A Megachurch gets real about sexual molestation and forgiveness

I recently visited the fifth largest church in the U.S. and the biggest in Kentucky; Southeast Christian Church located in Louisville. It’s a place I visit with an aunt and uncle (I dearly love) and their family about every other year–and I usually dread it or, at best, view it as an eccentric cultural experience.

There are lots of obvious problems with megachurches. The preaching and music are often cheesy and shallow–what can only be called “Jesus is my boyfriend” music. And no matter how many small group activities they try to organize, no one knows each other. But let’s leave that discussion for another time. I’m so thankful for what I heard two weeks ago. Parts of that sermon by David Stone were some of the most hard-hitting truths about Jesus that I’ve heard in a long time.

Thank goodness, the leadership there has decided to deal with horrifying sexual sins in an open way rather than sweeping them under the rug. I’ve learned from other trustworthy pastors that in any group of 100 people, you ARE going to eventually deal with molestation, incest and abuse in some form among church members. This is just the reality of being human. Our culture has turned such a spotlight on the Roman Catholic church’s problems (and they are vile) that many folks are blind to the sexual assault happening in their own families.

Hearing this heavy issue dealt with in the context of true biblical forgiveness (at 25:25) was nothing short of breathtaking. I hope you’ll watch and listen to this and tell me what you think…

Big Questions, Real Answers – How Can I Forgive Those Who Have Hurt Me? from Southeast Christian on Vimeo.

The part that really blew me away is at 30:28. These are the kinds of words from Jesus that I like to call “#DifficultJesus” It sounds good, right?

For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. Matthew 6:14-15 NIV

But who does that? It leaves you utterly helpless in your flesh…

**Side Issue: I’ve been told that this church has some messed up views on baptism (at least historically). That baptism sort of magically/automatically saves you. I’d like to know if anyone has some clarification on that? Here’s a helpful link on what I believe is biblical baptism–or rather what my friend Michael Foster sent me…