Meet Pastor Jones.
He’s been at his church for a few years. He has done some things well. He’s struggled in some areas. But mostly he tries to be a good pastor and a faithful servant of Jesus Christ.
Pastor Jones is human. Five years ago, he got caught soliciting a prostitute. The charges were dropped because of a technicality. He was never convicted. But it put his family into a tailspin. He recovered. Got counseling. And has entered the ministry.
Now he has come to the realization that many in his church struggle with sexual sins of various kinds. He thinks it is important for the church to discuss. He thinks it is important for him to discuss his personal history as part of this conversation. His goal is to create an environment where men and women caught in sexual sin can confess that sin, find help, and heal.
He comes to you for some advice. How would you deal with this? What steps should he take? What conversations should he have?
Well, obviously, never, ever, ever in a sermon!
LOL!! You’re Awesome Chad!!
as I read from your own comments recently, let me pick up on one sentence and expand.
Preaching is exegetical–we must pull the message out of scripture.
Preaching is hermeneutical–we must apply it faithfully to our time, to the people who are present.
But perhaps the most important thing I learned that is vital that could sway the answer either way is this: Preaching is, by definition, an extension of pastoral care.
To faithfully practice the art of homiletics, one must (as you said, quoting Craddock) exegete their congregation.
I say all of this to say that I genuinely believe that it IS possible that discussing this in a sermon is appropriate, but I would find that to be a very very very very rare case. Each preacher will have to decide that on a case by case basis.
In my humble opinion rather, this is a personal matter and should be discussed and disclosed on a personal level, small groups, etc.
That’s my 2 cents and probably worth less.
Thank you for your thoughts. Your point about it being a case-by-case basis seems right to me, and also means coming up with a general guideline is probably not possible.
Pastoral work is more of an art than science. This is something everyone knows, but I sometimes want to forget.
I hope more folks respond substantively. This seminarian is curious to hear more from current pastors.
HIGHLY recommend Eugene Peterson’s recent memoir, The Pastor. As one who has only been ordained a couple of years, I found it to be a great blessing. I plan to read it again at a later date, and mull over it some more.
God’s best to all
I really value Peterson’s Five Smooth Stones of Pastoral Work, Under the Unpredictable Plant, and Working the Angles, too.
As long as we’re sure the pastor has indeed moved on and has removed the sin from him. The faithful can always use some powerful testimony.
I think the “as long as we’re sure” is an important part of this. As a pastor who might reveal such information, we should anticipate such questions and create avenues for people to ask them.
A pastor should welcome and facilitate questions, even some that might feel critical or untrusting.