The Stain That Stays: The Church's Response to the Sexual Misconduct of Its Leaders

Rating:
Summary: Buyer Beware-Christian Celebrity reviews can be misleading
Review: In classic postmodern form, the title of this book is contrary to its conclusion. While the author does skip across the top of much church historical writing and scriptural commentary, it is on a very superficial level. The book is big on anectodal "sensationalized stories" and short on deep, thoughtful, comprehensive exegesis of Scripture. Mr. Armstrong also tends to make a composite of quite disparate facts and circumstances, and then make generalized pronouncements to cover them all. By far the most serious defect underlying the message of this book is that Scripture is insufficient to address this issue, and man must develop his own ethical paradigm to answer the question posed. It is truly a celebration of relatavism. If you read the book, read it critically as the opinions of one fallen man. Our culture (and those within the invisible church of Jesus Christ are no exception) tends to place too much weight on the words of "experts." His "expertise" is no substitute for seeking the illumination of the Holy Spirit as you search the whole Counsel of God in the Bible, and seeking the counsel of godly men who are steeped in the Scriptures and the facts of a particular situation. I know where of I speak, since Mr. Armstrong's advice was sought by someone in a very painful situation presently existing in our church. Based on a biased, incomplete set of facts, Mr. Armstrong swiftly responded with his advice. The haughty and smug dependence on "his expertise" has exacerbated and compounded the pain, confusion and chaos in our midst. God is sovereign and He will protect the purity of His church - in this case - inspite of the very unhelpful intervention of Mr. Armstrong and his book The Stain That Stays.