h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Someone I consider to be a very good friend of mine has decided that it is time to resign from his position as Associate Pastor at the church I have attended for the majority of my life. Apparently, there is a passage in the bylaws of the Presbyterian Church (USA) that prohits unmarried pastors from having sexual relations. I looked for this passage and was unable to find it. Regardless of whether or not it is in there, I am f***ing pi**ed that he felt forced to resign because of human nature.

Last I checked, Genesis 9:1 said "Then God blessed Noah and his sons, saying to them "Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the earth." I do not recall having read anywhere in the Bible that says a priest/pastor needs to be celibate so I don't really see what the problem is. Though I do see a great contradiction.

I think he did the right thing by stepping down. Pastors are supposed to set a good example for the rest of us. And nowhere in the Bible is sex outside of marriage encouraged. Either you believe in the moral values of Christianity or you don't. And if you don't, then it is hypocritical for you to pretend otherwise.

I haven't been to mass in years for that reason. There's a lot of it I consider nonsense and I feel like a hypocrit when I go. When you are a member of any organization - whether it is a church or a service organization or Boy Scouts or a country club, whatever - there are rules. If you don't like the rules, then don't join.

Helooo!

Glad to see you still live, Mr. Cyde.

Our dad said that he didn't go to church because there were too many hypocrites there...........
At least the pastor wasn't hypocritical about things. Sex outside of marriage is considered to be fornication in the eyes of the church and adultery if either participant is married. I have to agree with Hyp about the pastor doing the right thing. He is setting an example for others by his actions. He is living by the courage of his convictions. We could use more of that in this world. for the pastor.

Don't get me wrong, I see where you are coming from and I while I do not like seeing him step down, I understand why he is doing so. I just hate seeing him do so. Before he came along, there was absolutely no ministry for those age 18-40. I fear that this will happen again and that others of my generation will not have the benefit of his teachings.

What he has done in a little over 2 years in the church I grew up in is phenomenal and seeing him leave is like watching a part of me die.

What truly upsets me is seeing such a good friend hurt because of the primal urges of human nature.

It is a shame that the 18 to 40 crowd seems to fall in the cracks when it comes to church things. In our area most of the church business is conducted by the older folks (the ones with the money) and while there are programs for the youth, the young adults etc., don't get the attention they need.

So you see, I also see where you stand.

Oh, and one more thing, be supportive of him. He probably needs a good friend about now!

Doing all I can for him which, I must admit, isn't much.

Just the idea that you are doing what you can will help tremendously.
Good job!

Have just spoken with J, he will be staying in Salt Lake through April. We will be getting together for dinner or something sometime during the next few weeks.

GDZ, I have to agree with you that it sucks when people bend the Word of God to fit their preconceived notions. We should be raising ourselves up to the higher standards of the Word, rather than pulling it down and b*st*rdizing it. Yes, that takes a bit of work, yet it's worth it.

If there's one section of scripture that plainly addresses most of what applies to your friend's situation, it's 1 Corinthians 7, the whole chapter. Does this passage of scripture strictly prohibit sexual relations? No. It is Paul's recommendation to other believers, via revelation from God, and also based on the tenets of the laws handed down by Moses. It is God's heart that we should save ourselves for one spouse and be committed to that one individual, as set down in Genesis 2:18-25. Paul further explained in 1 Corinthians 6:12-20 that, though sexual impurity is not an instant death penalty, it's not the best choice in one's lifestyle.

All things considered, the main point is to keep people focused on their relationship with God. Anything that detracts, hinders, overshadows, draws away from, or causes recriminations is not what our heavenly father wants for us. He wants us to be blessed in the things we do in our lives and to prosper (3 John 1:2). That’s why the bible is such a good “owner’s manual.” It explains the best possible way to live life, it gives wonderful examples of those who did just that, it cautions us of consequences for deviating from those verities, and it gives examples of those who made choices to their detriment.

I suppose the only thing your friend thought he could do was walk away. That’s how most people handle it. Another way to address the problem is to take people right to the Word and show them what it says, verbatim. Let the Word do the work. Perhaps your friend could take solace in showing his peers in the church the way to rightly divide the Word, as 2 Timothy 2:14-15 states. Since it is the manifest heart and will of our heavenly father and not dependent on private interpretation (2 Peter 1:20-21), there must be some method to determining what is right. After all, it comes from a perfect source; all we have to do is learn to understand it.

It’s not like God made it impossible to fathom. He made it to fit quite nicely into the brain of man, if we but let it abide there. He also ensured we had enough of his Word available in order to find salvation, each and every one of us who so desires it. We simply need to be willing to do the work: to read it, to study it, to consider it in depth, to implement it in our lives, to speak willingly to others about it, to watch for his miracles (big and small) that confirm his presence and our believing. This is the way to know the true heart of God. If the folks in your friends’ church missed that point or forgot it along the way, maybe they just need a gentle reminder. If he speaks the Word, it will have an impact and will not fall short of the mark (Isaiah 55:11).

Well, I’ve said more than my worth. I’ll believe with you that the hearts of those people will change, and that your friend can find the strength to do his best in the situation. That way, everyone comes out a winner. (Romans 8:31-39)

B4yourecognizeiamabiblehead

Too late!

I'm an agnostic for a number of reasons. One of them is that I think that human beings can't possibly fathom the nature of a supreme deity, let alone figure out how it's to be worshipped, or even if it should be worshipped.

The only way for me to remain sane is to function as if there's nobody to help me but myself, without promise of reward or threat of punishment. I (try to) help the human beings around me to have better lives, and therefore help society in general, and me in particular. It's a working theory that I evolved in my teens, but has already been discussed thoroughly under the subject heading of secular humanism. (Dang it! Never can come up with anything new... Now where's those plans for a lightbulb?)



All those things aside, religion exists to codify the morality of a culture. Many religions represent an outdated morality, and if they don't change with the times, then they will wither and die. Your 18-40 crowd that the minister works so well with will find that the new pastor doesn't understand them as well as the old one. They'll drift away from the church, and the church will ultimately suffer as a result of its own hidebound refusal to change.

There is a book titled "The Church Must Change or Die." I haven't read it yet, although it's on my list. It's an honest discussion about this very problem.

Your minister friend has done the right thing, as it's impossible to have any sort of dialogue if your listeners have closed their ears. It's just sad that he has to leave. There are other churches that are less strict about minister relations, but I doubt if they're Presbyterian.