Ministers Guilty of Sexual Sin: Further Thoughts from the Comments

Posted on June 22, 2009 by Jay F Guin

crying-preacher.jpgI love the blogging format, because I get these great questions that force me to dig deeper or explain myself better.

This follows up my earlier post Ministers Guilty of Sexual Sin: Advice from a Minister. The complete questions I’m responding to will be found there in the comment section. I re-post the material here because it’s critically important that we figure out how to stop the flood of sexual sin occurring within the ministry (and not just or especially in the Churches of Christ).

Is it really true that 20% of ministers are guilty of sexual sin?

Two readers asked me to defend my assertion that about 20% of ministers are guilty of sexual sin. Continue reading →

Posted in Sexual Ethics, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Backgrounds of the Restoration Movement: Heresy, Part 1 (Phinehas, the Nestorians)

Posted on June 22, 2009 by Jay F Guin

passioncartoonFirst story

We all know about God’s covenant with Abraham.

(Gen 15:6)  Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness.

The Old Testament has a surprising parallel —

(Psa 106:19-22, 30-31)  At Horeb they made a calf and worshiped an idol cast from metal. 20 They exchanged their Glory for an image of a bull, which eats grass. 21 They forgot the God who saved them, who had done great things in Egypt, 22 miracles in the land of Ham and awesome deeds by the Red Sea. … 30 But Phinehas stood up and intervened, and the plague was checked. 31 This was credited to him as righteousness for endless generations to come.

The Psalmist declares that Phinehas “intervened” and his work was credited to him as righteousness. What did Phinehas do to win such praise? Continue reading →

Posted in Restoration Movement, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 7 Comments

Conversation with Robert Prater (but with Rich, really): Stages of Faith, from the Comments

Posted on June 22, 2009 by Jay F Guin

dialogue

Rich wrote, with considerable insight, that there are four stage of maturity for a Christian —

Stage One: called Borrowed Faith
This is typical for a new Christian whose main objective is to mimic the faith of the most influential people in their life. For those who grow up in a church environment it is usually the parent(s). For those who become Christians as an adult, it is usually those who were most influence in the life change.

Stage Two: Legalistic
This is where the main motive is to do the right thing and do it right. This is positive progress from Stage One by should not be the final step. Continue reading →

Posted in CENI, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Conversation with Robert Prater (but with Rich, really): Clarifying My Position on CENI, from the Comments

Posted on June 21, 2009 by Jay F Guin

dialogueI shouldn’t be surprised that there’s a huge communications gap between me, as a progressive, and many conservatives. This is often the nature of spiritual disagreements. Therefore, I’m very grateful for the internet and blogging software because it allows for back and forth communication. I mean, the hardest part of these conservative/progressive conversations is in being understood.

And my favorite conservative readers are those who take the time and trouble to ask for clarification — by saying what they heard me say and giving me the opportunity to clarify my writings. Rich is therefore one of my favorite conservative readers.

Some of these exchanges are important enough that I really should have responded in a post, rather than a comment, because many readers don’t follow the comments.

A while back Rich wrote, Continue reading →

Posted in CENI, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

Backgrounds of the Restoration Movement: Gnosticism, Part 4 (Two Stories, Creation, Story)

Posted on June 21, 2009 by Jay F Guin

passioncartoon“Dualism” is the notion that the world is divided into good and bad — and that the two do not touch. Francis Schaeffer liked to speak of the first story and second story. In his terms, we’d describe Platonic dualism this way —

Spirit
Matter

In other words, the spirit world is entirely separate from the material world. The spiritual world is good, and the material world is evil. There’s a line between the two.

In asceticism, the goal is to “mortify the flesh,” and so rid ourselves of the material side of things —

Spirit
Matter

In antinomianism, the goal is to ignore the spiritual side of things, letting the flesh rule —

Spirit
Matter Continue reading →

Posted in Restoration Movement, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Ministers Guilty of Sexual Sin: Advice from a Minister

Posted on June 20, 2009 by Jay F Guin

crying-preacher.jpgExcellent advice from Vince Antonucci, a Las Vegas church planter and author of I Became a Christian and All I Got Was This Lousy T-Shirt.

There has been a lot of talk and blogging about a well-known pastor who confessed to an affair yesterday. Because he’s a friend of mine I’ve e-mailed him. But I won’t comment on it here, because I think it’s none of my business.

What I will say is that we all need to be on guard. A lot of people have been saying that today: “Don’t let this happen to you!” but I don’t think that helps much. Here’s my practical advice for all of us:

  1. Love God. I mean really love Him, stay close to Him.
  2. Fear God. Be afraid of the consequences of sin and of God Himself.
  3. Have Authentic Accountability. Be totally transparent with a few trusted people about your temptations.
  4. Have Wide Boundaries. Set up your boundaries so even if you didn’t keep them, you’d still be far, far from sin. Continue reading →
Posted in Sexual Ethics, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 9 Comments

God will, like he waters the flowers on your window sill

Posted on June 19, 2009 by Jay F Guin
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged | Comments Off on God will, like he waters the flowers on your window sill

Renewing Our Worship: The Love Feast (expanded)

Posted on June 19, 2009 by Jay F Guin

I received this question from a reader —

Hi Jay

First, I want to say how much I appreciate your blog. It is a great source of learning and encouragement for me. I left a legalistic church several years ago and I’ve been growing so much since then.

Anyway, I’m engaged in a discussion about authority for local groups having meals. This person is denying there is historical evidence of the love feasts. Do you have knowledge of good sources I can point out to him? I’m not sure it will even convince him.

Yes, there is very substantial historical authority for the love feast. The primary source is the New Testament. Continue reading →

Posted in Renewing Our Worship, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Youth Ministry: Transitioning to the New Guy

Posted on June 19, 2009 by Jay F Guin

YouthI’ve noticed something, and I’m wondering if this is generally true or if maybe I’m just imagining it.

Let me try to explain. When a church hires a new youth minister, there’s inevitably a difficult period of transition. The former minister likely formed some close bonds with many of the kids. He may be the only youth minister some of the kids have ever known. Letting go is difficult for the kids — every single time.

This is true whether the old guy quit, retired, or was fired. It’s even worse, I think, when he continues his relationship with the kids — by remaining a member of the church, or through Facebook, or such. For the older kids, juniors and seniors especially, they may even graduate and leave the program before they can bond with the new minister.

Meanwhile, the volunteers — young couples, parents — will have been heavily involved in the ministry and (hopefully) the lives of the kids. They’ll have taken ownership of their work and programs. They’ll likely want to keep doing things “the old way.” They’ll have bought into the former minister’s philosophy, programs, and calendar. They’ll want to do the spring break trip just like last year because, well, they know how and they think it went just great. Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized, Youth Ministry | Tagged , | 3 Comments

Youth Ministry: Are We Seeing an Exodus Out of Youth Ministry?

Posted on June 18, 2009 by Jay F Guin

YouthThis is another article from a while back originally posted at “Jesus Creed” by Chris Folmsbee.

To me, it sure feels like there are more youth ministers leaving than what is usual.  Perhaps this phenomenon is only occurring in the view through my little window of youth ministry.

NOTE: I realize that there has always been a fair amount of transition among youth workers.  However, most of that transition has been from one church or ministry to another not a transition away from youth work altogether.

I have some thoughts as to why we might be seeing more youth ministers leaving their roles of serving youth and their families.  I’m hoping you can help me fill out this list.  Here are a few of my thoughts: Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized, Youth Ministry | Tagged , , , , | 8 Comments