Hi chadster,
I dearly wanted to answer your question but don't qualify as a pastor. However, I do qualify as one whose eldership gave a situation the same kind of advice Krispy and Clint have given, in the belief they are somehow protecting the flock from a fate they would not survive.
Okay... Clint and Krispy, you know I respect you both very much. My comments are in no way an attack on either of you personally. I recognise the points you are making and why they seem reasonable, but I would like to put forward some of the [i]cons[/i] of assuming no other considerations outweigh your suggestions.
It may even be slightly misguided to try to protect the sinner. From what? Public opinion? Is this a basic requirement of Christianity? For sin?
What is interesting about such fears (imo), is that they betray a general lack of trust of the spiritual maturity of flock-members. Even church leadership can't be trusted with something confidential!
But... if so... is the lack of concealment in scripture, of 'sins of the flesh' and other sins, truly because these are [i]impossible[/i] to keep quiet in real life, or, so specifically related to idolatry?
In a different thread recently, I pointed out that going to church [i]in itself[/i] should be a public testimony that every individual understands the terms on which they are accepted by God [i]at all[/i]. Iow, it should not be a surprise to anyone, that occasionally a brother or sister falls into some serious sin; not to excuse such a situation, but rather, that all sin is serious and [u]must[/u] be abandoned in favour of righteousness in Christ.
Surely, unless his sin is known, his repentance can never become as notorious as it?
Personally, I hated my sin not being made completely public, despite whatever would have become of me because of it. It felt far worse at the time - like I [i]was[/i] keeping something secret - than getting it out, over and done with, and being able to look people in the eye knowing there was nothing between me and them. I'd have rather they knew, and chose to have nothing to do with me (if they preferred), than to carry on with the secrecy which already surrounded what had happened.
The person with the reputation as 'Rahab the harlot', 'Mary out of whom went seven devils', or 'the woman at the well', has to live with that label, but, [i]knowing[/i] these sins were laid on Jesus - whether anyone else has forgiven them or not.
Study to show yourself approved.... whose praise is of God, not of men.
Matthew 21:14
[b]And the blind and the lame came to him[/b] [u]in the temple[/u];
[u][b]and He healed them[/b][/u].
It is clear from very many prophecies that some credibly spiritual people will find themselves outside the door without enough oil, on a certain day. Should we be surprised?
Another reason for exposing sin, is its continuance is then much harder to conceal. I've often wondered how people in Israel seemed to know everything about each other. But, they were camped in just the next tent, is one reason, and this in itself is (ideally), a deterrent.
'That which makes manifest, is light.'
1 John 1:7
There is another matter here, which may or may not be relevant, which is that what goes on at ranks below top leadership, has often been silently sanctioned by the wrong behaviour (not necessarily in the same area of misconduct, but... a lack of integrity), of the leadership itself. To say that not all the leaders 'know', might be a way of equivocating around the possibility that no-one needed to tell them, because it wasn't a secret at that level.
I learned these things the hard way, and there are always innocent victims, but the Church in general has not been good at offering healing to those caught in the crossfire. It would rather pretend that no-one can hear the shooting.
Fundamentally, the betrayal of trust by a church leader - regardless of their specific sin - is a very serious blow to some people's faith. I would moot that everyone's faith needs to be in God rather than man, and the loss of trust of members by not being open, is worse than the loss of trust some may experience when the facts are honourably presented without rancour.
Lastly, it is far easier for a person to change if they want to, if they are not fighting a secret war. This is one of the truths about the situation of Paul the apostle: that it was no secret what he had done to the church, and he had everything to prove to those who might wish to distrust him. But he was so grateful to God for his salvation, that nothing was too much trouble, in [i]His[/i] service.
If I've rambled too far... please put me right.
