But on the other hand, if we make the mistake that many other Christians make — that of confounding forgiveness and trust — we will throw open the doors of the church blindly ‘because Jesus,’ and will unwittingly create a climate that favors the creepers, and which excludes and punishes the vulnerable. Churches that do this are really good at blaming the vulnerable whenever something goes wrong — because the vulnerable are the only ones who will put up with that crap. Churches that specialize in superficial reconciliation do this in numerous ways — demanding that the spouse who was sinned against pay all the practical consequences (‘no divorce, sorry’), or, on the basis of one ‘sorry about that’ email, requiring a molested niece to look at her uncle continuing to serve communion.
Douglas Wilson
Tagged “Douglas Wilson”
Repentance in La-La Land
For some people certain consequences necessarily do not remain
“So when a convicted sex offender is brought into fellowship with the rest of the congregation, it must be done in such a way that no parent has any reasonable cause to be worried about what could happen.” — Douglas Wilson Continue reading
“we do believe that he, his wife, his chaperons, his ministers and elders, his fellow church members, his probation officers, and the state of Idaho, have reason and cause to be wary”
We do not believe that the temptations that earlier led Steven to molest children are out of his life, and we do believe that he, his wife, his chaperons, his ministers and elders, his fellow church members, his probation officers, and the state of Idaho, have reason and cause to be wary.
Douglas Wilson
Katie Botkin: Devil’s Dictionary — CREC Edition
Pastor Douglas Wilson of Christ Church, Moscow, relies heavily upon The Devil’s Dictionary by Ambrose Beirce for many of his thoughts (a Google search of Gog brings up 5 pages), and he has plagiarized from it at least once. Last . . . Continue reading
“killed on the spot, and no injustice done”
I believe there was at least one scenario where Steven could have been killed on the spot, and no injustice done.
Douglas Wilson
“they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush”
“Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush.” Jeremiah 6:15
Sitler Archive Update: Audio File for Yesterday’s Hearing
“I can’t guarantee Steven’s son’s safety; I’m not sure anyone can guarantee Steven’s son’s safety.” — The Honorable Judge John Stegner Continue reading
“evil simpliciter”
To molest a child is an appalling thing. There is no righteous way to relativize it into some kind of ‘not so bad’ status. It is an evil simpliciter.
Douglas Wilson
“simply predatory”
Steven’s behavior was with young children and was simply predatory.
Douglas Wilson
Justice for the Innocent
Guest Post
“Speak for those who cannot speak; seek justice for all those on the verge of destruction.” — Proverbs 31:8 Continue reading
“the kind of offense that you execute people for”
The fact that someone was convicted of a sex offense does not mean that all sex offenses are in the same category of offense. We do need to have the category of statutory rape, and it needs to policed with tough sanctions, but we also need to remember that it is a different kind of offense from the rape of a three-year-old. The latter is the kind of offense that you execute people for, and the former usually is not. It is important to distinguish, in terms of legal consequences, the creep show from the fornicator.
Douglas Wilson
“behold the wicked abominations that they do here”
And he brought me to the door of the court; and when I looked, behold a hole in the wall. Then said he to me, Son of man, dig now in the wall: and when I had dug in the . . . Continue reading
“it is terrible when a child has to live within range of a sexual predator”
Make no mistake — it is terrible when a child has to live within range of a sexual predator.
Douglas Wilson