Posted by Doug Showalter on April 03, 1998 at 23:46:16:
In Reply to: Re: forgiving the church? posted by J on April 03, 1998 at 20:57:20:
Dear J,
Yes, your comments certainly are appropriate to be posted on this web site. I'm sorry for your friend, and for the negligence you have been exposed to. When such things happen in Christ's Church, of whatever denomination, and they are not dealt with adequately, it hurts us all, not to mention the sacred mission of the Church.
From my small corner of the world, I really thought things were much better now regarding these types of issues. I think they are better generally, but I do hear and am disturbed by what you have told me.
The additional sad thing is that it is possible that the individual you mention could exhibit the same behavior in the new church. In such a case, I would guess that the church officials who moved that individual to the new church, could well face serious legal liability if they neglected to inform the new church of the individual's previous record, when the individual was moved.
I hope your friend is doing well, in spite of what has happened, and that her faith in God and God's love has not been damaged through these human shortcomings in the earthly Church.
Someone once wrote that the proof that the Christian Church has a divine origin, is that it has survived the sins and abuses of its members through all these centuries. Ouch, that hurts! But there is, I believe, some truth in it.
Frankly, I would have left the ministry years ago if I had placed my faith in church people to always do the right thing. The fact is that people, even Christians, are imperfect. They can let both you and the cause of Christ down--as can I. Rather, I have learned to place my faith in the God to whom the Church aspires, the God who seeks to empower Christians to do the right thing, the God who also forgives us when, in sincere repentance, we humbly confess our human failures. I can honestly say that in placing my faith there, I have never been let down. Also, that placement has always made my ministry in the Church seem worth the effort.
Best wishes,
Doug Showalter