While cruising around the "blogosphere" last Friday I ran across Mark Conner's Space. If I'm not mistaken (and I very rarely am) Mark Conner is Pastor of City Life Church and is also Sharon Damazio's brother (aka Pastor Frank's brother in-law). Anyhow, there was one post on Mark's Space that stood out to me: Fun & Games with the Media.

As it turns out, a local paper wrote a story about a Physiotherapist who was sexually abusing his patients over a long period of time. In the article there is a headline that states "Churchgoer's `insidious' acts wreak trauma" and at the end of the story there is a comment by this Physiotherapist's defense lawyer saying "Ms Hartnett said he was a dedicated Christian who regularly attended the City Life Church in Wantirna."

Mark Conner (and some of his churchgoers), seem a little peeved that this article connected this man with their church. Mark has this to say

Firstly, this man's behaviour clearly indicates that he is not a 'dedicated Christian' and secondly, he does not regularly attend our church. He obviously has visited our church at some time over the years - like 1000s of other people have. Unfortunately, the journalist didn't check their facts but didn't hesitate to incriminate Christianity and the church. How sad and how wrong.

Mark goes on to post a letter that someone from his congregation wrote to the paper complaining about this lack of journalistic integrity. This letter brings up good and valid points…however, I was struck by the attitude of Mark, and many of the others who posted comments, and their attempt to salvage their image. I, of course, couldn't resist writing a comment of my own which lasted on the site for about 1 day before being deleted. Here was the comment I had written:  

Reading through this I had the same feelings as Anon [a comment previous to mine] did. I started getting sick to my stomach listening to everyone who was trying to distance themselves as far as they could from this "sinner". Obviously this guy made some major mistakes…he hurt a lot of people…and legally he should be punished…but does God love him any less? Does God love you more?

How quickly we forget our own sinful nature…You who are without sin can keep casting those stones, however, I tend to think that LOG in your own eye is going to come back to bite you.

And Mark, I find it incredibly hypocritical that in the very same blog you put down a newspaper for twisting the facts and then do the very same thing yourself.  Shame on you.

Your quote at the start of this blog makes it sounds as though you have no idea who this guy is or if he ever actually attended your church:

"Firstly, this man's behavior clearly indicates that he is not a 'dedicated Christian' and secondly, he does not regularly attend our church. He obviously has visited our church at some time over the years - like 1000s of other people have. Unfortunately, the journalist didn't check their facts but didn't hesitate to incriminate Christianity and the church. How sad and how wrong."

This sounds like the guy just slipped in and out of your church completely uninvolved and unnoticed and it is not until someone else calls you out and says

"I knew Brad and I knew he attended your church regularly and attended a small group from your church."

that you come out with the real story and tell us:

"I have spoken to our pastoral team who knew him and were involved in his situation."

We are all sinners. Some of us are saved by grace and others are in need of that grace, but none of us can boast in our own salvation. I'm ashamed that a "Christ loving" church would be so quick to distance themselves from someone in need just to help save their own image.

When Jesus was on the earth He spent his time loving sinners and rebuking the church and yet now the Church spends their time rebuking sinners and loving themselves.

How sad and how wrong.

Mark Conner of City Life Church, let me ask you this: When was Jesus concerned with his image? When He was criticized for eating with "sinners" He sure didn't worry about doing any damage control.

I believe respect is something that you earn. Today's Christian Church doesn't get respect because they just don't deserve it.

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