Jimmy Swaggart

[rogue06]

Forgiveness can be tougher than sometimes portrayed. If God has forgiven someone, is it our right to bring up another's sin again? I'm assuming they aren't repeating the sin after forgiveness. If God has forgiven, do we have a right to hold the sin against them?

I agree being a pastor and in a really public ministry does put Jimmy into a different category. On the other hand, since all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, expecting a pastor to be sinless is foolish. As KingsGambit say, it's a tough call.

My post was a simple expression of historical reality -- that will undoubtedly be what he will best be remembered for. Further, given his last public remark on the subject ("The Lord told me it's flat none of your business") I'm not too sure he asked for any forgiveness, nor should we assume he did.

[Thoughtful Monk]

Jimmy Swaggert is no doubt gifted with huge amounts of talent and charisma. What a serious pity he caused such a scandal for Christianity and as such will always be "iffy" imo but easy to forgive too. I have often enjoyed listening to John Starnes and Jimmy Swaggert concerts.

It is a shame that he caused such a scandal. I've read elsewhere that pastor scandals are currently a leading cause of people leaving the church and trusting church organizations less.

I do confess I like the songs on SonLife.

[rogue06]

newspaper.jpg

Wrong thread for examples of fake news and misinformation.

[Thoughtful Monk]

My post was a simple expression of historical reality -- that will undoubtedly be what he will best be remembered for. Further, given his last public remark on the subject ("The Lord told me it's flat none of your business") I'm not too sure he asked for any forgiveness, nor should we assume he did.

You're probably right. Since my connection to God isn't the greatest, I don't know if he genuinely asked for forgiveness or not. This does seem to be a specific case not to a give a benefit of the doubt to.

[rogue06]

It is a shame that he caused such a scandal. I've read elsewhere that pastor scandals are currently a leading cause of people leaving the church and trusting church organizations less.

Do you have a link?

The Barna Group, an evangelical Christian polling firm based in California, conducted a poll a few years back on why people leave the church and I don't recall pastor scandals even making the list.

[KingsGambit]

Forgiveness can be tougher than sometimes portrayed. If God has forgiven someone, is it our right to bring up another's sin again? I'm assuming they aren't repeating the sin after forgiveness. If God has forgiven, do we have a right to hold the sin against them?

I prefer phrasing it as "taking it into account". For example, a church should not feel compelled to put a registered sex offender in charge of youth ministry even though he has been forgiven.

[rogue06]

I prefer phrasing it as "taking it into account". For example, a church should not feel compelled to put a registered sex offender in charge of youth ministry even though he has been forgiven.

If for no other reason that you shouldn't put someone in a position where failure to resist temptation can have tragic results.

[Thoughtful Monk]

Do you have a link?

The Barna Group, an evangelical Christian polling firm based in California, conducted a poll a few years back on why people leave the church and I don't recall pastor scandals even making the list.

Sorry, can't find it. Something that came through a news feed in the last month.

Personally, I won't trust any poll from a few years ago to reliable for what's happening today. Especially if it was taken pre-Covid.

[rogue06]

Sorry, can't find it. Something that came through a news feed in the last month.

Personally, I won't trust any poll from a few years ago to reliable for what's happening today. Especially if it was taken pre-Covid.

IIRC, this was from 2015.