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JACKSONVILLE, Fla.-A divorced Jacksonville woman said her former church has threatened to "go public with her sins" and tell the congregation about her sexual relationship with her new boyfriend.Rebecca Hancock said harassment from Grace Community Church in Mandarin over her sex life caused her to leave, but she said that didn't put an end to the problem. She said she received a letter from the church's elders telling her the church plans to make her personal life very public. "I'm basically run out. I'm the church harlot," Hancock said.The 49-year-old said she has been dating a man for a while and she said members of the congregation at Grace Community Church haven't been happy about the relationship."Because I have a boyfriend that I'm involved with...to not be married to that person is a sin," Hancock said.She said the issue caused her to leave the church. However, she said the church has not let go of her.The letter Hancock received from the church states that because she has refused to end her sexual relationship with her boyfriend, "you leave us with no other choice but to carry out the commands of the Lord Jesus Christ"..."In accordance with Matthew 18:17 we intend to 'tell it to the church.'""On January 4, my sins will be told to the church, publicly, with my children sitting in the church and my friends," Hancock said.The pastor of Grace Community Church,Dr. T. Scott Christmas, told Channel 4 he had no comment. Pastors with whom Channel 4 spoke on Monday said announcing a sin to a congregation is not abnormal. They said it's written in the Bible to punish sinners who continue to sin.The difference in Hancock's case is that she has left the church, and the pastors said that's is usually where punishment ends.Despite the church's letter stating its biblical backing, Hancock said she has backed out of the church and they should leave her alone because she is no longer a member."I am a Christian, and that will never change. My relationship with Jesus has to do with me and Jesus, and he knows my heart," Hancock said.The book of Matthew does have three steps that the church talked about in taking action against a member who is in sin.Hancock said she is now attending a different church, and said she is planning to send a letter to Grace Community Church to make sure it's understood that she no longer a member.http://www.news4jax.com/news/18286355/detail.html
PS:It is sad a 49 yo woman goes to the media with this very personal issue.Right there it tells me something about her.IF she has children you would think that she WOULD TRY TO KEEP this matter PRIVATE.It is not surprise that nowadays divorced men and women with children will think about themselves and put themselves first--in the name of MYSELF and WHAT ABOUT ME and MY NEEDS--before their children and engage in one relationship after the other with total disregard of the consecuences for themselves and for their children.
Now this woman SAYS she is a "CHRISTIAN"...Its alright she can think of herself whatever she wants,but the fact that she is physically involved with a man without being married to him,and the fact-also-that she says her"relationship with Jesus is between her and the Lord and that He knows her heart..."tells me SHE IS NOT EVEN SAVED...She also--in her own words--"run out of church"...It seems to me that she values her sexual relationship with this man more than her relationship with the Lord.
It is often that we hear from people that dont really want to live according to what the Bible says this mantra of :"My relationship with Jesus is PERSONAL....He knows my heart"--which actually is ALL TRUE but NOT in the sense they are saying it...
The Bible teaches us christians to be first in submission to the Lord and to be obedient to Him and the Word of God,and then to be subject to the authorities at church,at home,in our civil life,etc.This is not the Submission of Islam,this is a loving submission to those that preside above us,like pastors(given that they are walking with the Lord)
Many times when there is no submission to authority,there is a problem with rebellion.In other words...if you want to grow and mature in the Lord you will be part of the body of Christ and be accountable to somebody in authority that will mentor,disciple,pray for you and help you in your christian walk.
Even though our relationship with Jesus is personal,we are part of the body of Christ....We are not LONE RANGERS...
If we are truly living in the LIGHT we shouldnt have anything to hide...
The heart is deceitful...that is what the Bible says....Even though Jesus knows our hearts,He also encourages us to TRUST in HIM more than in ourselves.
He may know our hearts,but that doesnt grant that our hearts are right with God...
Fornication is sin,as much as stealing,lying,etc,etc
Biblical Discipline is good when applied with the right spirit and with love.IF there is no interest in RESTORATION of the person to which discipline is applied,then it should be better not to apply it....Many times I hear about this "discipline" applied in the wrong way that ends up hurting and shunning the sinner--and sometimes cutting him/her off the congregation for ever--instead of being a prayerful process in which restoration in a spirit of love is administered.
I truly pray this woman will have a true encounter with the God of the Bible and will turn from her ways and that she will learn to be Prudent and Private with her life...These details--of which Im blogging now and are all over the web--do nothing good to the whole situation....I wouldnt be boasting of my sin in the media....I wouldnt be sharing this story in the media to try to make the church look bad,when I am the one in the center of the story....But that's just me,you know....
Attending a church DOESNT SAVE ANYONE,the same way that living in a garage WONT MAKE YOU A CAR.....
As in the days of Noah...
