[Worship] Re: When to restore

[James Roberts <james@ibmoto.com>]

I thought I'd try to throw in a contrary viewpoint:

First, the fact that this is a Youth worship team, at least IMO, has 
significant impact on what should be done.  If this was a worship team for an
Older Singles conference, for example, I would treat it differently.  The 
reason why is that, in the latter case, the majority of the worshippers will 
have a background of some sort.  They could be ministered to by the living 
testimonies of a worship team that is "forgiven," so to speak.  They need to 
hear of forgiveness and starting over.

But this is Youth.  The majority of Youth are struggling with "True Love
Waits".  I think the testimonies that this group really needs to hear are the
beauty of sex, the disastrous consequences of sexual sin, and how deeply it can
interfere with your walk with God.  It is so critical that they don't lose 
their innocence!!!  I don't think a testimony of "if you decide to give in to 
the moment, God will forgive you, and the worship team will be right here 
waiting for you when you come back" sounds very convincing.   By the way:  
either way you go, you're going to offend some.  Such is the life of a worship
leader.

My second thing:  if he is truly repentant and wants to minister for God, maybe
the best way he could do that is by volunteering NOT to play on the team.  
I see two possible attitudes here:  1) (the bad one) I want to make it up to 
God by playing on the worship team.  This is my way of paying penance for my
sins.   2) (the good one)  I have sinned, and I don't think I would make a good
example for the underclassmen to follow.  Even though I love to play, maybe it
would be better not to lead them in worship so that I can show the Youth that 
sexual sin is not okay.  If he felt that way, THEN, ironically, I would 
consider putting him back on.  Is he willing to follow God even if it means not
playing?

One third thing I'll mention:  sexual sin is primarily a sin not against God,
but against your spouse.  It's against God too, because it's disobedience, but
there are other sins that are more directly offensive to God and inhibit 
true worship.  During Jesus' walk on earth, we read that Jesus was quick to 
forgive adulterous women (and men).  Legalism, judgmentalism, false piety, 
hypocrisy, etc. offended Jesus far more.  The Pharisees were claiming moral
superiority over those around them, and using the Lord's name to sin.  This is 
much more serious, and these are the people I would be REALLY wary of putting 
on the team.  Do you want to offend God in your very attempt to worship Him?
This is a good way to do it!  Anyone who gets undue moral pride because they're
on the team, or someone who masks sin with their team membership, definitely 
needs a breather.  You think maybe the church leaders who wanted to stone the 
adulterous woman were guilty of sexual sin themselves?  And perhaps that's why
they walked away?  Interesting irony, isn't it?

What it all boils down to is this:  Love the Lord your God with all your 
heart..., and Love your neighbor....  What is the most loving thing to do for
God (you want the best, sincerest worship possible), and the most loving thing
to do for your Youth (of whom he is one)? 

This is obviously a charged topic.  Please no flames...I'm just trying to offer
my insights! 

love,
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James Roberts                                                james@ibmoto.com

 CARPE JESUS                                           Fight Chicken Abortion!
SEIZE THE WAY                                              Boycott Eggs!

The opinions expressed herein are not necessarily the opinions of Motorola,
IBM, Intel, Somerset, or, for that matter, any semiconductor firm.  Unless they
should later decide to implant little chips into chickens...  
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