I posted yesterday about the process of restoring those who have sinned. One of the tricky issues that it raises is whether they can be restored to public ministry and if so, how soon? Dan commented that “the church seems to vacillate between talking about ‘disqualified for eternity’ and judging harshly to the other extreme of rushing the individual who has fallen back into active ministry just because they display dramatic gifts!” Cliff pointed to the biblical stories of David and Peter, who apparently were quickly “restored” following sin.

In the case of David, he never lost his job as king, despite his despicable act of deceit and murder. He therefore didn’t need to be restored to his job, though he did need a different kind of restoring and renewal:

10 Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and renew a right spirit within me.
11 Cast me not away from your presence,
and take not your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
and uphold me with a willing spirit.

(Ps 51:10-12 ESV)

Peter’s “restoration” is also not quite so clear-cut. He was not at that time a leader of anything, simply a disciple. Jesus’ gracious words in John 21:15-17 indicated not a ministry he would resume, but a new one he would take up, after the day of Pentecost.

I do however agree with Cliff that examples such as those of Peter and David, show the grace of God in being willing to use those who have failed spectacularly. We could add Moses and Jonah amongst others to that list.

So what can be said about how soon a person can resume leadership ministry? I think some useful direction may be found in the qualifications for elders and deacons found in 1 Tim 3. Notice the following verses:

1 Tim 3:6 “He must not be a recent convert”

1 Tim 3:10 “And let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless.”

1 Tim 5:22  “Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands,”

These verses (amongst others) indicate that Paul did not want Timothy to rush people into positions of leadership. Yes, they may have charisma, but character is vitally important. A leader is someone whose example is followed, thus to elevate someone who is not living in accordance with the gospel can be very damaging to the church.

The concern in 1 Timothy seems to be that an elder or deacon should prove themselves to be of good character over a period of time. Then when they are appointed, they are in a place of having earned the trust of the congregation. Prospective elders and deacons would thus be tested, perhaps for a period of several months or even a year.

It would make sense that no less a standard should be applied to someone who has fallen into sin. A serious breach of trust has taken place. That cannot be “healed lightly” or quickly. Over time though, they may again prove themselves faithful, humble, obedient and repentant. The local church, who know them and can see their lives, will be in a position to judge whether they now trust that person again. In the specific case of Todd Bentley, it will not be overnight that he can prove he is now ready to be a “one-woman man” (see 1 Tim 3:2). (And it will not be the YouTube viewers who are in a position to make that judgment call anyway).

Finally, Rom 11:29 should be a source of encouragement to us all. God does not bestow salvation one day and then take it away the next. And maybe against our ‘better’ judgment, neither does he seem to withdraw other gifts from those who least appear to deserve them. Perhaps that is why we call them charismata – gifts of grace.

Rom 11:29  For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.

——

Footnote: none of this should be read as an endorsement of the “restoration of Todd Bentley” process being carried out by Rick Joyner. I still have grave concerns as to his suitability as a spokesperson for the gospel. I do sincerely hope though that he is restored to right relationship with God and with the fellow believers in his local church.

I have refrained from posting anything about Todd Bentley here on this blog, but I thought I would make a brief comment on Gal 6:1, which has been quoted several times by Rick Joyner.

Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.

(Gal 6:1 ESV)

First, any attempt to restore someone caught in sin is commendable. It is sad that so many Christians who fall into sin disappear off the scene entirely and never return to fellowship in their former church (or indeed in any local church). This is clearly not the New Testament intention.

But what exactly is meant by the word ‘restore’ in this verse? Rick Joyner takes it to mean that the person resumes the same ministry they exercised before-hand. But that is an arbitrary definition. One could equally insist that restoration means Todd Bentley should be reunited with his former wife by the same logic.

Can a person who has sinned, particularly in a scandalous and public manner, be restored to fruitful ministry? I think so, but it is usually inappropriate to rush the process. And I don’t believe that return to ministry is the point of this verse in any case. I think the restoration it speaks of has three elements to it:

1. Restored to right relationship with God. The person needs to reach a point of confessing their sin honestly before God, repenting of any ongoing sin, and trusting him for complete forgiveness. They need to come back to a place of daily enjoying his presence rather than hiding from him.

9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

(1 John 1:9 ESV)

2. Restored to fellowship in the local church. Often someone who has been caught out in a sin will avoid contact with believers, whether as an angry reaction to church discipline, or simply due to the shame they feel. This means that the church must take active steps to reaffirm their love for the person involved and welcome them back (assuming repentance has taken place).

6 For such a one, this punishment by the majority is enough, 7 so you should rather turn to forgive and comfort him, or he may be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. 8 So I beg you to reaffirm your love for him.

(2 Cor 2:6-8 ESV)

3. Restored to right relationship with those sinned against. It is sometimes possible for a sinner to return to worship in church, yet the relationships with those hurt by the sin to remain broken. The gospel gives us no excuse to withhold forgiveness. Our own forgiveness is on the basis of grace, and it is on that basis that we offer it to one another.

13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.

(Col 3:13 ESV)

What are we doing to reach out to those we know who have fallen away from God? It can often be difficult as they do not always want our help or appreciate our advice. But Gal 6:1 requires that we seek to restore them. The Greek word katartizo is used elsewhere of setting a broken bone. They have been broken, they need healing. Or as J B Philips translates it, they need to be “set back on the right path”. It is not enough to simply condemn their sin.

As for Todd Bentley, there are other reasons why I have concerns about him taking up his former ministry again, unrelated to his marriage breakdown and remarriage. Important as those are, (and perhaps the subject of a future blog post), they should not cloud our thinking on the vital matter of how we restore those who have been “caught in a transgression”. The gospel way is the way of hope, grace, forgiveness and reconciliation.

Expert blogging tip #435: If you don’t have anything worth saying, just create a random top 10 list. If you really are running low on inspiration, make it a top five list that only has four items in it.

1. A Television

We never planned to own a television when we got married, but well-meaning relatives keep giving the things to us, presumably to ensure that the kids don’t grow up weird or deprived.

2. Anything made by Apple

I’m a cheapskate, what can I say? Plus if I started using Apple products, it would make all the trendy people feel very insecure about themselves.

3. A U2 Album

Sometimes it makes me wonder if I really am a Christian at all.

4. A Coat

I hate clothes shopping. Its best to wait until your wife is so embarrassed by the state of your attire that she goes and buys stuff for you.

Other things I have never bought include lottery tickets and armour of God pajamas. Feel free to comment with things you have never bought…

Michael Patton has had a very successful and informative blog series called "Theological Word of the Day" running for some time now. Without wishing to steal his thunder in any way, I have decided to contribute some definitions of my own. (Be warned, not everyone will appreciate my sense of humour. But I have at least tried to offend all denominations equally…)

Generous

Definition: A way of insulting people while sounding like you are being nice

Example: "Richard generously described the Pentecostals as ‘zealous and enthusiastic’…"

Robbellious

Definition: Describes a woman who takes delight in listening to emerging church teaching much to the chagrin of her husband.

Example: "Son of a perverse and robbellious woman" (1 Sam 20:30)

Missional

Definition: A way of doing evangelism where you don’t have to talk to people

Example: "Rather than retreating into a Christian ghetto by attending the prayer meeting, Roger made a missional visit to watch Leeds play Bradford"

Family Service

Definition: Talent show for church members to show off their skills to one another

Example: "At this weeks family service, the puppet team will re-enact 1 Sam 18:27 and Greg will preach on humility whilst unicycling and juggling fire-balls."

Guest Service

Definition: Talent show for the winners of the family service to show off their skills to outsiders

Emerging Church

Definition: Place of worship for trendy people with soul patches and tattoos

Evangelical Church

Definition: Place of worship for untrendy people with Volvo estates and Laura Ashley dresses

Word of Knowledge

Definition: A lucky guess

Example: "Looking out at the congregation of 500, Barry had a word of knowledge that someone had a sore back … or something"

Judgmental

Definition: Describes anyone who doesn’t agree with you or approve of you

Example: "Those evangelicals are so judgmental"

Gift of discernment

Definition: A positive way to describe a critical person

Gift of faith

Definition: A positive way to describe a reckless person

Tithe

Definition: The God tax, used to ward off bad luck and evil spirits

Anointed

Definition: Anything that sends shivers up your spine or gives you goose-bumps

Example: "Wow! Sixth Sense was an anointed movie"

Raising hands

Definition: An established congregational way of voting for favourite songs. A worship time is considered anointed if all songs are voted for by at least 80% of the congregation.

Dialectic

Definition: Word for preachers to use if they wish to sound erudite. Doesn’t matter what it actually means because no one in the congregation knows.

29 Some thought that, because Judas had the moneybag, Jesus was telling him, “Buy what we need for the feast,” or that he should give something to the poor.

(John 13:29 ESV)

I read this verse recently, and it got me thinking about Jesus’ spending habits. The context is that Judas has just left the scene of the last supper to betray Jesus, whose final words to him are “What you are going to do, do quickly.” (v27)

This results in a misunderstanding amongst the disciples. They falsely assume that Judas has been sent out on some kind of financial mission, but I think their suppositions reveal the typical ways in which Jesus spent money.

Feeding Friends

The disciples’ first guess was that Judas had been sent to buy food for the feast. Despite verses that indicate Jesus and his disciples lived frugally (e.g. “the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head”, “Acquire no gold nor silver nor copper for your belts, no bag for your journey, nor two tunics nor sandals nor a staff…”), he does seem to be more than happy to enjoy a good meal with good friends. Perhaps the most notable example would be his miracle to turning the water into wine at the wedding in Cana. It is clear that Jesus was no ascetic when it came to food, despite his 40 day fast in the wilderness.

Feeding the Hungry

Their second guess was that Judas had been sent to give money to the poor. According to Andreas Köstenberger, there was a tradition at this time of allowing the poor to gather in the temple precincts after midnight at Passover time. Perhaps Jesus often gave to the poor at night to put into practice his command to perform such giving in secret:

2 “Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.

3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,

(Matt 6:2,3 ESV)

Feasting and Philanthropy

Both ways of spending money, whether on feasting or philanthropy, reveal Jesus’ desire to use the little money he did have to bless others. He feasted with not just his friends, but all sorts of people, from tax collectors to prostitutes to Pharisees, all the while seeking to befriend them and point them towards the kingdom of God. And when giving to the poor, he again studiously avoided doing it in a selfish way, simply as a means to get praise, but rather acted out of genuine selfless and sacrificial love.

Reflecting on my own spending over the Christmas period, I think I still have a long way to go before my attitude to money approaches that of Jesus. Perhaps I should start wearing a WWJB bracelet. Now there’s a money-making idea for someone!

Various bloggers have listed their favourite albums of 2008. Tim Challies lists eight, Neil Bennetts offers four, and Gary Boal can’t think of any.

I don’t buy much music and in recent years it has tended to be simply the live worship album from whatever holiday I went on in the summer. But I have managed to pick out four albums I bought this year that I have particularly enjoyed.

Sovereign Grace – Psalms

Sovereign Grace can always be relied upon to produce theologically sound and Biblically rich songs. I don’t always like their musical style, but this release is one of their best. Definitely worth checking out and their download store is good value for money.

Phil Wickham – Cannons

I really liked Phil Wickham’s first album and this one is even better. He’s another artist that is well worth checking out. He writes devotional songs, but they are not particularly targeted at congregational singing. His lyrics are well crafted and avoid too many typical worship song clichés. True Love is probably my favourite song on the album.

Delirious – Kingdom of Comfort

I’m not really into Delirious. The only other one of their albums I own is King of Fools, released way back in 1997. But I thought I’d give them another try and I liked what I heard. There’s clearly some emerging church influence in the lyrics, but it is good challenging stuff and avoids being preachy.

Advent Songs – Sojourn Music

I was alerted to this one by Emily at Unfurling Flower, and it is the rarest of treats – a Christmas album I actually like. Refreshingly different from the typical batch of carols plus drums churned out by the bucket-load by Christian bands short on ideas. Technically you can get it for free by spamming five friends. I chose to pay $5 for my copy.

I would love to hear from other readers or bloggers what albums they recommend this year. I could do with a bit more variety in my music listening habits.