My Soapbox

Don is reading When Good Men Are Tempted, by Bill Perkins, and it raises a valid point - churches enable addictions by making those who are tempted hide it, rather than providing a haven where they can seek help. This is not to say that addiction is the church's fault. But more often than not, those who come forward are either condemned and labeled or else brushed aside.
This came as no surprise to Don and me, who have seen it happen time and again, in our story and in the lives of others. Lust, sex, substance abuse...all are dirty words in the Christian community, and churches are ill-prepared and unwilling to help those who are lost.
I realize that no individual church can deal with every problem that's out there. That's why my dream would be to see every church in the city, regardless of denomination, have a network of support for these kinds of things. If someone comes to their pastor and says, "I'm unmarried and pregnant," the answer shouldn't be that she's tossed out the door. The pastor should either offer her the resources at his church, or say "There are some people at the church across town who can help you. My wife can give you a ride over there." Nobody should be turned away with a "Sorry, we can't help."
It is also SO IMPORTANT for people who have fallen and found God's grace to be willing to tell their stories. Psalm 51:13 says, "Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will turn back to you." That's what God wants us to do. Let Him take the broken pieces and use them for His glory. If we do that, sin can be brought into the light and Satan loses that foothold.