Dear Cornerstone Family,
We are all saddened, shocked, and disappointed in the recent actions of one of our church members, who was arrested on August 14th in a police sting operation designed to catch sexual predators. These actions will unfortunately not only reflect on the individual, but also on our church family, and more importantly, on the credibility of our gospel message.
I first want to assure our parents that every precaution is taken to protect our children, and that we have a child-worker screening procedure that includes criminal background and sexual predator checks. Furthermore, policies have been in place that prevent any worker from being alone with a child. We will continue to do everything possible to ensure the safety of our children and the integrity of the ministries of the church. Also, we want to be clear that there is absolutely no indication that any inappropriate conduct has occurred involving our ministries or the children of our church.
Protecting our children is a responsibility that we take very seriously. Our Lord Jesus Christ used the humility of a child to teach a lesson about greatness in the kingdom of heaven (Matt. 18:1-7). But he also cautioned those who would cause one of these little ones to stumble, saying that “it would be better for him to have a heavy millstone hung around his neck, and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.” Clearly, our Lord takes predatory sins against the helpless very seriously, and therefore so must we.
The nature of sin is to kill and destroy, and nowhere can this be seen more clearly than in the corruption of God’s good gifts. All physical desires, including sexual ones, should be made a means of worship by bringing them into conformity with God’s word. But the human heart is desperately wicked, and far too often we fail to take sufficient steps to bring these physical desires under control. This should be a lesson to all of us of the power of sin when it is left unchecked, rather than vigorously confronted with the power of the gospel, the accountability of a church family, and the disciplines of the Christian life.
But there is also a lesson for us here in terms of dealing with a fallen brother. Paul says in Galatians 6:1, “Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted.” So even as we deplore the sin, we must seek the restoration of our brother through true repentance. As we do so, we remember the sinfulness of our own hearts, which guards against pride.
Please pray for Joel and for his family during this difficult time. And pray that our church may respond in a manner worthy of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Blessings in Christ,
Pastor Brian
