Agreements with that post, Gran.While all sin is equal in God's sight, there are some sins that cannot be tolerated among church staff, and some sin that cannot be tolerated by anyone in attendance.1 Tim 3 on the bishops/deacons:[2] A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;[3] Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;[4] One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;[5] (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)[6] Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.[7] Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.[8] Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;[9] Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.[10] And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless.[11] Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.[12] Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.[13] For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.Titus on the bishop:[6] If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly.[7] For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;[8] But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;[9] Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.So while sin is sin, there is still a standard that must be upheld among the staff.Matt 18 / 1 Cor 5 on how to deal with people in the church involved in certain sins:Matt 18:[15] Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.[16] But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.[17] And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican....remember that Jesus went to the heathen and the publicans to reconcile them, and was ridiculed for doing so.1 Cor 18[1] It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife.[5] To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.[11] But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.Most skip this, as I have done in the past, but this is how to reconcile those who have fallen in these sins:2 Cor 2[6] Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted of many.[7] So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow.[8] Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him.2 Thes 3[6] Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.[14] And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed.[15] Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.
