Confessions of a Recovering Pharisee

[CNN]

Since Tony Alamo’s start as a California street preacher more than 40 years ago, the self-styled evangelist’s story has been colorful and checkered.When his wife died of cancer, Alamo claimed that she would be resurrected and kept her body on display for six months while their followers prayed. It would be 16 years before her body was returned to her family. For a time, his elaborately painted denim jackets were a must-have in Hollywood, but sales contributed to tax problems that landed him in prison for four years in the 1990s.

Alamo was charged but not convicted of other crimes, including child abuse. Now the 74-year-old is accused by former church members of abusing children and running an organization in which girls who just reached puberty can marry. Agents raided his southwest Arkansas compound Saturday and placed six girls in state custody.

On Monday, Alamo spoke of the allegations with a mix of denial and defiance, saying that he never promoted sexual abuse but that he believes there’s a mandate from the Bible for young girls to marry.

“In the Bible, it happened. But girls today, I don’t marry ‘em if they want to at 14, 15 years old. Because we won’t do it, even though I believe it’s OK,” Alamo said.

On Saturday, he had said that for girls having sex, “consent is puberty.”

Read more here.

[From me]

Sick man.  I will pray for him.  Mr Alamo, the Bible says nothing about Puberty being the age of consent.  It says marriage = consent.

What do you think?

Proverbs 6:16-17

16 There are six things the LORD hates,
seven that are detestable to him:

 17 haughty eyes

What are haughty eyes?  Merriam-Webster says, “blatantly and disdainfully proud“

Why would this be a sin that God detests?  Well, Lucifer became proud and he thought he was greater than God.  As I look at the list of seven sins the Lord hates none of them include sexual sins.  However, I believe that many of them lead to those kind of sins.  Now I don’t expect un-believers to live by God’s rules.  People who have no relationship with God are going to act accordingly.  This doesn’t mean that un-believers are not moral or even “good” people.  In fact some of the nicest and moral people I know are un-believers.  Ask and Atheist is one such example.

I think these sins were listed for followers of God for our own protection.  Look at some of the high profile leaders who have been taken down because of Pride.  King David in the Bible.  Recently, we can look to Jim Bakker, Jimmy Swaggart, Ted Haggard, President Clinton and others.  They thought they could hide their sins from God and others.  They were wrong.

But before I pass blame on anyone else, let me say I struggle with this daily.  It is easy to look at someone else and begin to compare.  We think things like, “I’m more spiritual” or “I’m a better speaker” or “I’m a better parent” or “I’m full of more grace,” etc….

I was/and still have pride that creeps in.  Sometimes God reminds me as I read His word.  Other times it is someone close to me that points it out.  Sometimes it is hearing a challenging message.  Sometimes God just speaks to me as I pray and I realize that I am haughty.  It is ugly.  I believe that is the beauty of a Biblically functioning Church.  We are held accountable for our actions.

But there is good news.  I don’t have to dwell on those sins.  God has already forgiven me and I just need to thank Him for His forgiveness.  This is not a license to sin.  I choose to live for Him out of gratitude for what He has already done for me.  That is the message of Grace.

What do you think?