Guest Post by Al Mohler on Mark Sanford

I was working on my blog post for today, and I got a blog post from my seminary presdient, Dr. Al Mohler, on the state of Gov. Sanford.  Too good and too true not to share:

A Governor, a King, and the Tragedy of Adultery

Posted: Thursday, July 02, 2009 at 5:24 am ET

The sad spectacle of South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford continues to dominate the headlines as further revelations add one bizarre twist after another to the governor’s tale of adultery, deceit, and the consequences of sin. With every passing day, pressure mounts for the governor to resign. As the revelations unfold, his leadership credibility is further destroyed. The people of South Carolina now look to their governor’s mansion with a sense of dread and embarrassment.

Governor Sanford’s admission of adultery came only after he was ambushed by the media after returning from a liaison in Argentina. In a rambling confession, the governor admitted to an ongoing relationship and an extramarital affair. While the media quickly turned to ask questions about money and the affairs of state, many others immediately thought of the governor’s wife and four sons and the horrible pain and embarrassment they were now forced to bear.

In his original statement, Governor Sanford seemed to acknowledge the evil of his actions and, using biblical language, he appeared to understand the sinfulness of his adultery and betrayal. Yet, his statement was rambling and disconnected and, upon reflection, his words raised more questions than they answered. How did this affair happen? Was the relationship really over?

When Governor Sanford addressed his cabinet just a few days after his confession, he offered an apology to his colleagues and promised to “carry on” as governor. “I wanted generally to apologize to every one of you all, for letting you down,” he said. Of course, “letting you down” hardly covers the behavior that brought the governor to this admission. The governor violated his marital vows, engaged in an elaborate and sickening correspondence with his mistress, abandoned his responsibility as husband and father, and forfeited his right to lead the state which twice had elected him governor.

When speaking to the Cabinet, Governor Sanford referred to the biblical story of King David. The governor spoke of “the way in which he fell mightily — he fell in very, very significant ways — but then picked up the pieces and built from there.” The governor also suggested that remaining in office would set a good example for his four boys, teaching them to persevere after a fall. The great shame is that the governor did not have his four boys in mind as he committed adultery.

Naturally, questions emerged related to the extent and duration of the extramarital affair. The governor’s initial statement was unclear about several key issues. The days following would render the situation even more unclear.

Most recently, in a lengthy interview granted to the Associated Press, Governor Sanford added what the wire service called “explosive details” that made the picture all the more troubling. In the first place, the governor admitted to having “crossed the lines” with other women. “There were a handful of instances wherein I crossed the lines that I shouldn’t have crossed as a married man, but never crossed the ultimate line,” said the governor.

But the most troubling words from the governor concerned the nature of his relationship with Maria Belen Chapur, the woman with whom he had the affair. “This was a whole lot more than a simple affair, this was a love story,” he said. He added: “A forbidden one, a tragic one, but a love story at the end of the day.”

Speaking, not of his wife, but of his mistress, Governor Sanford declared that he would go to his grave “knowing that I had met my soul mate.”

Immediately following the governor’s first admission, it seemed that he might survive politically and remain in office. The nation found itself once again in a debate about the relationship between personal virtue and public responsibility. This is a question that is particularly vexing to Christian conservatives, who must simultaneously understand that all are sinners in need of redemption and, at the same time, affirm that some sins disqualify individuals from public service and influence.

America’s recent political history indicates that some politicians can survive revelations of adultery. While Christians should be less concerned about the political consequences and more concerned about the spiritual consequences, it is fair to observe that those politicians who survive more often than not do so when the adulterous relationship is clearly over and in the more distant past and when the politician has given himself in a demonstrable way to the priority of rebuilding his marriage and reestablishing credibility with his family.

Put simply, Governor Sanford’s most recent comments point to a worst-case scenario. His words make clear that his heart is still inclined toward his mistress, and not his wife. With tragic candor, the governor has spoken of trying to fall back in love with his wife. He refers to his mistress, not his wife, as his soul mate, and speaks wistfully of the affair as “a love story at the end of the day.”

Governor Sanford may cite King David, and he may even suffer the illusion that his response is similar to that of Israel’s King. Nevertheless, the difference is clear. David’s adultery was mixed even with murder, but his own acknowledgment of sin came in a flood of contrition, remorse, broken heartedness, and humility. David acknowledged the reality of his sin, expressed his hatred of the sin, and became a model for us all of repentance. Governor Sanford, on the other hand, demonstrates the audacity to speak wistfully of his sin, longingly of his lover, and romantically of his descent into unfaithfulness.

Governor Sanford is no King David, and the people of South Carolina — as well as the watching world — now observe the sad spectacle of a man who, while admitting to wrongdoing, shows no genuine repentance. As the Christian church has long recognized, true repentance is reflected in the “detestation of sin.” This is a far cry from what we’ve heard from Governor Sanford.

If the governor is really serious about demonstrating character to his four sons, he should resign his office and give himself unreservedly to his wife and family. He must show his sons — and all who have eyes to see — how a man is led by the grace and mercy of God to hate his sin, rather than to love it. Until then, the governor must be understood to indulge himself in wistfulness for his affair and in a desperate determination to maintain his office. His remaining days in office are like a Greek tragedy unfolding into farce. The whole picture is just unspeakably sad.

When Your Mentor Falls (Part 1): Don’t Discount Their Impact

I’m following up on an earlier post and want to talk about what to do when your mentor falls.  I will talk about a point on each post, but here are my main thoughts:

• Don’t Discount Their Impact
• Don’t Overlook Your Frailty
• Don’t Confuse the Fallen for the Savior

When Your Mentor Falls (Part 1): Don’t Discount Their Impact

If you have ever had someone you look up to fall from grace, you know the accompanying pain with their fall.  You realized that no man is an island and everyone’s sins affects someone else.

But if you know someone that you looked up to who followed Christ and then some type of moral failure was found in their life, don’t discount their impact.  Even if you feel like the rug has been pulled out from underneath you, that doesn’t mean that the good that that person did is now invalid.  If someone impacted your life for Christ ten years ago, don’t let their mistake today take away from their investment into your life.

Even at your mentor’s best moment, he or she was still a sinful person in need of Jesus.  When that mentor was doing more for the Kingdom than ever before, he or she was only worthy due to Christ within him or her.  Any good came from Jesus!

Look at how David put it: “Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge.  I say to the LORD, ‘You are my Lord; I have not good apart from you.’”  -Psalm 16:1-2

The only good we have is what God does in us.  So if a person who has walked away from Christ with their lifestyle had impacted your life some time ago, you still praise Jesus for their impact because God was using them.  You don’t take away from their ministry.  You celebrate what God can do through a willing vessel.

And then you begin the process of making sure you don’t make the same mistakes.  More on this tomorrow.

Bad Church Sign of the Week: Changing Churches

This week’s bad church sign of the week is:

“CHANGING CHURCHES? – DOES IT MATTER WHICH ONE YOU STAY HOME FROM?”

I wonder if someone is a little bitter about attendance numbers.  While I am not a big fan of transfer growth (the type where people hop from church to church), it does happen.  Legitimate transfer growth is when someone has honestly prayed about the move and cannot fully support the overall direction of their current church.  Preference based hopping is not a good thing.

This sign tells an outside community that this church’s leadership shows indignation towards people without perfect attendance records.  While I believe attendance to church is vital, showing a sign like this isn’t going to boost numbers if that is the win.

“What’s the Worship Like at North Side?”

Invitation Time

I wanted to take a minute to tell you about our worship services.  Often I’m asked, what’s the worship like at North Side?  When someone asks that question, they mean are we traditional, contemporary, or blended?  Are we seeker sensitive or are we more driven by the desires of our members?  But worship has a lot more to do than simply a particular style of music we use on a Sunday morning.  In fact, the problem with any of those styles of services is they all have one thing as their focus – us.  And when did worship ever become about what we got out of it?

Worship is about Jesus.  It’s not only all about Him, it’s all for Him.  When we gather together for worship at North Side, our target audience is none other than Jesus Christ himself.  It’s a time when the family at North Side enters into a time of worship that is simply continued from their lifestyle of worship they have been living all week long.

As we lead the worship services here, we are intentional about including three things:

1. Big Idea.  Each week, we have one big idea we are trying to get across rather than getting bogged down in many little ideas.  From the opening announcements to the closing words, we pray that you get one big idea concerning your next step to grow closer to Jesus
2. Biblical Exposition.  The Bible is our guidebook.  We don’t teach our personal opinions, we teach from God’s authority – His Word.  We are not only committed to hearing the Word of God, we also are bent on obeying the Word of God.  Each time we gather, we will not only teach you God’s truth, but we will tell you how to apply God’s truth into your life.
3. Blueprinted Environment.  We are very particular about everything that goes into a service.  We concern ourselves in the details in order that members and guests alike feel comfortable to offer true worship to Jesus.  We want to create an environment that allows you to grow closer to Jesus so you can live a lifestyle of worship all week long.

So, what is the worship like at North Side?  The quality of the worship here is directly proportional to what we put into it.  And we would love for you to join us on a Sunday as we offer big praise to a big God.  Because its all about him and it is still all for Him.

All There Relationally

Today was another great day at North Side.  We concluded the All-In series today with a topic “All There Relationally.”

Jeff did a great job reminding us all our need for each other.  I need you and you need me.  I often tell Jesus that I would follow Him all by myself if I had to, but I’m so grateful He doesn’t make me.  He hasn’t left me alone.  He’s given me the gift of you.

We are starting the new series next week, “You Asked for It.”  We have had some great questions submitted, but we would still love to hear your questions.  Make sure if you haven’t joined in the conversation yet, that you go there soon.

Today’s worship set was:

• However Whenever Wherever – Travis Agnew
• Everlasting God – Brenton Brown
• You’re Beautiful – Phil Wickham
• The Wonderful Cross – Chris Tomlin

So provoke me: what did you learn today?

“Doesn’t Anybody Stay Together Anymore?”

Have you ever had someone that you look up to fall morally?  Have you witnessed up close the hurt associated with affairs?  In the recent days, our nation has been reminded in many cases the fallout associated with marital unfaithfulness.  From celebrities to politicians to pastors, it seems like no one is exempt from the possibility.  If you are like me, not only the national headlines hit you hard, but people near you have fallen as well.

These tragic incidents witnessed up close and from afar have changed me.  From those stopping short of finishing the race (2 Tim 4:7), I have learned to identify their weaknesses in order to save my own walk.  From their collective mistakes, I have learned critical lessons concerning leadership, faithfulness, and integrity.

First, no one fails in one moment, but each person fails one small compromise after another.

Second, people who fall are normally in some type of isolation or pseudo-community.

Third, I have learned that no one is above falling including myself.

Finally, their examples have taught me the need for more consistent confrontation.  Most of those who have recently fallen seemed as if something was not right before the truth came out.  Their examples taught me that if someone appears to be suspicious, the truth is probably even worse than imagined.  Due to that fact, I must commit myself to biblical confrontation for the sake of those around me (Jas 5:19-20).

In the next few days, I want to give a few tidbits of advice concerning what to do when those closest to you fall.  Stay tuned.

Beth Moore Coming to Greenwood

Its true, beloved.  Beth Moore is gracing Greenwood.  If you are a woman at North Side, you need to plan to come.  If you are a woman at another church, you need to bring your women’s ministry and partner with your sister church.  If you are a woman but don’t go to church anywhere, you need to come – Beth brings it and has a special way of encouraging women.  If you are a man, don’t come but send a lady that you know as a special gift.

Here are the details:

Living Proof Live Simulcast

August 28-29

North Side Baptist Church

On August 28-29, 2009, Beth Moore is returning to her hometown of Green Bay, WI, for a very special Living Proof Live weekend. And thanks to simulcast satellite technology, Beth will spend that weekend here in Greenwood too. The same insightful and inspirational teaching, the same soul-stirring worship that Beth Moore and her team bring to their live events, will be enjoyed by hundreds of ladies from the Greenwood community in real time!

Location:

North Side Baptist Church – Worship Center

Times:

Friday (8/28) – 8:00-10:30pm (doors open at 7:00)

Saturday (8/29)- 9:300am-1:00pm (Doors open at 8:45am)

Lunch:

A box lunch will be served at the conclusion of Saturday’s session

Tickets:

$15.00 each…Includes both sessions and box lunch

On sale beginning Sunday August 2nd

Available at North Side Baptist (other locations announced soon)

More information:

www.northsidebc.org

864-229-6010

Here’s a clip of the Moorester bringing it from last year’s event:

Doctrine Series Title (I Need Your Creative Help)

Zay ‘Disciple’ Sanders at 3:04pm June 23

Dr. Rines

Zay ‘Disciple’ Sanders at 3:06pm June 23

“Doctrine* of Truth… *= points may vary”

Jill Burretto Bryant at 3:14pm June 23

I like the first one…this is what we just talked about last week in our Sunday School Class…will see if I can find the link to the lesson…

Joyce Hendricks at 3:25pm June 23

Will the real doctrine please stand up…

Rick Hendricks at 3:33pm June 23

How about “The Doctrine is IN — or OUT?

Teresa Nicole Dove at 3:38pm June 23

I like True (ish) Doctrines

Angie Sanders Robertson at 3:38pm June 23

“Doctrine of Truth…or Tradition?” (…although not as “catchy” as yours)

Either of yours is fine

Travis Rebecca Paddy Smith at 3:51pm June 23

Without knowing your sermon, here’s a few: Romans 17: Doctrinal Misconceptions or Book of Hezekiah: It’s in There Somewhere or (a little more technical) Synthetic Christianity: Ideology & Christianity or What You May Not Know About Your Doctrine (maybe to

Ken Petrus at 4:24pm June 23

Believe it or not…To believe or not to believe.

Travis Agnew at 4:33pm June 23

“What’s up doc-trine?”

POST YOUR THOUGHTS BELOW…

Bad Church Sign of the Week: Get Out of Facebook…

Facebook Sign

This week’s bad church sign of the week states:

“GET OUT OF FACEBOOK AND GET INTO MYBOOK…GOD”

I have a Facebook, and I have a Bible.  I like Facebook.  I love the Bible.

Maybe we shouldn’t be so concerned about getting out of Facebook, but getting the Bible into Facebook.

A standard answer for many Christians is to withdraw from the things of the world.  Don’t get on YouTube, let’s make a GodTube.  I don’t have a problem with that, except if all the Christians left YouTube, who would reach out?

We have to learn what it means to be in the world but not of the world.

You Asked for It (What Sermon Do You Want to Hear?)

You Asked For It.

This Summer at North Side, we are doing a series entitled “You Asked For It” starting July 5th.  This series will be completely driven by the comments on the You Asked for It blog.

What is that topic you always wanted a preacher to address?

What is that issue that you have always wanted to know the Bible’s stance upon?

You ask for it, and we will deliver it.

The first step is for you to ask a question as a comment on the site.  You can create an anonymous name if you desire, and your contact info will not be published on here.

All we need you to do is ask for it!

Go here to get started!