ajm: you wrote,
Perhaps I need to rephrase here - First , any worker who has committed CSA should be , as is by God's word cast out. Did not Jesus say - Better that a millstone was tied around their necks, etc.... But, I what I was trying to say - is that there are those , some who came out of the work and yes , some who were never in the work that want to bring down and destroy the work. And take every opportunity to do so. They delight and run with these kind of threads, no real interest in the children themselves , but to show how bad the work is. Are there honest , concerned people on here with this subject - Of course , but there are those who are not!
Sir, I submit the "work" has long since been brought down by itself. Only those within it and those who support it cannot see this fact. That "work" has frequently killed off its own wounded, and you of all people would know this. It is filled with arrogance, that precedes falls. Contrary to the Lord's teaching it promotes doctrines of "place." You of all people presenting yourself among the group known as "workers" must become aware of all this.
How did I become aware of it? By giving the best of my life, health and strength to it, only to have it turn around and completely betray me. Nor am I the only one this sort of thing has happened to, yet those of us who would have died for such beliefs have found that indoctrination unworthy of our trust, commitment, effort, even life.
This was my thought as well - the work is destroying itself.
It needs to figure out what it stands for and what it stands against.
To label criticism of the ministry's appalling child sexual abuse policies as ministry-bashing is disingenuous.
Graham Thompson made an open declaration of where he stands on child sexual abuse, but how many workers are willing to make such a stand?
Graham Thompson – Auckland Special Meetings 4th June 2012Mark 10: 13 And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples
rebuked those that brought them. 14 But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto
them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of
God. 15 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he
shall not enter therein. 16 And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed
them.
It tells us here about the people bringing children to Jesus. The disciples discouraged them. It tells us
the reaction of Jesus. In this bible it says He was much displeased. I was looking at the meaning, the
way it was originally written, the word. It says that the word used for the reaction of Jesus is a word
of very strong emotion which literally comes from the root which means He felt pained.
It is commonly taken to mean that He felt great indignation. I love to see the care that Jesus had for the
children.
Today I want to speak about the care of children. Amongst the things that we are speaking of is a
matter that is referred to often in current terminology as CSA. The first word of these three is child
and the last is abuse or assault and the middle one I am not going to voice but it begins with s and
refers to a kind of physical mistreatment that is of the cruellest, basest, most defiling and most
damaging kind.
There are some things that we don’t like to speak of and don’t ordinarily speak of so openly and
there are some things that are so distasteful that we don’t even like to feel it might be necessary to
speak about them so we are not going to voice that word but I must say that if anyone has the
slightest doubt about what is going to be referred to, please ask afterward.
Paul when he wrote to the Ephesians said about things to keep away from. In Ephesians 5:12 he said
it is a shame even to speak about those things that are done of them in secret. But there are times
when it is necessary to say something because it is not always done of them. There have been times
and occasions when things have been done which should not have been done among the fellowship.
There have been times when things have been done which should not have been done by members
of the ministry.
Today we want to speak about these things as discretely as possible and as clearly as necessary. In
the last year or so there has been quite a lot of discussion about matters in Victoria, Australia. I find
it very saddening and have to say that I feel that the response of the ministry has not been
adequate. There is no point in trying to make an apology because words can’t deliver. But what is
really needed is that most profound of all apologies and that is reform of attitude and beginning to
acknowledge where there has been error and the committed purpose and earnestness to ensure
that where there has been error that there will not be error again.
One thing that needs to be remembered very clearly in this matter of treatment of children is that
we are talking about crime, and more than that we are talking about the most heinous kind of crime
of all. The various crimes that are committed, some are against property, some against the interests
of society or the state, and there are some against the person. Of all crimes, the crime of one person
against another person is the worst. The crime of a man against the person of another man is bad.
The crime of a man against the person of a woman is worse. The crime of a man against the person
of a child is the worst of all. It has the worst disastrously damaging effect and leads to a legacy of
challenge that is mostly carried the life-long through.
So we come to the question of what one does to handle such a thing. I Corinthians 6 there is advice
given about not letting matters go to law or to be heard before the court. I have heard people
express the view that this applies to the matter to which we are referring today but it does not. This
is not a matter of criminal wrong doing in this chapter that Paul is talking about. He is talking about
what we would call in today’s legal proceedings a civil suit. A matter of one person against another
person in the matter perhaps of being defrauded or suffering loss or some contest or dispute about
property or something of that nature. That is what he is speaking about on this chapter.
We must
never fall into the error of suggesting that because a person is in the fellowship of the children of
God that there are things they are sheltered from in terms of not having penalties applied. It must
never be thought that the gospel or fellowship presents an umbrella under which people may hide
and the law may be broken with impunity or the law-breaker find shelter and not face the
consequence of breaking the law and it must never be seen or seem to be that the fellowship of
God’s people presents an opportunity or place where there is scope for the breaking of the law.
Think about Jesus and His love and His feelings and His purity and how he valued little children
because in them He saw the essence of purity and lack of defilement that He loved because it spoke
of what He lived himself and that is why there is a respect toward children in Jesus. Think of Jesus
who felt so toward little children and how He would feel if there was anything to which His name
was attached which could be used in a way in which children could suffer or in which suffering was
allowed.
Scripture which applies to matters of criminal breaking of the law, one of the passages, is found in
Romans 13:1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the
powers that be are ordained of God. 2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the
ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. 3 For rulers are not a
terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is
good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: 4 For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if
thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of
God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.
Peter also wrote some words that are relevant to this. I Peter 2: 13 Submit yourselves to every
ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; 14 Or unto governors, as
unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do
well.
Those scriptures are those that apply to the attitude toward the criminal breaking of the law. We are
very favoured people in this country that we live and have lived in a society with wonderful liberty
because of the rule of law and a general orderliness. There are some things that we should give
thanks to God for because we read in Revelation about a time when that will be taken away from
the earth. We hardly bear to think about what that may be like. We in this country are in a favoured
and fortunate position that the rule of law and general orderliness is the norm. We are favoured
because of that great freedom and great security. We have good government. I’m not speaking
about the currently elected members but about the system of government that we have and the rules and protocols, the way the country is ordered, we are a favoured people. There are powers
that remain with God and they are under His rule. There are agents appointed by God as the
ministry of God to attend to matters of evil doing and wrong doing and it says there the ministry of
God is not to be resisted but to be dealt with as necessary according to the mind of God. It is
necessary to thank God for this wonderful environment of orderliness in which we live.
So the process of the law is not to be resisted. There is to be a cooperation, there is to be an
acceptance, there is even to be a thankfulness to God for the very same because it is of God.
So there is the question now of what do we do if there should seem to be a risk somewhere to the
children. The safety and welfare of the little children must never be compromised by anything. There
must never be anything that is allowed that could impact upon it or threaten or give the slightest
measure of risk to the children. Where there is a known risk there must be openness so the risk can
be avoided. Failure to do so is as much an offence as the offence itself.
Where there is known to be or even thought to be reasonable grounds, a suggestion of risk, in that
also there must be advice and counsel given in sufficiently clear terms that all measure of risk is
avoided.
I believe that there is a good parallel to this and the attitudes toward this to those that we find
toward people who have a problem with alcohol. It is very difficult to get over that. This problem
that we are speaking about today is also extremely difficult one to get over and one that carries with
it an extremely high incidence of reoccurrence or re-offense.
In the matter of those who have a problem with alcohol, amongst them there is sometimes a
willingness to acknowledge the problem and to seek help for the problem. It is a very courageous
step and one which the community at large applauds, strongly, a willingness to accept that there is a
problem and to address the problem with the help of others. And furthermore when a person takes
steps to address the problem they are supported wholeheartedly by everybody and there is an
immense feeling of respect and admiration for the courageousness of those who are able to
confront the problem and do something about it. That is the community attitude toward that
particular thing.
But this particular problem about which we speak today, whilst it has a certain parallel to that, it has
the much much more serious side to it that the effects of the problem impact on others, very
directly and very damagingly and for that reason also, very clear steps must be taken. Where there is
willingness for openness and willingness to courageously confront a problem and address it with
necessary help that is available to make effort to overcome it, there is a great fund of goodwill and
support for those who will do that, and a great willingness to assist in whatever way is possible.
We are speaking of cooperation. When we speak about a necessity for openness and avoiding risk
we are speaking about cooperation. We are not speaking about vindication or vengeance or any
such thing. We are speaking about cooperation whereby someone who may have a problem is able
to have the benefit of everybody’s support and help, that opportunities are not created or allowed,
but that encouragement and support is given in every way possible.
So we come to the question then of how do we move forward and work toward an acceptance that
there is rehabilitation. There are some guidelines for that in scripture. Let’s look at II Corinthians 7 where Paul refers to problems that were amongst the Corinthians and he has done so in very clear
terms. 8 For though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not repent, though I did repent: for I perceive
that the same epistle hath made you sorry, though it were but for a season. 9 Now I rejoice, not that
ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly
manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. 10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to
salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death. 11 For behold this
selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what
clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what
zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.
In the last verse of that chapter he has these words I rejoice therefore that I have confidence in you
in all things. There had been a problem. The problem had been addressed. The problem had been
dealt with. We see the kind of marks that Paul could see or were evident in those who were moved
toward repentance. Very clear marks, very heartfelt things, very sure signs that their attitude of
dealing with things, not trivialising matters, not pretending to minimise things but rather the
opposite ability, to maximise the application to oneself that it may be treated as it ought to be
treated. He speaks of these things: indignation, fear, vehement desire, zeal, revenge. We will speak
on that word in a minute. The words speak of very very strong feelings and very very concrete
measures taken that there might be a change. Not trivialising matters, rather the opposite.
Indignation, the very same word here that Jesus used in the first verse we read when he said he was
much displeased. Strong emotion. Greatly stirred. Jesus when He said that He was really telling the
people ‘that is not me, that is not my position’. He strongly put His case that ‘That is not me’. And
where it says the same thing that this people amongst whom there had been a problem and now
they had cleansed themselves, not by denial, but by acceptance and addressing the matter, dealing
with the desire for revenge. Looking at the meaning of that word, it is an unfortunate use of that
word really although it was no doubt apt when this bible was translated, because we are inclined to
think of the word as get back or pay back. It doesn’t mean that at all in this case. It is not used in that
way. It means simply, the even handed and effective application of justice. Even handed and
effective. Just treatment, of everything and everybody.
So Paul was able to say to them ‘I have confidence in you’. Steps had been taken which would allow
the rebuilding of confidence. It’s not easily done but it can be done.
Repentance is much more than just verbalising a statement that ‘I am sorry’.
This matter of mistreatment of children, there are 3 components to it. One is that it is criminally
wrong. Another is the mental health aspect as well. The other is that it has an element of spiritual
health aspect. Those three things, differing as they do, need to be addressed by those who are
competent to do so. We are faced as shepherds and pastors of the flock, with the help of God and
with the aid of His spirit, we seek help in matters of the spirit and in spiritual welfare for individuals
of the flock but we are not equipped for those others and they need to be left where they belong.
Matters that relate to criminally breaking of the law need to be dealt with by the law, and matters
that relate to mental health and those sorts of concerns need to be dealt with by those who are
competent to deal with them.
Repentance, the thought or suggestion or feeling of repentance will have no value at all unless all
those matters have been addressed, and there is a willingness for the law to be followed and the penalties to be faced and accepted without appeal. I don’t understand how anyone who could
appeal against a penalty could consider themselves to be fully remorseful. There must be a
willingness for the acceptance of penalty. There must be a willingness to seek help that is necessary
and effectively from those who are clinically equipped and enabled to deal with matters of process
and proper mind, and there must be very clear and definite and concrete steps that speak of change
from the depths of the heart and then , and only then, can there be a feeling that there has been
repentance. Then, and only then, can there be the possibility of beginning, rebuilding confidence. It
is possible, if the process is followed.
We are thankful that we have the example of Jesus, to strengthen us and teach us and guide us in all
that is acceptable to peace. May God help us that in all matters and at all times that we are allowing
Christ to be our guide and teacher, that He could be dwelling in us, and that He would be stronger
than us to make us like Himself, and that He would be manifesting Himself through us, that in this
world God’s people may be the salt of the earth and the light of the world and speak of things that
belong to Christ.
Prayers for all who have requested prayer, or for whom prayer has been requested.
