Religious "behavior" modification

A short news story out of Cincinnati, Ohio is a grim reminder of the child-abuse sex scandals that rocked the religious world over the past several years. The Archdiocese of Cincinnati has provided its priests with the latest list of "inappropriate" behavior regarding children.

The tragic story of sexual perversion by supposed men of God was not confined to the Catholic church and its priesthood. Subsequent news reports and spinoffs from these wretched revelations opened the door to an array of child abuse, adult sexual misconduct, theft and other improper and illegal behavior in professing Christian churches around the world.

The 58-page report called Decree on Child Protection is the latest version of the archdioceses' effort to define proper behavior regarding its priests. While it is all right to shake a child's hand, do high-fives and pat him or her on the back, it bars bear hugs, lap-sitting and piggyback rides.

The Associated Press report of the story from the Cincinnati Enquirer stated: "Victim advocates who have criticized the Roman Catholic archdiocese for its handling of abuse cases say they support the new measures as a step toward better protection of children. The Cincinnati archdiocese says it updates the rules every five years. The latest version, issued last week, also mandates background checks for contractors working with children" (The Cincinnati Enquirer, http://www.enquirer.com).

One must stop here and ask a few pertinent questions: A code of conduct for ministers of Jesus Christ? We can accept that. But, do ministers of God need a list of appropriate behaviors around children? Does a church needs a list of appropriate behaviors for its ministers that needs to be updated every five years? Does that imply the first list wasn't a sufficient warning, or that new perversions were discovered being practiced by ministers?

What in the world has happened to Christianity? Jesus Christ, the One who gives His name to a way of life, did not want practicing pedophiles, or homosexuals as His ministers, or thieves, adulterers and drunks for that matter. In fact, God plainly condemns all such practices in both the Old and New Testaments.

By these modern codes of conduct, Jesus Christ would have been censored. He actually touched little children. They probably even sat on His lap. "Then little children were brought to Him that He might put His hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said, 'Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.' And He laid His hands on them and departed from there" (Matthew 19:13-15).

How did such perverted men gain admittance to the ministry? Paul gave specific guidelines about ordaining ministers: "A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence" (1 Timothy 3:2-4).

While one religion struggles to bring its wayward priests under control, the news media continues to have a field day about ministers ripping off members, living lavish lifestyles – churches involving themselves in politics, while others preach racial hatred.

Roderick C. Meredith in his booklet What Is a True Christian? states:

Strangely, yet at least honestly, some of this world's noted religious leaders and scholars have acknowledged that our professing 'Christianity' has not even seriously tried to follow the literal teaching and example of Jesus Christ – its supposed author.

There is no need for a new or updated code of conduct for God's true ministers. It has always existed in His Word – embodied in His law, revealed in His Bible. The true minister is ruled by that Word and does not become a minister until he proves he is ruled by it.

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