Would you allow a man like this in your pulpit?

[TK Burk]

Originally Posted by HeavenlyOne

If you want to get technical, Paul disqualified himself by writing those verses also.

No, Paul did this in ignorance. He did not see that he was being disobedient to God. Instead, he saw he was doing God's will. Big Difference!

In Paul’s case, he did not know he was out of God’s will. But after his conversion, if he had remained a persecutor and killer, he would have then disqualified himself from his Apostleship.

The preacher in question—WITHOUT DOUBT—knew his actions were WRONG!

[HeavenlyOne]

Originally Posted by Lost and Found

No, Paul did this in ignorance. He did not see that he was being disobedient to God. Instead, he saw he was doing God's will. Big Difference!

In Paul’s case, he did not know he was out of God’s will. But after his conversion, if he had remained a persecutor and killer, he would have then disqualified himself from his Apostleship.

The preacher in question—WITHOUT DOUBT—knew his actions were WRONG!

Ok, I get your point now. I thought you were making the point as if he were repentant like Paul. Sorry.

[TK Burk]

Originally Posted by HeavenlyOne

I have yet to know of a child molester who openly did his deeds. Many murderers don't care who sees them, and Paul was one of those kinds of people.

Jews did not considered Paul to be a murder. Other than those in the early Church, Paul was probably seen as a hero for his persecution. Paul acted in the same spirit as did Phinehas (See Numbers 25:7). Phinehas was also the inspiration for the zealot movement of Paul's day. Basically, for many Jews, Phinehas was seen as a hero to their faith.

Sorry to be off subject. I just hated to see the Apostle Paul get a bad rap here.

[TK Burk]

Originally Posted by HeavenlyOne

Ok, I get your point now. I thought you were making the point as if he were repentant like Paul. Sorry.

Cool!

[Felicity]

Originally Posted by Lost and Found

Jews did not considered Paul to be a murder. Other than those in the early Church, Paul was probably seen as a hero for his persecution. Paul acted in the same spirit as did Phinehas (See Numbers 25:7). Phinehas was also the inspiration for the zealot movement of Paul's day. Basically, for many Jews, Phinehas was seen as a hero to their faith.

Sorry to be off subject. I just hated to see the Apostle Paul get a bad rap here.

Now that's interesting. Never thought about that before.

[Evang.Benincasa]

Originally Posted by HeavenlyOne

Would you attend church where he pastors?

Would you allow him to preach for you?

Here's the story...

Local pastor was known sex offender
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF ROMEOVILLE

August 20, 2007
By Susan Hogan/Albach sun-times news group

A Romeoville Southern Baptist congregation allowed a convicted child sex offender to preach for the last few years -- despite his past, and a warning from his previous church that he might still be dangerous, the Chicago Sun-Times has learned.

In 1996, Jeff Hannah was sentenced to nine years in prison for having sexual relations with four underage girls -- ages 15 to 17 -- while a married youth minister at Crossroads Church in Libertyville.

Hannah was paroled in 2001 and joined the First Baptist Church of Romeoville, where his new wife was a member. Soon after, the pastor moved on, and church members -- aware of Hannah's crimes -- asked him to step into the pulpit until a replacement was hired, according to church members, Hannah and others.

Hannah served in that role for three years and ever since has been a fill-in preacher, teacher and music minister at the church.

'We believe in forgiveness'

Authorities say there's no evidence that Hannah has re-offended -- and Hannah insists he has not -- but he abruptly resigned his membership in the congregation when a reporter started inquiring about him last week.

"In our church, we believe in forgiveness," said Del Kirkpatrick, one of the deacons who hired Hannah.

In talking to the Sun-Times last week, Hannah, 42, was unapologetic about his crimes, saying his first marriage had been troubled and he'd had "urges."

"I honestly believe that had I been a college pastor, I'd slept with college girls," he said. "But I was a youth pastor. It was less about age and more about who I spent all my time with."

The Rev. Steve Farish, pastor of Crossroads Church, which has relocated to Grayslake, said he considered Hannah so dangerous that he warned the Romeoville church and a regional Southern Baptist official.

'The husband of one wife'

"We thought he could still potentially be a danger to women and children," Farish said. "He was never repentant and never told the truth."

Randie Bruno, the prosecutor in Hannah's case said, "He has the charisma to fool everybody."

But Hannah led the Romeoville church until February 2006, when the Rev. Charles Hamby, a 54-year-old divorced pastor with financial troubles, was hired. When Hamby remarried a few months later, several church members left, including Kirkpatrick.

"A pastor should be the husband of one wife," Kirkpatrick said.

Hamby, who also knew of Hannah's past, allowed him to continue as a preacher and gave him even greater leadership roles. "The man . . . paid his debt to society," Hamby said. Some in the congregation were upset by Hannah's role, but Hamby's remarriage was a bigger controversy, according to church officials. The feud bubbled over last week, when Hamby and Hannah abruptly resigned.

"I just want to live my life," Hannah said.

Activist outraged

The future of the congregation remains uncertain. Sunday worship was canceled.

With more than 16 million members, the Southern Baptist Convention is the nation's largest Protestant denomination. Each congregation is autonomous. Under pressure from victims' groups, the SBC in June pledged to examine the possibility of creating a national database of clergy predators.

Christa Brown, founder of StopBaptistPredators.org, was outraged that Hannah went from prison to the pulpit.

"When Southern Baptists put perpetrators into positions of spiritual trust again, it sends the message that this denomination doesn't care about victims," Brown said.

THERE IS NO WAY ON THE PLANET EARTH THAT A MAN WHO HAD DONE THIS CAN BE IN A PULPIT.

[Evang.Benincasa]

Originally Posted by Lost and Found

Jews did not considered Paul to be a murder. Other than those in the early Church, Paul was probably seen as a hero for his persecution. Paul acted in the same spirit as did Phinehas (See Numbers 25:7). Phinehas was also the inspiration for the zealot movement of Paul's day. Basically, for many Jews, Phinehas was seen as a hero to their faith.

Sorry to be off subject. I just hated to see the Apostle Paul get a bad rap here.

Amen, L&F you are correct sir.

Phi 3:6

"Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, BLAMELESS."

In Jesus name

Brother Benincasa

www.OnTimeJournal.com

[Felicity]

Originally Posted by Evang.Benincasa

Amen, L&F you are correct sir.

Phi 3:6

"Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, BLAMELESS."

Excellent! Thanks!

[HeavenlyOne]

Originally Posted by Lost and Found

Jews did not considered Paul to be a murder. Other than those in the early Church, Paul was probably seen as a hero for his persecution. Paul acted in the same spirit as did Phinehas (See Numbers 25:7). Phinehas was also the inspiration for the zealot movement of Paul's day. Basically, for many Jews, Phinehas was seen as a hero to their faith.

Sorry to be off subject. I just hated to see the Apostle Paul get a bad rap here.

I've never thought about it that way, but I can see how you can be right in those statements. Makes total sense.

Did that make him more trustworthy? LOL!

[TK Burk]

Originally Posted by HeavenlyOne

I've never thought about it that way, but I can see how you can be right in those statements. Makes total sense.

Did that make him more trustworthy? LOL!

Funny you say that. I have wondered if Paul's killing of believing men isn't the reason why he wrote so about widows and fatherless children. Just a thought. If so, talk about fighting feelings of guilt.