Posted by
ValiantForTruth on Friday, July 10, 2009 1:57:40 PM
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP)—Steve McNair’s pastor and close friend cautioned against judging the ex-NFL quarterback Thursday, reminding people who gathered for his memorial not to cast the first stone when talking about his life off the field.
McNair, who was married, was shot to death at his condo early Saturday by his 20-year-old girlfriend, Sahel Kazemi, who then turned the gun on herself.
“Drop your stone the next time you write about Steve McNair. Drop your stone the next time you text somebody. Drop your stone the next time you twitter. Drop your stone, those of you in the barbershops, the beauty shops. Those of you walking the streets on the corner, drop your stone,” Bishop Joseph W. Walker III told thousands of people, among them family members, fans and more than 50 former teammates, gathered at Mount Zion Baptist Church.
“What I do know about this man was that he loved God though he was just like us: imperfect,” Walked said. “But he knew God.”
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=ap-mcnairkilled&prov=ap&type=lgns
What shall we say of these things? What was this man doing in the church, married with a girl friend? How can the pastor say that this man ‘knew God’? What does he mean by ‘drop your stone’?
The New Covenant Church does not stone adulterers, but it does practice church discipline by exposing the sin for the purpose of repentance [1 Corinthians 5]. Does the pastor mean that the church is not to judge sin? In so doing he has defamed the church by allowing open sin to exist in the membership.
If McNair knew God, then he would have repented under discipline. Since the church did not exercise its duty, then they cannot know if he was a believer or not.
So, not only is the church not to judge sin, but men are no longer responsible for their sin. Is that the reason the church has left off discipline? God no longer judges sin because Christ has taken on the sins of all, even those who live in sin. Is that the message of the church? That is not the message of the New Testament…
The solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.” [2 Timothy 2:19]
And again, 'Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? God forbid! How shall we who died to sin still live in it? [Romans 6:1-2]