Galatians 4:5 “To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.” ALL have sinned under the law…. whether we think of those sins as large or small. But we can all be forgiven of sins and become sons of God.
Philippians 2:15 “That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;” And who are these blameless and harmless sons of God? All those who are truly born again! If God has declared them to be ‘harmless and blameless, on what grounds is it appropriate to continue to believe that they have remained ‘harmful’ and ‘with blame’? And does God differentiate between those who are called His sons i.e. there are some fully vested sons and some that are only partway vested? I don’t think so….a son is a son is a son.
What I believe is the power of God. I don’t believe in a half-hearted power of God…I believe that the power of God is as powerful as our faith is in that power. Corinthians 2:5 “That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.”
John 1:12 “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:” And what does it take to be one of the sons of God? Just receive Christ….
I guarantee you that you will kill a youth program (and a church) by upholding a belief that does not embrace the full redemption of sinners and does not embrace the full power of an almighty God. 2 Timothy 3:5 “Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.” May I suggest that what you are suggesting is the administration of a church using man’s ideas and concepts of continued distrust in the sinner. Sort of a once a cheater, always a cheater but more broadly applied….as opposed to relying on God’s power and his concept of ‘remembering it no more’.
I am being a realist. Jesus did say to be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. If you read the letters to the Corinthians, you will find the Apostle Paul chastising Christians who are living in sin. Therefore, as a pastor my responsibility is to protect the flock.