SHOULD
PREACHERS THAT SIN AND HAVE BEEN RESTORED
BE
ALLOWED TO PREACH AND LEAD AGAIN?
By
Bishop Elijah H. Hankerson III
INTRODUCTION: What about ministers that have broken the law? Or committed
heinous crimes? Does forgiveness mean going right back to preaching and
leading? Is being "sat down" effective if there's no counseling or
probationary period? Is probation Scriptural?
I. THE EARLY CHURCH WAS FORGIVING; BUT
ALSO VERY STRICT.
A.
FELLOW CHRISTIANS ARE TO BE RESTORED:
Galatians 6:1 1Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you
who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves,
or you also may be tempted.
B.
BUT, THOSE WHO REFUSED TO DO RIGHT WERE SHUNNED:
1 Corinthians 5:11 11But now I am writing to you that you must
not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister but is sexually
immoral or greedy, an idolater or slanderer, a drunkard or swindler. Do not even eat with such people.
C.
SOME WERE TURNED OVER TO SATAN:
1 Corinthians 5:5 5hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the
flesh, so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the LORD.
D.
HOWEVER, IN SOME CASES PEOPLE WERE TO BE EXCOMMUNICATED ALTOGETHER:
Matthew 18:15-17 15"If your brother or sister sins, go and point out
their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won
them over. 16But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that
'every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.'
17If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to
listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.
E.
EVIDENTLY PRAYERS WERE TO CEASE FOR SUCH INDIVIDUALS:
1 John 5:16-17 16If you see any brother or sister commit a
sin that does not lead to death, you should pray and God will give them life. I
refer to those whose sin does not lead to death. There is a sin that leads to
death. I am not saying that you should pray about that. 17All wrongdoing is
sin, and there is sin that does not lead to death.
F.
THE CHURCH CONSIDERED SOME PEOPLE TO BE COMPLETELY REJECTED:
2 Timothy 3:8 8Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses,
so also these teachers oppose the truth. They are men of depraved minds, who,
as far as the faith is concerned, are
rejected.
II. THE EARLY CHURCH WAS VERY STRICT
ON PREACHERS AND LEADERS.
A.
LEADERS WERE TO BE BLAMELESS:
1 Timothy 3:2 2Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his
wife,, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,
B.
YOUNG PREACHERS WERE EXHORTED TO BE PURE:
2 Timothy 2:22 22Flee also youthful lusts: but follow
righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the LORD out of a
pure heart.
C.
SINNING PREACHERS WERE TO BE OPENLY REBUKED:
1 Timothy 5:19-20 19Do not entertain an accusation against an
elder unless it is brought by two or three witnesses. 20But those elders who
are sinning you are to reprove before everyone, so that the others may take
warning.
D.
SOME MINISTERS WERE TO BE REJECTED AND SHUNNED:
Titus 3:10 10Warn a divisive person once, and then warn them a second
time. After that, have nothing to do with them.
III. ACCORDING TO THE WORD, THE ANSWER
TO THE QUESTION IS ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS: EXAMPLES OF
RESTORATION AND REJECTION:
A.
MOSES WAS NOT ALLOWED TO CONTINUE TO LEAD AFTER DISRESPECTING GOD.
Numbers 20:12 12But the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, "Because you
did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites,
you will not bring this community into the land I give them."
B.
SAUL WAS REJECTED AS LEADER FOR REBELLING AGAINST GOD.
1 Samuel 15:28 28Samuel said to him,
"The LORD has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today and has given it
to one of your neighbors-to one better than you.
C.
DAVID WAS ALLOWED TO CONTINUE TO LEAD AFTER REPENTING OF HIS SIN.
2 Samuel 12:12-13 12You did it in secret, but I will do this
thing in broad daylight before all Israel.'" 13Then David said to Nathan,
"I have sinned against the LORD." Nathan replied, "The LORD has
taken away your sin. You are not going to die.
D.
PETER WAS ALLOWED TO LEAD AFTER REPENTING.
Luke 22:32 32But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail.
And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers."
E.
JUDAS WAS REJECTED FROM LEADERSHIP EVEN AFTER ACKNOWLEDGING HIS SIN.
Matthew 27:4 4"I have sinned," he said, "for I have
betrayed innocent blood." "What is that to us?" they replied.
"That's your responsibility."
Acts 1:20 20"For," said Peter, "it is written in the
Book of Psalms: "'May his place be deserted; let there be no one to dwell
in it,' and, "'May another take his place of leadership.'
IV. CONCLUSION: Read
and run! Let all of this be a warning to preachers to avoid sin at all costs!
Habakkuk 2:2 2And the LORD answered me, and said, Write
the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.
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