Wednesday, August 8, 2007
Child molester in your home
I have had some thoughts lately about the issue of sex slavery and the church. These thoughts have left me searching and longing for answers. I know that god has made me a very unique individual that will think about the world in a different way and will cause change within our world. And as i have worked on the issue of slavery there has been a great conviction in me that we must create change within the hearts of men. There are many organizations and groups that help the victims and that is my heart, but what of those who are watching child pornography, molesting children, and visiting brothels? According to the AMA there is no cure for child pedophilia. So ultimately no one has any real answers to how we can change the issue except to make punishments more severe. I believe that the church must be the place that not only is the refuge for the victims, but the place where those with these issues can seek change. I had a conversation with some of my friends recently. They were telling me that they would feel very uncomfortable if they knew that there were people in their church that were dealing with the issue. They would not be able to let their children go anywhere alone, and they would always be afraid that something would happen. Now let me say that i do not have children so i therefore do not know the wait of being a father and protecting my children. But these words made me think: is the church supposed to be a safe place? My heart was saddened, because what we are saying is that we ultimately can never trust someone like that...we dont believe they can really change. I have struggled with addictions my whole life. Its something that may always tempt me. And one of the things that has always made me struggle was the thought that if people knew they would no longer be with me. I pray that the church would be a place where men that are pedophiles and child molesters could come and be set free...and that we would not shut our doors and lives because of fear. Is it scary? Do we need to use wisdom and discernment? Yes, by no means am i saying that we should be careless. But please let us be filled with compassion and not reject them. When we look at the ministry of Jesus, he went to those who were the outcasts of society. They werent just those that society shunned, they were those that society feared. Our sins are just as dark as those raping a child right now. Which is ultimately what Jesus meant when he said, "He who is without sin throw the first stone." We dont want those that have been child molesters in our church? Who do we want then? Are we now like an organization that must look at your backround before you can get in? Would you let a man that was a child molester into your home? We must rise to the occasion and deal with this issue. My heart is broken for the boys and girls whose lives were destroyed by those men. But my heart is also broken for the man who is sitting in his car right now asking whether he should do it or not. I believe that anyone can change, and that he power of god is strong enough to break any chain and any addiction and mindset. Call me ignorant, foolish, unwise, or just a utopian who is just naive and idealistic. Maybe i am, but i believe that god is as well. He has to be in order to believe in me.
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5 comments:
I think you're right, David. Who wants to be the test case these days, you know? I think that we still have churches that are a mixture of those seeking a shelter and those seeking a hiding place.l
And until it's easy to identify which person is which, you have to (as a parent) have pretty high standards about who has access to your kids and when. It shouldn't make anyone nervous to think that someone like that might be among them, because a realistic person should understand that they already are, but like you at one point, may not yet have the courage to expose themselves as needing help (no pun intended).
Good thoughts, always.
We live in a world where sins are categorized according to their "severity" and as a result those who are in bondage to the more "severe" often get treated in a way that limits them from getting healed and restored. Not because God is limited but because His people who He has chosen to use in the lives of those who need healing are not often willing to be that. We are afraid to be a part of the lives of those who struggle with issues like the ones you bring up because we are often not equipped to do so. I understand the discomfort though, but pray I will be more open to those who are often rejected vs. welcomed.
David, I think you are a man with a rear burden on your heart. Not a lot of people are able to share what you feel but it's from God. He reveals his love for those that society gave up upon. But you are right God never gives up on us and loves through everything. Rear burdens make us feel isolated and misunderstood but they are from God. I encourage you to pay for those men and women. And still share it with those around even if you feel misunderstood and too "idealistic" :)
What sturs up fear in us to love the unlovely? Do we believe that we are capible of far greater things then these? We must come to a place as the people of God understanding that we are ALL fallible and ALL in need of God's healing hand. I agree that all should be excepting into the body of believers,but that we are also held accountable for holding up healthy boundaries to keep our children and friends "safe". Meaning that if I know that somebody has a porn addiction am I going to place a suductive image in front of them? If there's a child molester in the church am I going to place my child before them? No! With that said that doesn't mean that I will not show them the love of Christ. We all must be decerning and wise of the wickedness among us.
I think this is a hard issue. You brought up the fact that Jesus hung out with the prostitutes. Of course he did, and of course he would use wisdom--he would not bring along a friend who had a history of sneaking to go see a prostitute. I think he would have hung out with pedifiles too, but I don't think he would bring them to a church family picnic.
There is something I am learning, and the way I think about ministry has really changed so much in the past few years. I find myself in this situation SO many times--I am working with a small community of believers, but we work outside of the church, side-by side with those who are not believers and those who have a wide range of alternative lifestyles. Over and over again we hear from them how they can't believe how much we love each other, how well we work together, and they love being around us. They do know that we are believers, but they still want to be around us. And we are, all the time.
I guess what I am trying to say, is that we need to remember that so much ministry happens outside the walls of a meeting building.
Another thought--some addictions are more serious (I don't mean more sinful) than others. Right now, I think I am addicted to chips and chocolate, but I don't need to go to a specialist to be cured. I do believe that God can change and heal someone on the spot, but I also know that some things take time. I have known people, even family members and friends who have been in and out of rehab and really do want to change. It can take time. So I think we have to have compassion mixed with wisdom.
They don't hold AA groups in a bar.
Just thoughts.
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