Posted on 09/01/2015 7:03:11 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
R.C. Sproul Jr., son of Robert Charles Sproul, a noted Reformed theologian and founder of the international Christian organization, Ligonier Ministries, revealed Monday that he visited the controversial spouse-cheating Ashley Madison website in a "moment of weakness" last year and has been suspended by the board of Ligonier Ministries for it.
"In August 2014, in a moment of weakness, pain, and from an unhealthy curiosity, I visited Ashley Madison. My goal was not to gather research for critical commentary, but to fan the flames of my imagination," wrote the 50-year-old Sproul, a Calvinist Christian minister, theologian and widower in a post on his website. Sproul, whose wife died in 2011, is a father of eight and grandfather one.
While his activity on the website did not result in any physical relationships, Sproul said he "felt the grace of fear" and "the grace of shame."
"I was there long enough to leave an old email address. And within minutes I left, never to return. I did not sign up for their service or interact with any clients. I have always remained faithful to my wife even after her passing," he said.
"The grace of God's judgment bore its fruit, and by His grace I repented of my sin. By His grace, I have also received His forgiveness, the outworking of His love," he continued.
Sproul said that as evidence of his contrition he voluntarily revealed his activity on Ashley Madison to Ligonier Ministries and was suspended for a year.
"I recently informed the board of Ligonier Ministries, which has handled the matter internally, having suspended me until July 1, 2016. I also informed my presbytery which is also handling the matter internally. And now the world is informed," he said.
"My sin, sadly, has impacted those who are innocent — my colleagues, friends, and family. I have and will continue to seek their forgiveness. I covet your prayers," he added.
Sproul said the criminal hack of Ashley Madison's database exposing the private information of millions of users of the website has been a blessing in disguise for some like himself.
"Many Christians have bemoaned the destruction wrought by the Ashley Madison hack. The truth of the matter is that just as Ashley Madison did not create unfaithful hearts, so this hack did not create damning exposure. Rather for some it was a means of His grace," he said.
Despite the fallout from the hacking of Ashley Madison, the website's parent company, Avid Life Media, revealed in a statement Monday that its membership continues to grow.
"Despite having our business and customers attacked, we are growing. This past week alone, hundreds of thousands of new users signed up for the Ashley Madison platform — including 87,596 women," said the statement.
"Last week alone, women sent more than 2.8 million messages within our platform. Furthermore, in the first half of this year the ratio of male members who paid to communicate with women on our service versus the number of female members who actively used their account (female members are not required to pay to communicate with men on Ashley Madison) was 1.2 to 1," the statement continued.
"These numbers are the main reason that Ashley Madison is the number one service for people seeking discreet relationships. We have customers in nearly every zip code in the United States, as well as users in more than 50 countries around the world," it noted.
Just to be clear, this is not *THE* R.C. Sproul, but his son, right?
RC Junior, correct.
So why was he suspended? Wasn't he destined to do this? Are they saying that God made a mistake in His decision to have RC visit that web site?
Proverbs 26: 4-5
However, at least he wasn’t cheating on his wife.
Adultery in his heart, with someone elses wife (who was far more likely to be a bogus account).
Correct, his son as in not Joe Biden but his son.
Will Ligonier go down the hole too?
You can’t tell the difference between a man and his son, and yet you expect us to take your word on spiritual matters?!?!?!
GUESS AGAIN!
You just discredited yourself forever on FR and destroyed any remnant of credibility you may have had left.
That’s what I figured—no answer=no explanation.
RE: Will Ligonier go down the hole too?
R.C. Sproul Jr. does not represent everything Ligonier stands for.
One momentary moral lapse does not destroy the work of a whole organization.
Precisely my point
RE: What is the difference ?
You don’t know the difference between a father and his son?
Is there a difference between Samuel and his sons?
Adultery of the imagination.
Yes, at most, except perhaps for a few men who hooked up with prostitutes on the site or found relationships with other men.
Excellent!
You did not take the bait.
He answered you.
You do not want an explanation you want a fight and in his wisdom he answered you properly.
When the father gives the son the same exact name, the difference is an 'S' vs. a 'J.'
Is there a difference between Samuel and his sons?
None was named "Samuel Ben Samuel" but you raise an interesting point about fathers who assist their sons' religious employment. And it came to pass, when Samuel was old, that he made his sons judges over Israel. Now the name of his firstborn was Joel; and the name of his second, Abiah: they were judges in Beersheba. And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment.
First Samuel, Catholic chapter, Protestant verses one to three,
as authorized, but not authored, by King James
Alas, the vanity of men
I do want an explanation. No Reformed has ever been able to answer that question. Answer it seriously and I will not argue.
When the father gives the son the same exact name, the difference is an 'S' vs. a 'J.'
Is there a difference between Samuel and his sons?
None was named "Samuel Ben Samuel" but you raise an interesting point about fathers who assist their sons' religious employment. And it came to pass, when Samuel was old, that he made his sons judges over Israel. Now the name of his firstborn was Joel; and the name of his second, Abiah: they were judges in Beersheba. And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment.
First Samuel, Catholic chapter eight, Protestant verses one to three,
as authorized, but not authored, by King James
Alas, the vanity of men
That’s what I figured—no answer=no explanation.
Enjoy your day.
Is he suspended with pay ? I suppose a man's gotta earn a living.
Will Ligonier go down the hole too?
Unlikely.
You just discredited yourself forever on FR and destroyed any remnant of credibility you may have had left.
Since when has that stopped anybody from pontificating?
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