\nWalter Thomas "Tom" White, of VOM (Voice of the Martyrs), committed
\nsuicide after the initiation of investigation on his alleged molestation
\nof a 10 year old girl. This is an Oklahoma (Bartlesville) incident.\n<\/p>\n
\nI was first led to this case by DesiringGod.org's "You Don't have to Obey<\/a>" article, which I believe is referring its unnamed incident to this one.\n<\/p>\n \nI then followed the story from Christianitytoday<\/a> and other sources<\/a>. Which led me to an OKlahoma pastor's blog, Wade Burleson, about how he wrote an open letter<\/a> to the victim girl to encourage and comfort her and her father came across<\/a> \nReading all \nI then remembered Pastor Stephen Chan's \nThis means the sanctity of a man of God is no joke.\n<\/p>\n \nThen \nCuriously, I looked up on \nI \nThe desire for truth proves one's true humility. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Walter Thomas "Tom" White, of VOM (Voice of the Martyrs), committed suicide after the initiation of investigation on his alleged molestation of a 10 year old girl. This is an Oklahoma (Bartlesville) incident. I was first led to this case … Continue reading
\nthe letter online and called the pastor up for appreciation. And what
\nfollow were the comments of the articles here and there, by christians
\non opposite sides of the case and on the articles.\n<\/p>\n
\nthese, I must say I cannot reach any verdict for Tom White yet. If I
\nwere to pick a guess, I would say Tom White is guilty, not because of
\nthe vague information shared by Wade, but because of the fact that White
\ncommitted suicide.\n<\/p>\n
\nmessage that those who truly believe in what they "preach" would pay
\ntheir lives for it (such as the case with Hitler, which was why he
\ncommitted suicide). In view of this, I could say White did take his job
\nseriously. In fact, over seriously, that he lapse in holding on to God's
\ngrace caused his suicide. After this criticism, I have to say White's
\nzeal in his ministry is better than many 'sinners' in similar cases who
\nstayed on their ministries after their crimes.\n<\/p>\n
\nWade Burleson was brought to my attention. I like his open letter and
\nhow he shared the consequence of his post, contrary to some
\ncommentators' objections. But from his own responses to comments, I
\ncould finally pin point him as a very emotional person. Hopefully he's
\nnot the Bill Gothard type, who believes white lies could be justified (A
\nsolution Bill presented to many christian counsellors struggling
\nbetween confidentiality and the truth).\n<\/p>\n
\nBurleson, intending to find out about his theological stand and
\ndenomination. I do not have much clue yet, even after reading about his dispute and resignation from SBC's IMB (International Mission Board)<\/a>.\n<\/p>\n
\nwould say Burleson is close to the charismatic movement type of
\nEvangelicals. That though I have no problem with his articles, I do see
\nhim an emotional case in his comments as well as his resignation from
\nIMB. Regardless the differences, at least the IMB has extended a
\nwelcoming hand to him still, while he just couldn't reconcile at all and
\nleft. I would prefer one find the wisdom and love to fight on, should
\none think one is right. Instead of being too offended by the request of
\nIMB for an apology, Burleson could suggest "I would be glad to consider
\ncoming back, if we could talk about why I should or shouldn't
\napologize".\n<\/p>\n