Question about those committing sin while serving in ministry and after repentance

I don't know who you are talking about but I have been down not the same road of Sally but a similar one and years later have have come to the conclusion that I can't make people see what I see.

I would counsel Sally and Rob to walk away and leave it in the Lords hands. Sally and Rob have moved on and they need to keep moving, not looking back.

"The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." ~ 2 Peter 3:9

The Lord wants that church and Tina to repent; so Sally needs to give the Holy Spirit time to work. Sally needs to move on and put it in the hands of the Lord and rebuild her trust with God and Rob. Because can Sally truly move on with Rob and God while still looking back at Tina and wondering what Tina's doing?

Two cents is not a lot but here it is with love!!
God bless,
Lisa

Lysa has it right, IMO. Tons of reasons, not worth elaborating on.

I think you have given too much information here, which is totally not needed. This story can be summed up in few lines without explaining certain inappropriate events.

Church is a serious thing. A person doing any work in Church no matter what it is, should be very upright especially in sexual matters. Sexual sin and anger are two sins that can take us to hell. Personally I would not allow the women to take any responsibility in church. This is because often such ugly sins (like having an affair with the husband of another man in the same church), do not spring up by themselves. They are result of years of unfaithfulness in other areas especially in sexual matters. So I will not see it as a single instance of unfaithfulness.

Since the other family is out of the church (which I believe is a good decision), they should not be bothered about what the church does with this women. Let the leadership decide what they want to do with her.

Hello Sherri:

My thoughts are that Sally and Rob move on and work on their relationship together with each other and God. They have already taken a first step in "Coming Out” from amongst that church and situation.

Unfortunately the leadership in that church has failed in its discernment and counsel toward the whole situation. For me, I believe it is due to a lack of intimacy and yielding to the Holy Spirit and His gifts. Where is the discerning of spirits, the word of knowledge, the word of wisdom? This is sadly plaguing many churches, leadership, and individuals.

We all talk about the empowering of the Holy Spirit but many times we are powerless. We say, but we are not doing or not manifesting/demonstrating this power God has promised. When God said "These signs” will follow them that believe, that is exactly what He meant when He promised He would confirm His word with signs following.

Mark 16:20 And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.

Tina has not repented and the leadership is still not discerning this?

"Tina said she didn't lie, she just didn't give the whole truth. Tina told Sally she didn't commit adultery, then added that she only hugged and kissed him, exchanged inappropriate pictures, and shared explicit conversations with Rob.”

However a discernible observation of Rob’s repentance is that he confessed his sin to Sally, stepped down from ministry, and left the church. The senior pastor of that church also stepped down. This is encouraging and the right thing to do (discernible fruit of repentance). The associate Pastor taking 3 months off may also be a good sign if he took that time off to grieve and seek the Lord.

In my opinion, both Tina and Ben would also both do well in stepping down from their positions of ministry and work on their relationship with each other as well as with God.

What should Sally do? I would encourage her to pray, believe, speak, and confess life and blessing into her husband and marriage showing mercy, compassion and forgiveness. She should also do the same for Tina and Ben. All it takes is one person to get a hold of God and His promises and BELIEVE!

Proverbs 18:20-21 A man's belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled. (21) Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

As ministers of reconciliation we are called to make up the hedge and stand in the gap. I myself speak from experience in this area and have learned much by Gods grace as my wife and I went through much pain and suffering due to the sin of adultery, divorce, and then restoration and remarrying one another.

Here are some powerful words of wisdom, counsel, and unconditional love.

Galatians 6:1-3 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. (2) Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. (3) For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.

Does not the word of God tell us when one member of the body suffers, all suffer? Are we not to bear one another's burden and love them as Christ loved us?

2 Timothy 2:24-26 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, (25) In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; (26) And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his (the devil) will.

James 5:19-20 Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; (20) Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.

Again for me,it is my deepest desire is to preach, teach, counsel, and manifest the power of the Holy Spirit THROUGH genuine love, care, and concern for Gods creation. If that is not my heart then I would rather not speak. When the Holy Spirit is in it leading and guiding, hearts WILL be pricked, lives will be changed, souls will be saved, the sick will be healed, and the oppressed will be set free.

My heart truly goes out to Sally, Rob, Tina, Ben, the leadership, and the church as a whole, but especially of the little lambs in that church. Look at this most wonderful and beautiful story and example of repentance and forgiveness.

Genesis 50:16-21 So they sent a message to Joseph, saying, "Your father gave this command before he died: (17) 'Say to Joseph, "Please forgive the transgression of your brothers and their sin, because they did evil to you."' And now, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father." Joseph wept when they spoke to him. (18) His brothers also came and fell down before him and said, "Behold, we are your servants." (19) But Joseph said to them, "Do not fear, for am I not in the place of God? (20) As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. (21) So do not fear; I will provide for you and your little ones." Thus he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.

Sherri, thank you and bless you for your burden for this situation, we would all do well in sharing in that burden, seeking and praying to our wonderful and most high God and Savior Jesus Christ to have mercy, heal, and forgive all.

Please encourage our sister with these words.

Brother Dave