Christian bass players, I have a ministry problem!

grouse789 · #1 06-18-2009, 08:30 PM

Hey all, this question is intended for the christian borthers out here. The christian band I play in, gigs out 2-3 times a month. we recently found a great guitar player capable of some awesome lead work. He is a christian, BUT, is in the process of getting a divorce.. They both claim to be christians, but they have alot of problems stemming from his wifes manic/depressive state, and unwillingness to get help medical or otherwise.
Our problem with the band is this.. If we consider ourselves a ministry, then does this man have a place in our band? Will God continue to bless us, or are we bringing sin into our camp?
Thanks for any advice.
In Him

BassChuck · #2 06-18-2009, 08:37 PM

If your ministry has any hope of a future you must learn to deal with sinners. Back when I was a christian we talked a lot about forgiveness and acceptance and helping those in need. I would think that your guitarist is someone who could benefit by love and understanding in this very difficult time in his life.

If you're handing out judgement you'll soon be alone. If you learn to love those in this world, the world will love you back.

Standalone · #3 06-18-2009, 08:43 PM

there are many many kinds of Christians out there. My denomination and faith may be different from yours, just as faiths might be different within one church-- look at the big churches that offer rock and roll services, traditional, and urban services at different hours on Sunday. Are divorced people allowed in your church?

Look to the openness and forgiveness of Jesus, and the advice of Paul to the early churches that ran into similar problems as they establisherd themselves around the Mediterranean. The words recorded in these parts of the Bible seem more aimed at inclusion and forgiveness. Many believers today see the need for more strict adherence to the laws of God, but I come from a tradition (new england congregational) that does not emphasize this.

God knows whether this man and his wife are sinners. As do they. And they will work it out. If you believe it to be a sin, you ought to discuss it. But not even Jesus doled out punishments for sinfulness. That, in my belief, is for God alone.

Have faith in your own faith. It is strong enough to withstand "the presence of sinners." Share your love with those around you and God will share his love and blessings with you.

Peace,

Joe

RobertPaulson · #4 06-18-2009, 08:47 PM

isn't there something in the bible along the lines of:

Don't judge or be judged yourself?

Bass-Ment · #5 06-18-2009, 08:49 PM

It sounds like your guitar player needs the support of Christians now more than ever so that he can be strengthened, encouraged and have his hope restored. He is going to need healing.
We went through a situation where a lead guitar player was living with his girlfriend. In that situation, it was blatant sin. There was no way that we could profess being a Christian band with a member doing that. He had to make a choice, either do what's right in the sight of God or leave the band.

cassanova · #6 06-18-2009, 08:51 PM

I thought religious threads were rule violations here.

JTE · #7 06-18-2009, 08:56 PM

Well... as a divorced Christian I can see a lot of stuff from several angles. First, Christ said "...what God has joined together, let man not separate" (Mat. 19:6). So we gotta understand, did GOD put them together, or did they do it on their own? Another aspect is that if she's not taking meds for her bi-polar and depression (wow! That's not MY ex-wife, is it?!), then she's got some real physical problems as well as spiritual ones.

I ain't happy with being divorced, and I know what it says in Malachi 2:16. And I didn't have a choice in the matter when she left after 26+ years and filed. She refused counseling, she refused meetings with our pastor and she quit going to church entirely. So, I didn't have a wife. Rev. Tony Evans (no relationship to me) has a good little book on Biblical answers to divorce and remarriage. I'm leery of paraphrasing Dr. Evans as I haven't read the book in years (and I was understandably quite upset at the time) and I was a new Christian when this happened. But the gist of it is that if the other person is SPIRITUALLY dead, then there is no marriage.

As for YOUR response. Yeah, it's a ministry that's got to set examples. But the best witnesses in my life have been people who show their real life and what Jesus has done with a broken, sinful life. And those that showed that even pretty good people, at least as the world judges them, are still sinners. And that sin is overcome by the blood of Christ.

Now to the most important part of your question. You ask "... will God continue to bless us, or are we bringing sin into our camp?" My advice is to pray about it fervently, with your hearts and minds open to Holy Spirit's counsel. He's here as our comforter, but also as our teacher, adviser, and sounding board. The word Christ uses in Acts when He talks of Holy Spirit's coming is "paraclete" which is much like a legal adviser.

Pray about it and weigh what you hear from Godly friends.

jte

Bass-Ment · #8 06-18-2009, 08:58 PM

In response to Cassanova........

Rule #4: Cultural Sensitivity
Negative remarks based on race, ethnicity, religion, sex, or sexual orientation will not be tolerated.

I don't think anyone is being negative in regard to anyone's religion here.

TheBassBloke · #9 06-18-2009, 09:02 PM

Umm...
Convert to atheism??

There are enough christian bands out there. The bible has some whacky rules out there, you dont have to follow all of them. plus wont 'god' forgive you from ALL of your sins if you repent?

-Alex

grouse789 · #10 06-18-2009, 09:09 PM

Thanks for the advice guys, especially about converting to atheism. But seriously.. I guess I view their reason for divorce, non biblical, and therefore an open sin, just as one of the guys above mentioned about their guitar player living with his girl friend and it being an open sin. Thats the problem I have with this whole issue. In the secular sense, he is making the right move, but in the spiritual sense, I think he is making hte wrong move.

Knifedge · #11 06-18-2009, 09:09 PM

Simply put, it is not your place to judge. He goes to your church, he prays to God, why would you question his faith because he is having marital problems? If you are indeed a true Christian, you would accept him as Jesus would accept the sick, the weary, the destitute and not banish him for things that may be out of his control. He has a heavy burden on him right now, God's will is not for you to decide, God's will is for you to love and accept.

eadg98005 · #12 06-18-2009, 09:10 PM

As Bill Gaither says:

"I catch ‘em, God cleans ‘em
I bait the hook with the Love of the Kingdom
I’ve been called to be a Fisher of men”

“I catch ‘em, God cleans ‘em
Heaven knows He saves every soul that believes Him
I reel ‘em in and He washes away their sin”...

Hire the man, let him use his God-given talent, then watch what you say you believe in start to happen

RobertPaulson · #13 06-18-2009, 09:18 PM

“Do not judge, or you too will be judged” (Matthew 7:1).

Sounds like you should step down to provide a better example to your listeners. Honestly, you can't have sinners in your band.

RustyAxe · #14 06-18-2009, 11:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grouse789

Hey all, this question is intended for the christian borthers out here. The christian band I play in, gigs out 2-3 times a month. we recently found a great guitar player capable of some awesome lead work. He is a christian, BUT, is in the process of getting a divorce.. They both claim to be christians, but they have alot of problems stemming from his wifes manic/depressive state, and unwillingness to get help medical or otherwise.
Our problem with the band is this.. If we consider ourselves a ministry, then does this man have a place in our band? Will God continue to bless us, or are we bringing sin into our camp?
Thanks for any advice.
In Him

This isn't the place to ask that question. Talk to your pastor or another respected elder. Bringing questions of a spiritual nature to a secular forum such as this is pointless. And for future reference ... God doesn't grant or withhold His blessings based on our performance ... it's called grace ...

**jmattbassplaya** · #15 06-18-2009, 11:45 PM

^^ +1

This really has no place on this forum. The man is getting divorced and going through perhaps one of the toughest things in his life, and instead of helping him through this rough patch you are labeling him and questioning the integrity of the guy off of your religious beliefs. That`s just wrong... I`m sorry. I can`t say anything else or I`ll be getting in trouble with the admins.

Reported.

bassteban · #16 06-18-2009, 11:47 PM

'...all have sinned & fall short of the glory of God'- read that somewhere.

You cannot have a band w/o sinners in it.

Jim Campbell · #17 06-18-2009, 11:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grouse789

Hey all, this question is intended for the christian borthers out here. The christian band I play in, gigs out 2-3 times a month. we recently found a great guitar player capable of some awesome lead work. He is a christian, BUT, is in the process of getting a divorce.. They both claim to be christians, but they have alot of problems stemming from his wifes manic/depressive state, and unwillingness to get help medical or otherwise.
Our problem with the band is this.. If we consider ourselves a ministry, then does this man have a place in our band? Will God continue to bless us, or are we bringing sin into our camp?
Thanks for any advice.
In Him

you should let this guy go.......he deserves better

Eminor3rd · #18 06-18-2009, 11:54 PM

Knifedge · #19 06-19-2009, 12:14 AM

and I wonder why I don't participate in organized religion.....never mind praying for the poor fellow who is having marital problems, never mind praying for the billions on this planet that are suffering greatly, let's pray and worry about the image of our ministry. Can't have sinners in our church, nope...

Kind sir, it may be a good idea to take a course in humility..

TheBear · #20 06-19-2009, 12:16 AM

This is a sticky issue, but I thought that I'd throw my $0.02 in the ring.

When my mom died, I got into drinking heavily, wanting to leave Christianity forever and started drifting back into another religion because I didn't know how to deal with it yet. The people that meant so much to me and were truly there for me at that time didn't pass judgement, but were there for me to listen, pray for me, take me home after a night out at the bars and offer gentle advice while helping me pick up the pieces. Since she passed away when I was 24, none of these friends (early to mid 20's) really knew how to relate to me then, but they did know how to love me unconditionally and keep me involved in their lives and stayed involved in mine.

Please understand that I don't mean to say this as a jerk or to belittle your concerns, but here's a thought: Maybe this situation of you and your band considering bringing him in to this ministry band has more to do with God working to bring hope and encouragement in his life THROUGH the band and hence, worshiping Him, than it has to do with your band needing to decide if his marriage issues would conflict with your message and band.

It's amazing how, more often than not, we're simply the tools for God to use to bring change in somebody else. Good luck!