Posted on 03/22/2005 5:58:03 AM PST by Dr. Marten
CLEARWATER - Pinellas-Pasco Circuit Judge George Greer left his church last week after the pastor wrote him a letter suggesting "it might be easier for all of us" if he leave.
Greer, whose orders on the Terri Schiavo case have brought him criticism, is a Southern Baptist who attended Calvary Baptist Church in Clearwater.
Though he had other unrelated problems with the church, Greer's attendance faltered after a Baptist publication the church supported criticized his decisions in the Schiavo case. He stopped his donations to the church, but remained a member. He briefly discussed his relationship with the church in a March 6 St. Petersburg Times article.
Four days later, Calvary Pastor William Rice wrote Greer a letter: "I am not asking you to do this, but since you have taken the initiative of withdrawal, and since your connection with Calvary continues to be a point of concern, it would seem the logical and, I would say, biblical course."
Rice's letter became public when he sent a copy to the Clearwater courthouse. Rice also said the church supports keeping Schiavo alive, though he said he was "truly saddened and embarrassed by the level of harassment and vitriolic nature of so many comments that purportedly come from people of faith."
Rice, who has been pastor at the church for five months, added: "But you must know that in all likelihood it is this case which will define your career and this case that you will remember in the waning days of life. I hope you can find a way to side with the angels and become an answer to the prayers of thousands."
Greer responded with a letter severing his relationship with the church.
I hope someone more knowlegeable on Chruch discipline speaks up. We are bound biblically to hold one another accountable via the Church.
"Shouldnt the church be there for you in your darkest hour? What a shame that these "Christians" missed out on a real opportunity to show Jesus' love."
YOu mean that Jesus that is coming back with a double edge sword for a harvest??? Not the first one showing up on the scene crying PEACE PEACE PEACE.
Yes. I really haven't seen any gloating going on. I was singled out as a gloater. Greer doesn't strike me as a Southern Baptist. He allows a philandering husband to act as guardian on his abandoned wife? Doesn't even remotely sound Christian to me especially not Southern Baptist.
What happened to hate the sin not the sinner, or is that just a slogan?
Are we privy to their prior conversations? Much also depends on which denomination of Christian -- many differences between, say, Episcopal and Southern Baptist and Unitarian.
Also, BTK involves a criminal psyche, while this involves a man serving as a judge.
Don't know them that well. Had a friend who went there, is all. Pastor does have a solid repution, if I'm not mistaken, though can't recall his name.
Remember, "Go and sin no more" is the second part of that.
That's what I was looking for. Church discipline is a process...not a process commonly used anymore, yet biblical nonetheless.
I've only recently become aware of the process of Church disicpline...takes a strong, bible-based Church to follow thru with it these days.
So the one that did the actual hands-on serial killing gets a pass? I'm not following your logic.
Judge Mengele (George Greer) would be a real star in the Third Reich!
Gee, between this, standing unabashed against homosexuals, and boycotting Michael Disney Eisner.....
....I might have to change to Southern Baptist.....
Do you (or would you), love your child any less once you've disciplined them?
I attend a church that practices chruch discipline. The sinner is to be given the opportunity to repent (i.e. acknowledge the sin and then turn away from the sin) after confrontation by members of the church. If the sinner refuses to repent, the church body is to have nothing to do with him/her. We have several people who have been asked to leave because of adultery on their part.
I wouldn't kick him out of the house and tell his siblings that he is no longer welcome there. I wouldn't send a letter to his school telling his classmates why he's no longer welcome at his father's house. That's what I wouldn't do.
Good point. Apparently, some can't/don't/won't differentiate between discipline and hate. Or, between a criminally insane killer and a political, calculating judge.
You have to draw the line somewhere. Would you keep your "loved" murderous child in the house? Or even just 1 who keeps "sinning" over and over and over again? IOW, he's taking advantage of you and is learning nothing. Flouting and mocking you. That's not love worth returning, either.
These people are doing right by standing up to sin, if you will, and calling some1 to account.
Good points.
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