I disagree with the comment simply because a pastor is supposed to lead and instruct his flock in the way God expects us to act. A church who refuses to discuss certain topics such as homosexuality and dating by shoving them on the shelf isn't warning his flock of the dangers. In all of the churches I have ever been to I have only heard one pastor who hit the nail on the head about the issue of dating. I have been in more churches than I could count as my family has moved every few years for the last 22 years. The one pastor I speak of that discussed dating made the following comment: "Today's pastors are not willing to discuss 'controversial' topics because they are afraid that it will create discord among their congregations. BUT, these are the issues that are the most important because God cares about our actions. It is time now for pastors to bring these issues into the open and speak loudly for Jesus and all that he stands for!"
Now, the argument for dating is a more sensitive issue because there is no Biblical mandate prohibiting it. However, our bodies are to be the Lord's temple and we are supposed to be holy and blameless before him. The main point of all this is that there IS a Biblical mandate against homosexuality!! Pastors should be preaching on this and instead they are completely embracing it!! There is something wrong with this! Yes, we are supposed to accept people as they are, as God accepts us. BUT, God expects us to grow and change in him and become molded in His image. What did God tell Mary Magdalene? He told her to go and sin no more. Therefore we shouldn't be engaging in these practices and we should be making every effort to gently and yet adamantly instruct those who are in sin!!! Churches that openly embrace and encourage an "alternate" lifestyle are not are the right road and neither are churches that are neutral on these issues. Churches and pastors need to get back on track with God and speak his truth, not shove it on the shelf as has been done for years. Now, I do absolutely agree that each individual is responsible for their own actions and we will all one day answer toGod for every sin we have committed. This man isn't vindicated of his sin because he was a "victim". However, I think he made the point that he was to blame; it isn't fair to say that he blame the church while he excuses himself.
Granted it wasn't as clear as it could have been, but it was still there. Just because you admit your own blame doesn't mean you don't speak out against the fault of the church or the man who molested him. Stop expecting Christians to be experts on the ins and outs of perversity.
I don't completely disagree with the statement, however, I will say that by reading their Bibles Christians should know the boundaries of pervisity and therefore by willing to discuss issues and not allow it in the church and openly reject these pervisities. There are now churches that openly embrace gays and even some that are completely made up of gays.
But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.
I believe the Bible speaks plainly about leading others into sin.
I think the pastor and everyone else should preach/teach/speak the truth about homosexuality, that it is condemned by God. It's the hypersensitivity to all the various emotions of those caught up in the sin that I see as unnecessary. And the obsession over professing "love" for homosexuals (ungodly love that helps hide and protect sin), which actually gets in the way of proclaiming the truth. Love them with the gospel and the truth about their sin. There is a trend these days to condemn those who speak the truth and exalt those who go soft on sin, overly identifying with the emotional excuses the sinner gives. That's not love. It's what you call being an accomplice. Or to please the psychobabblers, an enabler.