Hypothetical scenario:
A pastor tells his congregation, one Sunday morning, that his son has impregnated a young lady of the church, who is not his fiance; and will be removed from all ministries w/ in the Church and will be disfellowshipped from the congregation citing scriptures like
1 Cor. 5 as precedent for doing so. His board has asked that he reconsider his position on the matter allowing for a time of discipline and perhaps allow for future restoration .... feeling that this stance is too harsh.
1 Corinthians 5 reads:
9 I wrote to you in my letter(N) not to associate with sexually immoral people— 10(O) not at all meaning(P) the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters,(Q) since then you would need to go out of the world. 11But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone(
R) who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one. 12For what have I to do with judging(
S) outsiders?(
T) Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? 13God judges[
b] those outside.(
U) "
Purge the evil person from among you."
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When do we purge or expel a member from our local congregation .... or the Body? When is enough, enough?
Does the nature of the offense determine this decision to disfellowship? For example, is there a difference between heterosexual fornication and homosexuality?
Is there a difference between stealing church funds and pedophilia?
Your opinions on how this hypothetical pastor has handled this situation?
What say ye?
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