video. I see this situation in a better light now. I’m grateful for the ministry and guidance of Living Waters ministry.
Thank you, Ray. May our father in heaven bless you. 🙏
Dr. David Jeremiah once said (rightly) 'Don't EVER put me or any pastor on a pedestal because it might hurt if I fall off."
Love your pastor!
Support your pastor!
Respect your pastor!
Learn from your pastor!
Never idolize or idealize your pastor!
Teachers will be held to a higher standard
Teachers are not pastors. We are s different breed.
@@amy3458pastors teach
Yes but an eternity of hell is so horrible that nothing else really matters
@@amy3458 Alright, where did you get that idea?
The Billy Graham Rule is Biblical. Everyone needs to apply it and let ourselves be marked as different from the world. Never be alone with someone who isn't sister, wife, mother or daughter.
What about those who might secretly have homosexual temptations? How about we just ban face to face, private meetings. (Possible exceptions for family members)
I didn't know this was his rule, but I have made myself the same rule after a coworker was chasing me, and I shamefully* contemplated giving in. The only man I need to speak to, including inside the church, is my husband.
@@sackettfamily4685 such men should not be alone with other men like them, but there is no reason to do more. It is not the same
@@cosmictreason2242 my argument is to point out that we women feel extremely singled out as a problem gender. The secret struggles of lust between genders is equally something to feel concerned about. Yet not many would take it so far, as to ban such iffy meetings.
Though when I think about meeting a non family member, and being completely unobserved with them? I think common sense is to just be in public and not alone at all. This gives a completely solid foundation of character.
How would a woman get any pastoral care if she’s in an abusive marriage but the pastor will only meet with both husband and wife together? This rule needs more thought.
Thank you for your very balanced and well thought out video.
If someone ever asks me to describe this situation, I will send them this video.
I do pray for my pastor often. For some reason its never occured to me the burden he takes hearinv everyones problems. I know hes got a huge responsibility for teaching, preparing sermons, people calling needing help with different problems needing solutions, their call to preach the gospel planting that seed to save souls. And the toll it takes on his family having him away so much. It never really occured to me the toll that hearing all those issues would take on him and wear him down. Thank you for that insight so I can include it in my prayers. Praying for the pastors of this world 🙏
It is very heartbreaking 😢
@frankiejo58 It really is! 😭
It feels so surreal!! 😪
It feels like hearing that he was found having hung himself. 😩😱
Wow this is so beautiful. I really appreciate this discussion! my first time seeing some of the podcast and i cant wait to listen to more!!!
It seems like preachers like Steve Lawson are on the road speaking in other places more than in their local congregation. This is a red flag in my opinion. He was accountable to a board of elders but how often did he truly connect and fellowship with his congregation?
I'm pretty sure the only reason pastors preach at different churches is so that they can reuse sermons but yeah I see the danger
There is no biblical merit whatsoever for restricting someone from itenerant preaching. Also, how do you know Lawson was the only speaker at his church? Other elders couldve also preached.
@@AdventureSMBW I agree there’s no restriction. I guess I would see Lawson as more of an evangelist rather than pastor who shepherds a local flock. I simply see dangers in constantly being on the road, especially if his wife wasn’t with him
Billy Graham traveled alot but was careful to have men travel w/ him and even sent men ahead of him to hotels. He did not "counsel" women. Pastors should never counsel women without their wife. Honestly there ought to be a small team of women in every church who minister to WOMEN!
"We mistake the virtue of theology for the virtue of the theologian"
Good one Oscar, writing that one down.
before the resurrection of Christ, the Holy Spirit did not indwell men. Rather, God allowed the Holy Spirit to come upon them such as David. The Psalmist said to God: “take not thy Holy Spirit from me.” If you are born again, living today, you are sealed until the day of redemption. Since you know that the Holy Spirit doesn’t leave you, would you pray and ask God not to take his Holy Spirit from you? Of course not. Please read the Holy King James Bible. It’s the only Bible that states the word “study” as in 2 Timothy 2:15
That’s a good word.
I dont think a real christian or pastor can commit sin that long . A real christian will have the fear to commit sin against GOD . When i lied forcibly i felt so much guilt and ask GOD to forgive in that moment and beg GOD to help me not to lie anymore .
to the True Christians , ministers or wether they are not ministers of Churches, they all have one promise from God on 1Cor 10:13
King David committed adultery for a long time, and it wasn't till God used Nathan to expose hs sin, that he repented. I disagree that David was not a true follow of God, (nor that he didn't have the Holy Spirit)
@@troywright359
You’re right, as God said ‘he is a man after my own heart’ and that’s a huge thing for God to say about any person
@@troywright359in those days (before the resurrection of Christ), the Holy Spirit did not indwell men. Rather, God allowed the Holy Spirit to come upon them (at times) such as David. The Psalmist said to God: “take not thy Holy Spirit from me.” If you are born again, living today, you are sealed until the day of redemption. Since you know that the Holy Spirit doesn’t leave you, would you pray and ask God not to take his Holy Spirit from you? Of course not. Please read the Holy King James Bible. It’s the only Bible that states the word “study” as in 2 Timothy 2:15
I don’t like to put pastors and teachers on a pedestal, for all the obvious reasons discussed here. But, you and this team are the finest at discussing this issue, and other issues. And at witnessing!
So grateful for you. Don’t let it go to your head, though. 😊
" God is more concerned with your Godliness than your giftedness" IRONICALLY a quote from Steve Lawson! The quote is very true, even if Dr. Lawson's chsracter doesn't match what he stated.
"and there are eunuchs, that made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it."(Mt 19:12).....I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy grace to sin no more and to avoid the near occasion of sin. Amen
Amen and Amen
A remember a great pastor saying - ‘God our Father won’t allow His children to remain brats.’ 😊
Never put your full trust in man, he will fail you.
Our real love and hope is in our loving Father who never fails you.
He is the Good Shepherd !!!
❤❤❤
*So focused on the idolatry of your vocation...* This man is spot on with so many of his insights. I appreciate hearing them.
I am so thankful that the fall of my once-beloved pastor did not make me want to leave my faith. it took a long time for me to be able to trust another church far enough to want to join and be a part of another family of faith.
😢 William Gurnall’s (and other puritan) wisdom never ceases to amaze me. Lord, help us to have such conviction. ❤
Thank you, really helpful discussion, much needed with the current immoral failures of several high profile Christian leaders, helping us navigate through Biblically & God bless Dylan what a sweet open young man, God bless you all 👏👏🌟🙏✝️🔥📖🙌👑
Hi Ray Comfort, brother-in-Christ, and God bless, protect, and guide you!
I'm unsure where to share thoughts/ideas with you (that is, if you take them), but I had an idea that I think would provide a great way to bring up God as a topic in interviews and allows others to express their views on God!
One day I was asked the question, "How would you answer someone who claims that God has a huge ego?"
Once asked this question, I really reflected on this question and the things that God was revealing to me through this question, and so I decided to take notes.
Eventually, it looked to me as if this topic could be taken to interviews and be used greatly!
I was even thinking of (if and when God provides) perhaps going door-knocking in my neighborhood to give away books, ask if they would like to take a survey (with the survey pad gospel tracts), and ask them if they would like to do an interview (if we get this far) in order to reach the big question, "Why is God not egotistical?" and I think that this question/topic will segue very smoothly into the gospel.
If anyone else is reading this comment, then you can surely use this topic as well if you think you can use this for your evangelistic endeavors!
Again, I am not sure if you have a way of doing this, but if I may ask, how are people to properly share ideas with you; maybe by email or something similar?
Thank you and I wish you a good day: God bless, protect, and guide you and all at Living Waters always!
Amazing the timing of the release of EZs book with the fall of Lawson.
May God’s grace keep pastors committed to truth from falling.
Thank you for dealing with this topic in a very graceful manner. I get a little turned off by all the channels that utilize the fallen's indentity like the latest news headline. I fear there is self motivation in this - gets a lot of traffic to the channel. I also cringe at the tremendous amount of presumption that gets offered as wisdom by persons who are not privy to the facts. I also do believe a fallen elder can be restored to eldership, not always, maybe not even likely - just possible.
even referring to them as fallen, what are we saying by that? What do we mean by 'fallen'? They have fallen from God's grace? They have fallen from salvation?
@@troywright359 Fallen from the qualification to hold the office of elder. There are qualifications and we can lose those. But I am not of the camp that says under no circumstances can they be regained.
Anyone leaning on a pastor or church is never saved. We trust in the Lord Jesus 100% . Only the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all unrighteousness
Cursed is anyone who trusts in man Jeremiah 17:5
12:51 💔 my heart breaks for Dillan. Praying for his salvation.
Great session guys 👏! I learned a couple of things I had not thought about before. God bless you for what you do!
Living Waters is always loving and compassionate but never compromising on the truth. Love you guys!
I agree to what D.A Carson says, not what the media is says condemning the person, only God can do that not us the worse sinner on earth, to pointing a finger, one day we all will be standing in front of Jesus, and then all secrets will be unveiled, so please be careful what you all say, one finger points out while the rest is pointing at our self .
Very timely video
Hmmm... I don't know about the list you guys have.🤔🤔🤔 If you are keeping the pastors that fall, you should write all the sins of all the pastors, including yourselves and ourselves, as I don't think sexual sin is greater than the other sins. What if that person confessed and repented, but you guys still have the list when God has completely forgotten and forgiven him? and you still have this note. But I'd say this. It’s truly heartbreaking to hear these kinds of accusations, especially when the person involved doesn’t seem to be genuinely repentant (though I’m not saying he didn’t). I think this is a reminder for all married men. When someone was asked what constitutes a s e x u a l sin or flirting, the other person responded, "If it's something you wouldn't do in your wife's presence, it's either a sin or flirting." whether it is scrolling on social media or texting privately to someone who is not your wife. I believe this is how it starts-small actions that grow into something bigger, ultimately leading to the fall. May God help us to pray earnestly for him and his family!
Some sins have consequences that are much greater than others. Sexual sin is one. Murder is another.
Yes, you can be forgiven, but you also have to live with the consequences for the rest of your time on this planet. Don't be deluded about that.
@@innocentbystander8038 It is not good to equate watching pornography with committing murder. All sins separate us from God equally. Yes murder has earthly as well as eternal consequences, and the earthly consequences often differ and vary, but we don't need to imply that lustful thoughts alone is 'worse' than thoughts of anger and hatred.
Of course, we can start to say "any man who has ever lusted is unfit and disqualified from ministry". That might get the moral perfection in church that some desire. Spiritual discipline and encouraging people to search their lives and not tolerate sin, is far better than demanding everyone who has ever thought about a woman lustfully to declare so and then slink off into the corner, to serve God in some small isolated way that ensures they may never ever enter a situation where a lustful thought could ever come to their mind again.
@@innocentbystander8038 yet every man and every women commit sexual sin of lust every day. So we should ask and beg God to punish us in the same way for the rest of our lives or we are hypocrites.
Just wondering Do you keep list of Pastors who sound very much like they are effeminate ? 🤔
@@innocentbystander8038exactly.
Praying for Steve Lawson and his family, I am heart broken about the news.
I love this new podcast format! Reminds me of the old show “On the Box”
@@bens2801 I'm sad they don't post every podcast to UA-cam - different channel, to not damage the algorithm ranking
Oh wow, that’s good Ray
“You do, but because you don’t understand it, you don’t value it”
That’s 99% true of all evangelism encounters
Pastors, teachers, leaders of all sides are prone to sin .It is so much more glaring when a Calvinist sins like Lawson did. The reason being is that they are so condescending. I know, I was a Reformed, Orthodox Presbyterian, Calvinist for 57 years. We all idolized different past and current pillars in the faith. From Calvin, Knox, and Machen, to Sproul, McArthur, Bauchman, & Washer. We all quoted or used their sayings in our sermons, theology, and doctrinal conversations.
I suspect that Reformed Baptists, and PCA folk had their own mini circle of idols like we OPCers did. Heck, I loved Piper's books, I listened to Begg for years. B.B. Warfield, Ferguson, Ryken, Horton, Beeke, & Boice were all great influences.
The problem began with these Reformed Conferences the various camps started. Many of these men stopped being preachers/shepherds and became Reformed Rock Stars. White, Lawson, Washer, McArthur, and to some extent Sproul began to believe and relish this status.
There is something fundamentally wrong with a doctrine and by extension a local church that allows something like Lawson's sin go on for five plus years. When Pastors are away from their churches at 2-4 day conferences as much as 3-4 times per year, there is no real accountability. "Things" begin to be neglected, wife, children, grandchildren, flock, God, etc.
The elders of Lawson's church should have seen something, there is no way that Lawson could not have shown something to indicate what he was involved in.
Calvinism has done more harm to the Church than anything else besides Roman Catholicism.
The reason I grieve for Lawson and his ilk, is because he has a form of godliness but denies it's power.
2 Tim. 3:1-9 sums up this current situation. Lawson regularly was a boaster, proud, unloving, unforgiving, a slanderer, obviously did not have self-control, was head-strong, and obviously a lover of pleasure.
Unfortunately, Calvinist's resist the truth, 2 Tim 3:8, thus are disapproved concerning the faith. Verse 9 tells us that these men will progress no further, for their folly will be manifest to all, as theirs also was (Jannes & Jambres).
I have watched countless videos of Reformed men and women commenting on Lawson. None of them have used Scripture to rebuke Lawson. They all have used the Scriptures to restore him. Yes, he can be forgiven and hopefully he will repent. That is important to his future.
What is important to the Church, the Bride of Christ is to debunk this spurious doctrine that has plagued it for 1400 years. I implore people to get rid of your Westminster Standards, and Calvin's Institutes of the Christian Religion and read, study, and pray the Scriptures. Micah 6:8!
Praying for you Dylan❤
None of us is without sin. Nevertheless, there are standards for leadership in the church. What disturbs me is some people thinking that they are better than others.
The opening makes me appreciate the message Jesus brought with Him more. We will always fall short, it’s impossible to make it to G-d without Christ.
And when you're full of holes, you are holie unto the Lord.😊
holy
😂 well played, sir. Well played. 🤌🏾
lol loved it
How sad. I enjoyed his book, When All Hell Breaks Loose. A brief commentary on the book of Job. Truly we must continue to uphold pastors and elders in prayer.
The news of R Morris and hearing his victim speak publicly, plus the ignorant negative comments made about HER & to HER, triggered my own past, childhood experience. I was sooo upset at how much pain she must have dragged around for decades, then pew warmers basically condemmed HER!!
I had listened to this podcast episode about an hour before I heard about Steve Lawson. Very providential
Yes! That episode actually aired just days before the announcement. If you listen to the ending again it makes you think he might have been listening in and was convicted.
Excellent words by Oscar Navarro quoting D.A. Carson just before 9:00 matk about, "restoration" of fallen pastors.
May God protect us all, and our families. We need Him so much.
As a Christian, I don't like the expression "spinning in his grave" but that's what David, Samson and Solomon would be doing (metaphorically speaking) if they knew 21st Century believers were thinking of them as "examples".
We're not told to imitate ANYONE apart from Jesus.
Even Paul (who was a "NEW CREATURE" after conversion (2 Corinthians 5:17) said: "imitate me AS I IMITATE CHRIST" (1 Corinthians 11:1)
NOWHERE in the NT are Christians referred to as "sinners".
We are referred to as "saints" (sanctified/holy ones) over 40 times, however.
We're not Jews living under the Old Covenant. The difference is HUGE and cost Jesus his life. The Cross and Resurrection is no small thing.
Prior to Pentecost, when the pressure was on, Peter cowered, hid, panicked and denied He even knew Jesus.
After the Resurrection and Pentecost, He was a different person, a "new creature" (2 Corinthians 5:17).
He fearlessly stood up in front of thousands and preached Truth and then He travelled around, sharing the Gospel and the Truth of Jesus. He no longer feared death.
There is zero comparison between living under the Old Covenant and living with Jesus indwelling (2 Corinthians 13:5).
He is the fulfilment of everything. He is God's "last word" (to paraphrase Hebrews 11:1-2)
He has given us EVERYTHING they didn't have in the Old Covenant, e.g.:
✅ the full forgiveness of sins
✅ the complete removal of the burden of guilt and shame for past sins
✅ the removal of the effect of past offenses and traumas (Luke 4:18)
✅ no more need for animal sacrifices
✅ full, eternal reconciliation to the Father (Romans 5:1 & 8:38-39)
✅ the full, completed canon of Scripture including Revelation, about the future
✅ the example of Jesus (so we "follow in His footsteps" (1 Peter 2:21)
✅ the examples of Paul, Peter, John and the other disciples (as seen through their letters and in Acts)
✅ the final defeat of death and evil by the cross (Colossians 2:15)
✅ VICTORY: 1 Corinthians 15:57
✅ the final defeat of Satan: (Acts 26:18, Colossians 1:13 & 2:15, 1 John 3:8)
✅ the final defeat of the power of sin so we are no longer its slaves (John 8:34-36, Romans 6, 1st Corinthians 15:17, 1st John 3:5-10, 5:2-3 & 5:18)
✅The PERMANENT indwelling of the Holy Spirit (John 7:39, 14:16-17, 1 Corinthians 3:16, Corinthians 13:5 etc)
✅The fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23)
✅ The Gifts of the Holy Spirit (Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12 & 14)
✅The Comfort of the Holy Spirit (John 14 thru 16)
✅ the WISDOM of the Holy Spirit
✅ the Holy Spirit as our guide into all Truth and teacher (John 14:26 & 16:13
✅ Agape Love "shed abroad in our hearts": Romans 5:5, 1 Corinthians 13.
✅The ability to walk after the Spirit instead of the flesh (Galatians 5 & 6)
✅The ability to have fellowship with Christ as mediator between us and God without having to go to the temple and have a priest as mediator (1 Timothy 2:5)
✅Eternal life forever in His presence (promised by Jesus twelve times in John's Gospel alone)
And even more...
I live in a country in Europe where most people haven't even HEARD the true Gospel.
So many countries are the same: in Africa, most of Europe, Asia and Latin America.
Don't forget that Jesus says "TO WHOM MUCH IS GIVEN, MUCH WILL BE REQUIRED" (Luke 12:48).
The Bible said believe in God, all things are possible. After many struggles, I finally own a new house, and my family is happy once again. Everything is falling into place!
What a wonderful podcast today every one spoke so good ty Jesus for these men. Lord what would you have me to learn from all this, this day in Jesus name.😢
Dr. Lawson's sin reminds us that even the best of us are still in desperate need of the grace of God.
I love your videos. I wish I had a pastor like you when I was younger.
EZ is absolutely right about the pain
Pray for all Pastors and Teachers.
1 John 3:7-8
Excellent video!
We are reminded that we are living in a sinful world. We are also in a sinful body. Does that mean give up?
No. We pray to God to streghten us each day, to pray for repentance and we learn from it
Great topic, so sad. Lessons in following THE Shepherd and not man. We can't base our faithfulness on the failure of man. JESUS never fails.
Dr. Adrian Rogers said, "God can draw a straight line with a crooked stick." You don't throw away the truth God has given you through a man whose sin has been revealed. We don't throw away the Psalms because of David's sins. It cost him a lot. Sin is costly. We do want a pastor who consistently walks with the Lord. It also says not to rebuke an elder in I Tim. 5:1. Matthew 18 gives direction on dealing with such an issue.
This video is very important. God is close to virgins and those who have not defiled their bodies in idolatry. God Bless you guys.
I love my brothers at Living Waters. ❤
Great apro ach Mr comfort love your videos keep bringing all the good stuff I personally work in progress, but at the end jesus is what matters not are good deeds , but sometimes we all get it twisted when it comes to SIN .
Best regards
I keep on seeing and hearing the same gospel presentation from Ray. It is simple and effective. I do pray that I can present it to the people around me in any way I can by the help of the Holy Spirit. The motivation is that God loves us, and He has given His Son to die in our place, and it should be our outpouring of our love to Him.
It’s one to study the Bible so that you may teach others what you know, but it’s another thing to study the Bible to get to know your Lord better and by so doing your life is transformed into His image, and inform others what you know of Him
Gods grace is sufficient for you
❤ need more talks from old wise ray for GOD'S Glory
Unfortunately pornography has taken the place of many “public” adulterous activity. Often “leaders” could use self control by not being alone with a women, that is not his wife.
Now, the adultery is easily hidden behind closed doors and out of sight from getting “caught”
So true. There’s a HUGE problem with adultery and sexual immorality within the churches. Current statistics say that 50% other pastors and 80% of men, 30% of women in the churches view porn at least monthly. Living waters is right that American Christianity has broadened the narrow way too much. People in the churches haven’t truly turned from their sin and a little leaven has now nearly leavened the entire lump. We are nearing the days of judgment. People continue to commit all these sins and still attach themselves to the Lord’s name and come to church like they love the Lord. It reminds me of the days of Jeremiah..
“But look, you are trusting in deceptive words that are worthless. “ ‘Will you steal and murder, commit adultery and perjury, burn incense to Baal and follow other gods you have not known, and then come and stand before Me in this house, which bears My Name, and say, “We are safe”-safe to do all these detestable things? Has this house, which bears My Name, become a den of robbers to you? But I have been watching! declares the Lord.” Jeremiah 7:8-11
The Lord required obedience from the heart. Not just lip service.
““Why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?”
Luke 6:46
““ ‘These people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me.” Matthew 15:8
But the Lord is not fooled. We look at the outward appearance but the Lord sees the heart.
““Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” Matthew 5:8
The Lord didn’t destroy the earth with the flood because their outward deeds were evil (I’m sure there was a lot of that as well). But He destroyed it because the thoughts of their HEARTS were on evil.
“Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” Genesis 6:5
True repentance is a turning from deeds yes, but also from our wicked thoughts and to the Lord Jesus Christ. 🙌🏻
“Seek the Lord while He may be found; Call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked FORSAKE HIS WAY And the unrighteous man his THOUGHTS; And let him return to the Lord, And He will have compassion on him, And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon.” Isaiah 55:6-7
Definitely true that's the biggest!!! Temptation
God can see secret sin.
Luke 12:2-3 "For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, nor hidden that will not be known. Therefore whatever you have spoken in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have spoken in the ear in inner rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops.".
Even without pornography, people would still lust in their own thoughts. Pornography is a larger sympton of lust, and we would condemn both porn and lustful thoughts without porn as a catalyst.
This is why we can't look to mere men as our spiritual leaders and nourishers, but to Christ who has no sin. A sinful man can be a blessing to us inasmuch as he speaks the words of Christ to us, but he himself is not the source of that blessing, he's just an instrument. Mr. Lawson was a blessing to people through what he taught, even while participating in secret sin, not because of himself but because of the power of the word. I feel sad for him and is family and hope that he will genuinely repent and also that Christians will forgive him.
The bible will keep you from sin or sin will keep you from the bible. Pray for a hunger for God’s word and the Holy Spirits help to understand it. Bless you brothers and sisters ✝️🤍
Yes!!!
What about deacons? What other sexual sins are disqualifying? We seem to focus on adultery but what about chronic self gratification that renders the man unable to consummate his marriage? Is this type of addiction sin? Should he be in the pulpit or teaching Bible studies?
Church hurt is real. Let it push you closer to God so you can heal.
I was someone who experienced church hurt and the betrayal came from pastors who I asked for help when I was homeless. One of them even had a house for me to rent. It wasn’t just me it was my brother too who had a job, money saved so we managed to pay the rent. Not even two months of us renting he barges in without permission and kicked us out of the house back onto the streets with no explanation. He just said he wanted to sell the house fast and never told us that beforehand. I lost respect for these pastors to the point I’d stopped going to church for a while until I felt convicted inside to go back to church and I did. I forgave those pastors but sadly these pastors I speak of still have their positions. One of them though has faced loss of congregants in his church and the other has a history of boasting and bragging about what he has. It’s sad.
Praying for Dylan 🙏
Shabbat Shalom
Praying for those boys
The modern day church and culture...the great falling away...rejoice as we are one day closer to His return! Share the Gospel and pray for all the unsaved today.
No one is blameless, all have sinned, all deserve eternal punishment.
Only because of grace by Faith in Jesus can anyone be saved.
Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner...
Amen! God bless this ministry abundantly, please, in Jesus’ almighty name. Amen!
Thank you, Jesus!
✨💖💪✝️🕊️💖✨
There sure are a lot of pastors who turned out to be unqualified to lead people. Yet, they always get these jobs and the respect and financial wellness that these jobs bring. Yet, so many pastors are more worried if you drink a beer or wine at dinner sometimes, or said one cuss word here or there. I think failing a church or committing adultery is far worse and more damaging to Christians. Maybe there should be less legalistic attitudes about simple things the bible promotes such as making beer, wine, drinking it once in awhile because many people are very spiritually strong who do things that the Bible does not condemn as sin. Only drunkenness is a sin.
As Christians we’re not to lessen sin just because it seems less than to us. We need to uphold Gods standard, and God hates all sin. Drinking alcohol is definitely a conviction thing, and each person should hold to their conviction to honour the Lord, BUT even if you’re not convicted by it you still should not put yourself in situations where you could be tempted to sin. Like going to a work function and staying late knowing that everyone is going to get off their face drunk. That’s just setting yourself up for failure.
@@aaliyahlitovskyy I understand what you're saying. But do you think Christians in the Bible were somehow separated from the real world around them? obviously the Bible says we need to
Be dead to the world and separated in a spiritual sense. But in a physical sense we are still here and everyone around us that is not saved is dead inside and doing these sins. Certain cuss words are also a conviction thing. I am not advocating that we openly and boastfully drink alcohol or say a harsh word in front of your average Evangelical Christian but I think that the status we give to certain leaders shouldn't be given to certain people. Churches constantly look at academic credentials, and whether or not someone fits the look of a certain type of Evangelical cultural style than the substance of someone. For instance I worked security and ended up getting a job at a bar where I was a bouncer. Certain people would think I'm unchristian because I work in such a bad place. But I'm there as a light in the darkness and I'm preventing people from sending worse than they already are. Certain people are going to have to make money somehow and end up in situations like that. there are far better guys that are less popular that would be better church leaders and pastors than the ones that commit adultery and scams.
The standard is high for those who preach and teach for a reason. It’s not our standard that we set, it’s God’s.
@@CortneyPhillips-b4q I don't think the things I listed were low standards. But yes, the standards for a leader in the church such as a pastor is above the average person. Why are so many able to hide for such a long time?
@@MaharlikaAWA I agree with you, the status either we give to people by putting them on a pedestal or someone that is appointed as pastor that goes against the bible shouldn’t be done. Both are sinful. I know someone personally who has appointed themselves as pastor, and it really gives a whole new meaning to me why pastors, and churches actually do need to be appointed/recommended and planted by another church. There is a criteria that you have to fit if you want to be a pastor and have the gift of teaching. These are the verses in the Bible.
There’s a warning James 3:1,
-
“Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment.”
1 Timothy 3:1-7 describes the role of overseers and deacons, so pastors definitely need to fit this bill.
-
“It is a trustworthy statement: if any man aspires to the office of overseer, it is a fine work he desires to do. An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not addicted to wine or pugnacious, but gentle, peaceable, free from the love of money. He must be one who manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity (but if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?), and not a new convert, so that he will not become conceited and fall into the condemnation incurred by the devil. And he must have a good reputation with those outside the church, so that he will not fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.”
Appointing a pastor should have little to do with academic credentials or how they look and hold themselves, we should always look to the word of God as direction. That’s another reason why we should be so careful to prayerfully choose the right church to be a member of.
Personally, I wouldn’t think you’re unchristian for taking that job at a bar, but I would be worried about the potential for you to be tempted and sin. In those environments you have a lot of girls dressing immodestly, you have guys wanting to pick fights - there’s temptation. I’m not saying there isn’t temptation all around us, but there are places that pose a greater risk to us as Christians that we should avoid to protect ourselves - we’re scarily all capable of the sin that Steve Lawson has committed. Sin and temptation doesn’t go from 0-100 in one instance, it creeps up, the devil tempts, and when we don’t completely remove ourselves from places like bars and clubs, we can fall. You may start off strong, but it doesn’t take long to weaken and have a wondering eye, we’re just sinful creatures and we need to guard our hearts and our minds daily. A once off gig that you worked at a bar isn’t sinful (in my opinion), but be careful, don’t make it a habit. Your relationship with God is far too important.
Yes we all need to work and make money, but God provides. He will see you honouring Him in your convictions and give you another gig that will pay the bills. There are countless times my husband has been asked by his bosses, in the past, to steal from customers. He could lose his job eventually if he keeps refusing, but he refused anyway because he works for the Lord, not for men, and if he were to lose his job, God would provide another. (Thankfully he left that company as soon as he could)
It’s an extreme example maybe to what you’re trying to say, but I hope that makes sense.
The thing is, even if a pastor is appointed, fits the bible criteria and has the gift of teaching. They can still later fall into the sin of scamming and committing adultery. They shouldn’t fall into that sin and they should remove themselves so far away from the temptation of those sins and seek council as soon as a thought pops up, but it doesn’t always happen that way. Pride creeps in, fear of losing the congregation. We live in a fallen world where 100% of the population are sinners. We need to constantly be in prayer for our leaders, it’s not an easy job, done right, and we also should be coming beside them, admonishing them when they do wrong, and encouraging them to keep running the race. Pastors should never act as if they are above the flock, they are also brothers in Christ. I’m thankful and blessed to finally be in a church that is biblical and reads the Bible line by line, interpreting hermeneutically. I pray the same for all Christians, living life with your fellow saints is so important!
This is precisely why one's trust in Christ should never be dependent on the belief of a parent, or teachings of a particular pastor.
“Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God”
(John 3:3)
God is Holy and Just and Merciful
If my pastor fell, I would not stop being a Christian. I would get a new pastor, maybe a new church. Honestly, they are human, i listen to different teachings online and none are perfect, so i just learn from the best ones i can find.
The pastor who brought me to the Lord fell almost immediately after, maybe he was falling during... but the Holy Spirit (before everyone knew) told me to not just listen to him, to listen to others also, days before he "fell." I didn't want to, but i obeyed. I believe it helped me a lot. I'm also told by the Holy Spirit that God loves him greatly, so I pray for him. Others are still caught up in defending or criticizing him. I'm blessed with great teachings today. That pastor got me saved, but he was already lacking in the preaching department. Sometimes it was very good, sometimes confusing.
Saved by grace through faith and not by works shall no one boast
I have now seen 2 videos recently talking about some pastor having committed sexual sin. I dont know who this is, because i dont follow 'church'. What i do know is this; we should never almost idolise even 'holy' people. Jesus said "no man is good". We mustn't forget we are ALL human. Satan will use if he can, even the most righteous to disillusion us...to pull us away from Jesus. God allows these things to happen, to show us again and again that the ONLY 'man' we should look up to and idolise is HIS SON. Never be surprised when 'holy' people sin. They are just as under attack as the rest of us. 🙏🏻
Warning ⚠️ never say “I wouldn’t do THAT”. I was a faithful follower of Christ for years and years. I was director of children’s ministry at a very large church. I really thought I was something, a SUPER CHRISTIAN.
I took one drink and ended up being a raging alcoholic for 10 years. I lost my ministry, family, friends and so much more. All I had left was my loving husband, PTL. I prayed so many times to be delivered and God so graciously gave me an overnight miracle. He KNEW my desperate heart. I had no withdrawals whatsoever and haven’t taken a drink for 8 years now. Please Christians…don’t ever gloat over a fallen believer. No one is above sin here on earth. It could happen to anyone.
They have yet to specifically state his sin, and you can't have church discipline with vagueness & canceling him.
I'm afraid that telling potential converts that all you have to do is repent and believe will forever cause them to trust in something they did. My faith and my repentance cannot save me. Without the Holy Ghost making faith and repentance possible salvation itself becomes impossible.