Should a Pastor Come Back After Committing Adultery?

Church and MinistryEcclesiology

Should a Pastor Come Back After Committing Adultery?

25 min

Church and MinistryEcclesiology

Should a Pastor Come Back After Committing Adultery?

25 min

Episode 577 Show Notes

From the Show

One of the reasons that we are so quick to restore people who, frankly, should not be restored is because we value competency over character. We can use people for their gifts. For instance, you have a charismatic leader who is a great teacher who people are drawn to, they have this attractive personality, they are able to lead the church, etc., but they are missing the character that is needed to lead the church.

–Adriel Sanchez

Questions in this Episode

  1. 1. What do you do when the truths of the gospel and the bible and everything we believe as Christians sometimes just do not feel real? What do you do when the experiences of your life seem more random than guided by a loving God?

2. In another episode you mentioned that one must believe to be saved. While I believe that this is right, the Bible also says that we need to be born again. Can you elaborate on how salvation is God’s work in us while we are also required to believe?

3. My atheist father asked me the question the other night, “if God exist, then who created God?”I didn’t know how to answer him. How would you answer this?

4. I saw in the news that a famous pastor was recently fired for committing adultery. I then wondered if pastors should be allowed to come back and pastor a church again after committing adultery? I know that Christians sin and fail, sometimes in horrific ways, but should they lead in the same capacity that they once did?

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Adriel Sanchez is the pastor of North Park Presbyterian Church (PCA) in San Diego, CA. He received his theological training from Westminster Seminary California and serves as host of Core Christianity. Adriel is the author of Praying with Jesus and, most recently, Why We Worship: Experiencing Heaven on Earth at Church. He and his wife, Ysabel, have six children.

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