The Apostle Paul confronts the believers from the church at Corinth and angrily scolds them for allowing a man who was having sex with his father's wife to continue in their fellowship, even though he would not repent, confess and stop sinning. Instead of confronting the man, they were actually bragging about it (!) - probably boasting of their "tolerance" and worldly attitudes. When it comes time for the leaders to quit riding the fence and do what they know is the right thing, they instead said to Paul, "Hey, there's someone in the Ephesus church who kicked his dad out of his own house and is still living in sin there with his stepmother." What should we imagine Paul's reaction would be? Something tells me he would be incensed, tell the leaders to obey what they know is right or leave the leadership role for others Paul could trust to fulfill the requirements for an overseer. He told them , "Don’t you know that a little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough?". Sin is like yeast, it spreads throughout the congregation until it is removed. Only then, when the matter was resolved, Paul would hotfoot it to Ephesus the next chance he got and get them in line, too. I seriously doubt a "they did it too" defense would do them ANY good - not only with Paul, but especially with our Lord.
You know, I almost can't blame the "media" for wanting to call attention to all the scandals. They bristle at the thought that here's an organization which claims to be THE one, true church Jesus established and nobody gets to go to heaven without going through it, but which has time after time permitted horrendous things to go on - IN THE NAME of the church - from the very top down to the lowest rung of the hierarchical ladder. Roman Catholics point the finger at all the "Protestant" pastoral offenders and decry the unfairness of the press paying more attention to the Catholic church problems than those of other churches. They see hypocrisy loud and clear. Yet, what other church makes the claims they do? Jesus said,
"Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more. (Luke 12:48)
I think that is the main reason there is such a rabid response from some on this forum to anything that impugns their church - no matter how factual reports might be. We recognize that it is not a "church" which saves us, but trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ and receiving the gift of God by faith. Our church then becomes NOT a train to take us to heaven, but a fellowship of believers, each helping others to grow in grace as we travel together along the narrow path that leads to life. Sin is not something to be tolerated, but cleansed, so that we may be a new unleavened batch (pure from sin) — as we really are. (I Cor. 5:7). Then we will be to the praise of HIS glory.
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will — to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.
In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory. (Ephesians 1:3-14)
Preach it, sister!
That’s one of my favorite passages of Scripture.