How was the meeting, MLC?
I’m glad it’s not 2006…
I have no idea whether or not CJ addressed what’s going on at MLC yesterday, as I only listened to a short part of the message. What I have is MLC’s account of what was said on June 6, posted below, with some editing. MLC stated the unedited version in front of children and guests on a Sunday morning, then sent the unedited text below to the Florida pastors and to MLC home group leaders.
___________
DJ: We have a serious situation that we need to make you aware of today. It would have been much more preferable to have been able to share this with you in the context of a family meeting but the circumstances have prevented that.
If you are our guest this morning or are new to the church, I would want you to know that we are a spiritual family. It is our sincere desire, when we go through difficult situations as a church family, to handle them in the most biblical and God-honoring way that we can. What you are witnessing this morning is a demonstration of our love and care for one another.
MN: Church, this morning I’ve got some news that’s connected with our family that I’d like to share with you. Today is my youngest son J’s last Sunday with us. This week, he will travel to Virginia, where he will begin a new job. As many of you would know, this is the only church home J has ever had.
In addition to that, on the following week, Saturday June 19th, J will be getting married. Now, I know that’s a lot of news to digest at one time, but there is more for me to share. These major events in J’s life are significantly tempered by the fact that_______ _____________.
We’ve known about this situation for several months now, and have been in very close contact with the _____________, as well as the pastoral team in the Sovereign Grace church there.
Obviously, this has been one of the most difficult and trying seasons for us as a family. But walking through this has caused me to examine more closely than ever my life and ministry. L and I have been examining our parenting. A key issue in all of this is our lack of listening to the patient voices of friends, leaders and members of this church that have appealed to us for a long time.
Scripture is clear that one of the qualifications for serving as an elder in a local church is this: “He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church?”
We as a church, and I personally, take this passage very seriously. Over these last several weeks our leadership team as well as homegroup leaders and other members of the church have had many long and difficult discussions about this situation, about my parenting, and how it affects my role as an elder of this church. Our local leadership team has been patient with me as I’ve wrestled with my own sins in my parenting, and believe me that are several that I’m owning: laziness in my parenting, pride reflected in my love of reputation, and not listening to the council of others.
I don’t believe I’m seeing all I need to see at this point, but I’m trusting the Lord to open my eyes in the season ahead to all that He intends to reveal to me and us as we continue to seek him.
All concerned have been gracious to me and my family, and I greatly appreciate that. Our home group leaders have been carrying us in their hearts since they’ve heard the news and I’m very grateful for their care, concern, and prayers for us.
I’m grateful to God most of all because I see this as His kindness towards me to continue the work of conforming me into His image. I’m affected daily by the Gospel, as I preach it to myself, and benefit from the precious Truth that it is.
The good news is that J and X have confessed their sin and are moving aggressively towards the Lord in this season.
In conclusion, I’d like to say that If you have any observations for me and L concerning our parenting, or any other areas in our lives , please don’t hesitate to come to us and share them. And while this certainly is a difficult and challenging situation for us, please know that we definitely desire your prayers! Thank you.
DJ: Providentially, we had already set aside a week for prayer and fasting June 20-26. The details are in your bulletin but we’d also like to call the church together on that Wednesday night, the 23rd for a night for all of us to be able to pray together.
As we’ve walked through this situation with the N family here, as well as the family and leadership in (the young lady’s church), we’ve also been in close contact with Dave Harvey and CJ for council from these men who give extra-local care to our church. Some of the other pastors among our churches here in FL have been helping us as all. What a joy to not be independent and on our own at a time like this!
We do ask that you abstain for sharing this information in electronic forums such as Facebook, Twitter, and blogs because our purpose in sharing it with you is redemptive, not just informational. The Scripture gives us clear direction in Galatians 6:1 – “Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.”
In this verse, the spiritual ones are those in whom the Spirit of God dwells, not a super-spiritual class of Christian. We are called to restore our brother in a spirit of gentleness. At the same time, let this be a sober warning to us all of the need to keep watch on ourselves.
We also ask for your prayer as we process the implications of this for M as an elder of this local church – which is the reason this needed to be brought to the entire church.
As soon as the N’s return from the wedding in _______, we will be walking M through a season of evaluation and discipline. It will be a time that is motivated by a desire to posture M to humbly receive all the Lord has for him.
Remember, discipline is redemptive – it is “proof” of our sonship. M will be relieved of his pastoral duties for a season for the purpose of seeking the Lord, spending time with his family and the study of
Scripture – particularly as it pertains to this situation.
We are planning a church-wide family meeting to follow up on all this with you as well as update you on the changes and responses that have been and are being made as a result of our recent season of assessment.
So please pray! The pastors, leaders, friends and family affected by this sin are humbling themselves before the Lord and seeking His face.
And now, let’s pray for the family and for J as we send him off to a new season of life.
_______________________________
I still have the same questions. Why is a pastor held accountable for the actions of his adult son, whose covering is Christ, not dad?
If this is the oral law at MLC, why did Danny get a pat on the back from CJ, and a promotion when his adult sinned in a way that although similar (sort of), was much more serious in regards to those effected by it?
I really don’t get it…