[Bear_Slayer]

It is sometimes hard to confess serious sins and shortcomings of character to those most familiar with you. It shouldn't be, but it many times is.

Understandably so. This is not usually because one's is bashed or slandered afterwards, but it's difficult to admit to another that we may be less than who we think we are. This is simply pride on our part. We also might be afraid to lose our standing in the church.

How does an elder of the church (or a deacon or the janitor for that matter) confess a pornography addiction and get help getting delivered from it? The local church body would (usually) destroy the poor guy for committing a sin that is far too common.

I agree that this happens, but i do not believe that this is the major hindrance to repentance in the local church. It's much easier to repent to a stranger, than the guy in the pew next to you. Also, what may appear as destruction to you, or some, might be rightfully applied church discipline. Those in authority that have sinned need to step down from there ministry, espepcially in the area of adulterous sins. The bible requires leaders to be above approach, and yet proverbs states clearly (I forget which one at the moment) "His reproach will never be wiped away." I don't speak of sin. These are accomplished in Christ. But God knows that the local church never forgets. That cloud will hang over a pastor's head for along time. Thus requiring a stepping-down and a time for the local body to be healed.

Our egos have become so fragile that we guard our public reputation so tightly

ego or pride?

PK gives us a situation of mostly anonymous brothers where we can confess these sins

Because it is anonymous, it is to easy to do and lacks accountability at the local level. The problem oftem reoccurs and a cycle of sin/repentance happens, which creates a hardening of the heart until a major blow-up occurs, through an accidental discovering of the sin.

If the local church is failing in their responsibility, we should not try to replace it with anonymous repentance in a stadium atmospere, but rather fix the problems at the local level.

We should be able to do this in our local churches but in many places we just can't

I believe that PK compunds the problem by relinquishing the local church from its responsibility.

[John O]

Also, what may appear as destruction to you, or some, might be rightfully applied church discipline.

Shunning is not proper church discipline. Yet it happens. Once a man's reputation is damaged by his sin, even if he repents, many in the church do not forget, and won't let anyone else forget either "That's Deacon Jones, he had an affair 20 years ago, you know"

Those in authority that have sinned need to step down from there ministry, espepcially in the area of adulterous sins.

Agreed, but what about those not in authority? They still get their lives destroyed

Because it is anonymous, it is to easy to do and lacks accountability at the local level. The problem oftem reoccurs and a cycle of sin/repentance happens, which creates a hardening of the heart until a major blow-up occurs, through an accidental discovering of the sin.

One of the strong goals of PK is to establish local accountability groups. In fact, all the men I know who have attended PK meetings have established such ties in their local churches or in their local areas. We've got lots of close friends who attend other churches in our town. God sees us all as one family, and for themost part so do we

If the local church is failing in their responsibility, we should not try to replace it with anonymous repentance in a stadium atmospere, but rather fix the problems at the local level.

Agree. But PK does not replace the local church, it suplements it

I believe that PK compunds the problem by relinquishing the local church from its responsibility.

Again I have to disagree. Another goal of PK is to build the local church. PK's are encouraged to make their local churches better. One way is by starting local PK groups and getting all the men of the church involved and accountable to each other.