Forward: Another Fine example of the "Christian Church" in action! With Christians like these, we don't need atheists to turn people from the faith!
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A divorced
Jacksonville woman said her former church has threatened to "go public
with her sins" and tell the congregation about her sexual relationship
with her new boyfriend.Rebecca Hancock said harassment from
Grace Community Church in Mandarin over
her sex life caused her to
leave, but she said that didn't put an end to the problem. She said she
received a letter from the church's elders telling her the church plans
to make her personal life very public."I'm basically run out. I'm the church harlot," Hancock said.
The
49-year-old said she has been dating a man for a while and she said
members of the congregation at Grace Community Church haven't been
happy about the relationship."Because I have a boyfriend that I'm involved with … to not be married to that person is a sin," Hancock said.She said the issue caused her to leave the church.
However, she said the church has not let go of her.The
letter Hancock received from the church states that because she has
refused to end her sexual relationship with her boyfriend, "you leave
us with no other choice but to carry out the commands of the Lord Jesus
Christ" … "In accordance with Matthew 18:17 we intend to 'tell it to
the church.'"
"On January 4, my sins will be told to the church,
publicly, with my children sitting in the church and my friends,"
Hancock said.The pastor of Grace Community Church, Dr. T. Scott Christmas, told Channel 4 he had no comment.Pastors
with whom Channel 4 spoke on Monday said announcing a sin to a
congregation is not abnormal.
They said it's written in the Bible to
punish sinners who continue to sin.The difference in Hancock's case is that she has left the church, and the pastors said that's is usually where punishment ends.Despite
the church's letter stating its biblical backing, Hancock said she has
backed out of the church and they should leave her alone because she is
no longer a member.
"I am a Christian, and that will never
change. My relationship with Jesus has to do with me and Jesus, and he
knows my heart," Hancock said.The book of Matthew does have three steps that the church talked about in taking action against a member who is in sin.Hancock
said she is now attending a different church, and said she is planning
to send a letter to Grace Community Church to make sure it's understood
that she no longer a member.