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The Stain That Stays: The Church's response to the sexual misconduct of its leaders
The second book in the series following on from the bestselling Rainforest AdventuresChildren are fascinated with the natural world around them and with facts and information about animals that they have never seen. However often good nature programmes on T.V. or articles in magazines centre on evolution and completely ignore the Creator. Each story has a Bible verse and lesson for the reader to take away. Written by someone who spent his life in the Rainforest this book has the added benefit of being written by someone who has been there lived there and experienced the culture not just someone who has read the encyclopaedias.
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First published January 22, 2001
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
May 27, 2015
I'm not likely to give any book 5 stars, but I did with this one. Not because it is a "good read" or written well, though it is well documented, but for the sole reason that every pastor ought to read this book. The subject - Sexual misconduct of Church leaders - is not a comfortable or enjoyable subject to discuss, but sadly, it is one subject that is a reality in Christ's Church. As church leaders, we must guard against being a reproach to the name of Christ and be prepared to address this issue in a sound, Biblical manner.
The titles of the chapters give evidence that the subject is covered in full. Here are some of those titles:
Forgive And Forget?
All Sins Are Not Created Equal
Sexual Sin: A Biblcial Exegesis
Is He Qualified?
Disqualified?
The Case For Pastoral Removal
How Shall We Restore The Fall Man?
Guarding Against Misconduct
In his closing, Mr. Armstrong shares his thought on pages 192 and 193:
Should the sexually fallen pastor be returned to office at some future point? I have argued that under almost every circumstance the answer should be no. I have labored to display my reasons throughout this book. I will conclude with a simple summary:
1. The nature of the call to the pastoral ministry demands that the pastor remains faithful to his call or gives it up if he discredits it.
2. The minister is a public figure and thus must maintain a consistent public example.
3. The world tends to judge the gospel by the lives of those who preach it and the church by its leadership.
4. Because many fallen leaders fall again if they remain in office, or return to office later, it is best to maintain the purity of the office and protect the church by not allowing such men to take leadership of the flock. Ask yourself and answer honestly: Can such a man be fully trusted in everything in the future, having violated his promise to be trustworthy when he was ordained?
5. The emphasis of the Scripture on moral purity is so strong and clear, that being ‘above reproach’ is not simply an initial requirement but obviously an ongoing one for those who hold pastoral office. This is why this sin is a stain that stays.!
6. This sin is one of serious treachery. It displays an almost total lack of moral and spiritual judgment. How can a man who has sinned in such a manner meaningfully regain that which he has so willfully flung away in a season of almost unparalleled foolishness?
7. This sin, as proven earlier, is in a category of grace seriousness. It eats at a man’s entire being in such a way that his character is irreparably harmed. He will always be known as an adulterer, no matter how he lives in the years to come. To insist that forgiveness is all that matters is to ignore the biblical emphasis upon proven godliness required of those who would shepherd the flock of Christ.
8. This sin is a direct attack upon the very image of Christ’s love for the church (Ephesians 5). As Christ is the bridegroom of the church, and loves and protects her, so the husband is to love and cherish his wife. If we allow men to lead the church who recklessly throw away the divine pattern in their own lives, how can we expect the bride to remain holy and profoundly in love with the Bridegroom Himself?
Though this book was anything, but a joy to read, I highly recommend this book, especailly to pastors.
The titles of the chapters give evidence that the subject is covered in full. Here are some of those titles:
Forgive And Forget?
All Sins Are Not Created Equal
Sexual Sin: A Biblcial Exegesis
Is He Qualified?
Disqualified?
The Case For Pastoral Removal
How Shall We Restore The Fall Man?
Guarding Against Misconduct
In his closing, Mr. Armstrong shares his thought on pages 192 and 193:
Should the sexually fallen pastor be returned to office at some future point? I have argued that under almost every circumstance the answer should be no. I have labored to display my reasons throughout this book. I will conclude with a simple summary:
1. The nature of the call to the pastoral ministry demands that the pastor remains faithful to his call or gives it up if he discredits it.
2. The minister is a public figure and thus must maintain a consistent public example.
3. The world tends to judge the gospel by the lives of those who preach it and the church by its leadership.
4. Because many fallen leaders fall again if they remain in office, or return to office later, it is best to maintain the purity of the office and protect the church by not allowing such men to take leadership of the flock. Ask yourself and answer honestly: Can such a man be fully trusted in everything in the future, having violated his promise to be trustworthy when he was ordained?
5. The emphasis of the Scripture on moral purity is so strong and clear, that being ‘above reproach’ is not simply an initial requirement but obviously an ongoing one for those who hold pastoral office. This is why this sin is a stain that stays.!
6. This sin is one of serious treachery. It displays an almost total lack of moral and spiritual judgment. How can a man who has sinned in such a manner meaningfully regain that which he has so willfully flung away in a season of almost unparalleled foolishness?
7. This sin, as proven earlier, is in a category of grace seriousness. It eats at a man’s entire being in such a way that his character is irreparably harmed. He will always be known as an adulterer, no matter how he lives in the years to come. To insist that forgiveness is all that matters is to ignore the biblical emphasis upon proven godliness required of those who would shepherd the flock of Christ.
8. This sin is a direct attack upon the very image of Christ’s love for the church (Ephesians 5). As Christ is the bridegroom of the church, and loves and protects her, so the husband is to love and cherish his wife. If we allow men to lead the church who recklessly throw away the divine pattern in their own lives, how can we expect the bride to remain holy and profoundly in love with the Bridegroom Himself?
Though this book was anything, but a joy to read, I highly recommend this book, especailly to pastors.
February 24, 2017
A helpful book on thinking through pastoral sexual sin. I would recommend this book to anyone who aspires to be a pastor or elder. The book clearly communicates how we should take sexual sin of pastors seriously, while also giving instruction and caution of how to love the men caught in this sin effectively.
December 13, 2012
I don't very easily give a book a 5-Star rating but this book deserves it. The subject matter is not very pleasant; pastors who committ adultery, but in the sexually charged culture we live in today, this book is most neccessary. I admitt there are times as you read this book that you feel like you have just been kicked in the stomach. However, I most highly commend the author for the superb job he did in researcing the subject, but most importantly, for the great job he did on the Biblical content within the book, plus the strong theological stance he takes in the book. I read most of this book with an open Bible, which is how I reccomend the reader to read the book. I think this book MUST BE REQUIRED READING for everyone currently in ministry, or for anyone contemplating ministry. This is definetly a water-shed book for all those who are serious about what the Bible says concerning those who are in ministry and desire to remain sexually pure!
December 14, 2013
Awesome book. Talks not only of whether or not to restore pastors to pulpit ministry and how we must restore pastors to general Christian community, but it is also an excellent book on the importance of blamelessness and the purity required of the high calling of ministry of Word and sacrament. Highly recommended to all serious about support pastors, desiring to be pastors, and those who are dealing with fallen pastors.
October 2, 2014
Read after hearing Carl Trueman recommend it on The Mortification of Spin. Very helpful.
October 13, 2015
Very helpful in understanding the heightened degree of sexual sin as it relates to the ministry.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews