Christian Living

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Larry Lilly's Letter Friday March 30, 2007

On yesterday morning I picked up the regional newspaper/tabloid and wouldn't you know it, yet another religious scandal. I read of it with a tear in the old eye and wondered when will we ever learn. The political, religious and business communities over the last decades have each suffered needlessly as they commit the same crime. The most effective weapon against 'honest' politicians, religionists and the corporate sackers is one and the same.

The Cover Up.

At least the attempt to cover up seems to get more press than the actual deed, though in yesterday's case it is a good bet, for those of you who do such, that the end of the College Park child molestation case is far from over.

The latest cover up explosion comes via the revelation of a 57 year old 'Elder' molesting a vulnerable? 3 year old child while he was babysitting her! The pastor at the time did announce that the admitted molester would be going to prison, but did not give any details. No mention of child molestation. A member discovered the molestation charges and confronted the then pastor as to why such charges were not shared with the congregation, many of whom also have children in the different programs and was told, "The congregation didn't need to know." I suppose the nondenominational church aware of its shameful Baptist roots feared an old fashioned lynching.

A former member asserted that this cover up was the last straw and stated "The church leaders have lost their ability to discern right from wrong."

The harsh talking Bill O'Reilly seems soft compared to the mail I received earlier from a test group I have for the online letters that get a little controversial.

While the paper asserts the church has no central authority to lean on in such situations, they do or at least should have consulted the Final Authority for guidance in any and all matters of faith and practice. I know it seems old fashioned but the word of God does deal with sin and consequences of the "Cover Up."

Solomon wrote Proverbs 28:13, "He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy."

Notice the above verse gives insight to today's situation. If the church was going to minister to victim and victimizer the above verse should have been the guiding light. The people in the church HAD to be told!! Admitted Class A felonies cannot be swept under the rug.

A failure to apply the scriptures and choosing to participate in the "Cover Up" has now given the leadership a glaring black eye that will linger. The Minister of Counseling stated that he "Is proud to be part of a church family that isn't afraid to go into the trenches." Admirable statement, but the question that will haunt for the next few days is whether or not the church family officially knew what their leaders were doing to them. The church as a whole may be as innocent as the 3 year old child, whose innocence and a large chunk of her emotion and spiritual well being was taken away by a trusted 'Elder.'

In your life, be honest, agree with God and do not place blame or Cover Up.

Larry Lilly Copyright © 2007 Use with credit

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