Should A Chuch Tell On Past Members?

JoeyKnothead · Post by **JoeyKnothead** » Sun Dec 21, 2008 12:37 pm

From the article here:
Florida Woman Says Former Church Plans to Make Her Sins Public

Please insert 'alleged' wherever it's missing here:

Seems this lady has left her church because they didn't like her having relations with a man who wasn't her husband. Aparently there was a falling out about it, so she left the church. Fair 'nuff? 'Parently not cause now they say they'll tell the whole church on her if she doesn't come back to the church. There's also a PDF link to the letter the church sent

Facts as stated in the article:
Woman has 'immoral' relationship
Church tries to stop it, so she leaves the church
Church now says they'll tell everyone if she don't meet with them

Questions for debate:
1- Is this blackmail?
2- Why?
_________________________
My reply:
1- Blackmail
2- She left the church, they should leave her be

McCulloch · Post by **McCulloch** » Sun Dec 21, 2008 10:52 pm

From the one who the Church claims to be their founder:

Matthew 18:15-17 (New American Standard Bible) wrote:"If your brother sinsÂ¹, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother.
"But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that BY THE MOUTH OF TWO OR THREE WITNESSES EVERY FACT MAY BE CONFIRMED.
"If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.

Footnotes:
Â¹ Matthew 18:15 Late mss add against you

I find it difficult to believe that this church would threaten outsiders with public disclosure of their sins, therefore this behaviour is against the direct teachings of Jesus.

Greatest I Am · Post by **Greatest I Am** » Mon Dec 22, 2008 10:11 pm

"Church now says they'll tell everyone if she don't meet with them"

I wonder if we can demand the names of the pedophile priests under that same rule.

If so then we should applaud the church. If not then they are of course wrong.

Reciprocity is fair play but the church does not seem to believe this.

Regards
DL

JoeyKnothead · Post by **JoeyKnothead** » Mon Dec 22, 2008 11:37 pm

Blackmail, I don't see how it could be anything but.

OnceConvinced · Post by **OnceConvinced** » Sat Dec 27, 2008 5:24 pm

Sounds like a cult. No church has the right to tell everyone a person's sins. It's not their job. Unless she's a criminal who could offend again, like a paedophile, then nobody needs to know.

msmcneal · Post by **msmcneal** » Sun Dec 28, 2008 1:52 am

While I believe that such an idea is abusrd, if she had stayed in the church, and the church decided to announce her sins to the church only, then I can partly understand, although I myself don't agree with it. But since she left the church, then there is no reason at all for the church to "proclaim her sins from the rooftops" to the entire world. That's just repulsive. I say blackmail.

ravenssong · Post by **ravenssong** » Mon Dec 29, 2008 11:56 am

Im with Once Convinced on this, the church is a cult, I was raised in a similar cult, the "sins" of church members were made public to the church, people who didn't "repent" were kicked out of the church and there was this sermon on "Ananias and Sapphira" with the parishioners names thrown in and condemning words thrown around

It is blackmail, it is emotional blackmail,intended to keep the devout parishioner in a constant state of fear and shame,so she feels painfully in need of the love and attention she would receive from the church if she were to ditch the "sin", It is yet another way certain churches control their patrons. The only way to fight a cult is to expose it, by publicizing this story she has taken the teeth out of thier attack on her.

Also Mt. 18:15-17 reads as though the sinner is male, im sure that since this gender card is played in other areas of church protocol, one can hardly assume that women and men were punished the same. As long as they arn't picking and choosing what parts of the bible to follow why don't they just stone her? (note the sarcasm)

Nilloc James · Post by **Nilloc James** » Mon Dec 29, 2008 4:34 pm

It is blackmail, it is emotional blackmail,intended to keep the devout parishioner in a constant state of fear and shame,so she feels painfully in need of the love and attention she would receive from the church if she were to ditch the "sin", It is yet another way certain churches control their patrons. The only way to fight a cult is to expose it, by publicizing this story she has taken the teeth out of thier attack on her.

Fear is the most powerful form of control. Those who are afraid will not rise up and Question it. The church is afraid of being questioned because that is when people will start thinking for themselves and the church loses its power.

Most religions and cults do this to some extent, the christain religion says that sinners and non-beleivers are punished, if that is not intimidation nothing is.