I like what my Soror BTB87 said... God didn't strip his ministry away from him because of his choice of a divorce versus staying in a failed relationship... Maybe God never led this brother to marry this woman to begin with and the marriage was doomed from the beginning... It was the "Church" who stripped this poor human being from his ministry, who we are all asked in prayer and supplication if we call ourselves Christians...

The said part is how does your "Church" gain forgiveness? Through bloodletting?

I think there is great piety and piousness being practiced here rather than the worship of the definition of God...

I am curious as to what denomination that your friend belonged to? my guess that it would be a fundamentalist, legalistic church, or a church that is more concerned about doctrine than forgiveness. Not all churches operate this way -there are some good churches out there that are not bound by man made doctrines!

Actually today, I had the strangest thought. It reminded me of something we discussed in Sunday school a few weeks ago. If you think about it, the bible is filled with ordinary, everyday people who were less than "stellar", but Jesus made them the products of healings, parables, and even disciples. Instead of healing the most popular, the most rich, the most attractive, Jesus used the lepper, the woman with an issue of blood that was a social outcast, the woman accused of being an adultress, and just plain old Lazrus. The point is, that the "church" should realize that God can still use those whom we deem "unacceptable". Just because you get a divorce doesn't mean that you cannot lead someone in the right path. The closest people to Jesus were social misfits.

*le sigh* I hate hearing about situations like this. People in glass houses...

Well we are non-denominational christians. But we have a lot of dated OT practices. I just don't understand why someone I don't know has to get on a mic and tell me she slept with so and so and she's sorry. That's none of my business or anyones elses. She should be on that altar saying it to God. All that's gonna do is cause myself and others to see her as the "girl who slept with brother "blinky". These dated and Salem style religious practices are very hurtful to both the person and the body.

ESPECIALLY if everybody doesn't know about it. And like I said before, everybody doesn't need to know about it! The only thing that does is cause embarassment and humiliation to the person(s) involved. And yes, we do have a tendency to look at people differently when we find out something about them that may not be so attractive.

I'm so glad that God forgives us and that His grace is sufficient. Even if the people in that church are leading people to the Lord and to the church, what are they doing to keep them there? People go where they feel love. The church is supposed to be like a hospital, but if you're not being healed when you go to the hospital, what's the point of going?

Might be time to find another hospital, one with more qualified doctors/specialists, that is board-certified.

^^^ ***shouting and dancing around my desk***

You're absolutely correct. Don't forget about Paul. We all know how he started off.

When I was growing up, my church had a policy where anyone who got pregnant out of wedlock would have to go before the church and ask for forgiveness. Now I had two problems with this. 1. You never saw any men go up and ask for forgiveness. It does take two to tango. 2. Tons of people in the church were knocking skins outside of marriage it's just that if you get pregnant you get caught so to speak. Our minister at the time also made an announcement that he would no longer christen babies born out of wedlock. It's practices like this that keep people from church. Church's should really be concerned with winning souls. Most of the time this comes down to a bunch of nosey folks who like to turn their noses down at other people to make them look good.

Who probably used to be "buck wild" themselves...:D

Preach it! :D :p

Sad part is these folks would probably think the same way about Mary, mother of Jesus Christ, given what they "thought" they "knew" about her situation... Most 'specially if Joseph hadn't married her...

It took 8 years for my parents' Catholic church to baptize my godson. At eight they said he was an 'adult', but would not baptize a child "born of an affair".

I belong to a non-denominatinal church but we do practice the Love of Jesus Christ. We don't believe in a lot of dos and or don'ts, only the submitted lifestyle of Jesus as your Lord. I am sorry about what happened to your friend and those children who were not recognized by the church. Jesus never condemned the person -only the sin-and showed unconditional love for all! In anwser to your question: I don't believe your particular church kept to the teachings of Jesus-for he says -All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.

:D U better preach it!