The last several days have seen countless stories in the media regarding pedophilia, particularly due to the coverage on Jack McClellan. Jack admits to having sexual attractions towards girls as young as three and has posted pictures of children on a site for fellow pedophiles. He even tells pedophiles where to go for the best chance of seeing & meeting young children (parks, libraries, beaches, playgrounds). I went to his site (which has since been taken down, but is now up again), and it was one of the most disturbing things I have ever seen. It is so thoroughly revolting that I refuse to provide a link.
If you are interested more in this story, the link above will take you to all the articles Fox News has on him.
I am more interested in understanding this from a Biblical approach. While official statistics for recidivism rate for pedophiles varies, many experts conclude it is nearly 100% (meaning in layman language, that 'once a pedophile, always a pedophile').
Yet, can we really believe this as Christians? How can we honestly believe pedophiles cannot be restored by the power of Christ? Should not churches be welcoming places for pedophiles who want help?
As someone who preaches and practices the grace of Christ, you may be surprised by my answers. (1). I do not believe pedophiles can change. (2) I am coming to believe that pedophiles will not be restored by the power of Christ. (3) I firmly believe that church is no place for pedophiles (unless it is a church only full of old people, of which there are plenty of such churches).
As someone who has counseled pedophiles frequently in the past, I am fully convinced that pedophiles are unwilling to change. Now, I am not referring to the man who has had sexual relations with a 16 year old (though that is also reprehensible). There is at least a semblance of womanhood in an older teen that makes the natural desire understandable on a physical level (though heinous and exceedingly sinful). By pedophile I am referring to the person who is attracted to young elementary girls...sometimes even toddlers and infants.
Romans 1:18 tells us that the wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all manner of ungodliness. The Apostle Paul then goes on in verse 28 to say, "And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Though they know God’s decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them."
In verse 24 Paul tells us that God gave them over to their lusts. Again in verse 26 we are informed that God gave them up to their dishonorable passions. Think about these statements, and then think about the nearly 100% recidivism rate of pedophiles. Is it possible that they have gone so far in their sin that it is now impossible for them to repent?
I am not suggesting that Christ's atonement is not sufficient for them. What I am wondering is if they have already received the judgment of God. In essence, I am asking if they are literally living in the judgment of God while still on earth. If so, they are "dead men walking", as it were.
If I am right, this is absolutely terrifying. People of God, guard your heart from sin. Do not travel so far down the road of sin that God willingly "gives you over" to it.
I pray I am wrong. To be honest, I am not sure about this. It is still an open question in my mind. What say you?
After almost thirty years in the ministry I have come to the conclusion that pedophiles have indeed received in themselves the judgment of God. It is a scary and terrible thing to say but where did we ever get the idea that a man or woman could do whatever they want and then still repent as long as they were breathing? The Old Testament gives us much insight into God's dealings with mankind. When God made up his mind that a person was finished that person was finished regardless of whether he was still living or not. The cross didn't change God--it offers us a chance to change. There is something so evil in destroying the innocence of child that I believe it does bring about judgment. That child has been forever scarred and robbed of the chance for a normal childhood. A last thought for those who might disagree. Paul told Timothy that a man who would not provide for his family was worse than an unbeliever. Last time I checked unbelievers didn't make it. How do you end up worse than that? Not sure but it does show us that we don't understand it all.
ReplyDeleteI'm no theologian, but you make a strong case.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate you posting this. My friend has been very, very angry at God ever since God let her little twins get molested. It will be good to tell her that THAT man will go to hell for sure.
Carla,
ReplyDeleteThanks for commenting. I am also an Arkansas boy. I lived in McGehee, Arkansas for several years as a boy.
I hope that eventually your friend can see that no one has wept over these little girls more than the Father. He hates this sin (and all sin) so much that he paid the ultimate price (the death of Jesus) to eventually eradicate it all together from this world---and from our hearts.
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ReplyDeleteThe information regarding the recidivism rate of those who commit sexual offences against children is incorrect. It is most certainly not 100%. I am also concerned because of the attitude towards sinners. I also agree that the Father weeps over such sin. But our job on Earth is to pray for those who hurt us. Not wish them an eternity in hell. Please watch how you love people. It shows how you love Jesus. He can change anyone's sin-filled heart. Even pedophiles can be delivered - and if they can't then the Gospel is not a Gospel at all. If Jesus' blood can't atone for the sin of a pedophile then why can it atone for a gossip. We are all in need of his grace. One as much as the other. Tell me of a man or woman that is living on this Earth today who doesn't commit any sin anymore. We are sinners saved by the Grace of God. Please don't write ANYONE off of the list because of a certain sin. That isn't love. Also, It is not wise to say that all pedophiles are unwilling to change. I have been battling pedophiliac thoughts for years. Please remember! There are people like me who need your support. We need your prayers. I will not give up on God. He will deliver me. He will not give up on me either. Please agree with me on that brothers and sisters of GOD! Don't be fooled, God is strong and mighty! He can even change MY sin-filled heart!
ReplyDeleteEvery pedophile I know has a quasi-Christian background, and they all spout the "Jesus loves me and I'm really trying to stop lusting after kids, so you should love me to" garbage. Pedophiles are excellent at playing the victim, just like the pedophile who commented above.
ReplyDeleteSorry, I don't feel one bit sorry for some dude who wants to have sex with a toddler. Sure, I hope they get saved and stop their sin, and I don't wish them eternal torment.
But, I also refuse to be lectured on how to love Jesus by a pedophile. Didn't Jesus also love children, and imply great punishment for those who mislead or hurt kids?
Here's some advice: stop having sex with kids, and then you can tell me how we should love Jesus.
First - I'm not having sex with kids. Second - I dont have to tell you how to love Jesus - the Word of God does that for us both. Third - I'm not playing "the victim" - I'm just asking for your prayers because we are both brothers in Christ - we're family. Yes - I'm a real Christian - not a Quasi-Christian at all. So that means we're brothers. You don't haveto feel sorry for me - just pray for me - and ask God for a heart that loves me - He'll give it to you! And I will pray for you - for the prayer of a righteous man availeth much. He covers us in His righteousness. Also - the bible says that if someone is caught in a sin - to restore him gently right? so "hoping they get saved and stop their sin" isn't enough. We are transformed by the renewing of our minds and I beleive that applies to EVERYONE. Here's the radical part about the Gospel - a tax-collecter and a Pharisee are both considered guilty before surrendering to the Lord - and following Jesus. We're not saved but our own human righteousnss. - "For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die—but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation." (Rom 5:6-11, ESV) - there is NO condemnation in Christ. None. Not for me or for you. I pray that God would give us a greater heart for the afflicted. That we can love people with the love of the Father. That we could see people as he sees them. I thank God that God rescued me from the darkness of Pedophillia - and I thank God for sending Christians into my life that were willing to minister to me. They didn't judge me. Now I can show others grace - because he showed me grace! ---> I Love you brother.
ReplyDeleteResearchers have shown that in the wind-up to genocides like the holocaust and the Rwandan genocide, rhetoric starts turning the intended targets into subhumans. They are referred to as animals or as inferior races or as other innately deficient beings. This blog and some of the commenters are clearly happy and pleased with themselves to join in with this historical trend. The idea that pedophiles who have never had sex with children are subhuman zombies condemned to hell a-priori is as delusional as it is self-satisfying. You people should feel very embarrassed. God's grace extends to all God's creatures -- how do you think that the vast numbers of abstinent pedophiles remain abstinent, silently dealing with their desires? Is it not the holy spirit directs them, child by child, to leave the physical alone and love the child in a purely spiritual way? You have no idea how much of God's grace is at work in pedophiles. You have never seen that much. But because this is a silent process (unless you register at a pedophile website and read the chat day in and day out) and all you see is the few who have no curb on their desires, you have a completely distorted picture and begin to imagine ridiculous living-dead hobgoblins. Pray for yourselves as much as for us.
ReplyDeleteThe rhetoric online can tend to get out of hand quickly, so I want to warn all participants not to cross the line with accusations.
ReplyDeleteMy original post was more of a question, than a statement. Comments should be honest, opinionated, yet marked with humility on this issue.
Carla, while the anger of your friend in understandable, there is no joy in the idea of anyone going to hell.
Seth, thank you for your valued and thoughtful posts, particularly the second one. I think it would be useful for us to distinquish between the individual who has "given themselves over" to pedophilia (actively & happily engage in it), and the individual who senses & struggles against (through the power of the cross) the sinful feelings & desires of pedophilia. Your second post indicates your professed love for Christ, desire to be holy, and recognition that such attractions are sinful.
Symposium - Sin makes all of us "subhuman". True humanity (i.e. the way God intended it to be) is found only in a personal, redeeming, sanctifying relationship with Jesus Christ. Christianity also is marked by a passion to bring everyone to "true humanity" (i.e. evangelism). Dig a little further into your "research" on the holocaust & other genocide. Anti-Christian philosophy produced such atrocities, not biblical Christianity.
We need to keep in mind that scripture DOES INDEED teach that God does remove his grace from certain persons while still living. This is clearly taught in Romans, and elsewhere. The question at hand is whether or not we can identify pedophiles as being in that category.
In the end, God is God, and we do not have access to His knowledge.
As a child, I was molested by a family member that is/was a pedophiler. My heart was harden by the fact as bob moody said... "That child has been forever scarred and robbed of the chance for a normal childhood". I wanted to destroy all men and commit suicide when I was 12 years old. The only reasoning that kept me together was my faith. I am 38 years old now and I serve as a volunteer with Catholic Encounter of Conversion (an organization started in Guadalajara, Mex). I listen to other women that were abused as children and I tell them to pray for their offender and his/her other victims. This is a healing process to forgive our offenders since they are faced with spending eternity in HELL. It taught me compassion and made me realize I needed to forgive myself for having hatred, envy, anger, hurtful thoughts toward others. I forgave my offenders and myself. There is not undo button to life. A pedphile that committes such acts destroys more than a childhood they destroy a life. I am glad there are pedphiles out there that are struggling with their desires and are repending. One less child being destroyed.
ReplyDeleteAmen to that.....
ReplyDeleteI am struggling with this topic, which is why I happened on this site. My son recently died of cancer. I found out he was "gay" before he died and after he died found child pornography. We had discussions before he died. I asked him if he was mad at God about the cancer. He began to weep and said, "Not about the cancer." I asked 'Gay thing" He nodded. Now I know it was the sexual attraction to children (teens and preteens). He was not sexually active with anyone. He told me he had no sex life. He lived on the internet. He was a computer geek anyway.
ReplyDeleteI ask him if he ever doubted his Salvation, he quickly said no. He loved God and he was a kind wonderful young man, dying at age 30. A lot of money was donated to build a church in his name when he died.
Now I struggle with wondering if he went to hell. I don't think he ever abused a child, but a child is being abused when you watch child pornography.
I am sad. finding out all of this after he died is difficult. My son has been taken from me and the memory of him scarred. I do not know what to do...how to go on. I am a social worker and work with many victims of sexual abuse. I weep for these children.
Do you have advise for me? Anyone?