Take note, you have sinned against the LORD; and be sure your sin will find you out. Num 32:23
I hear it all the time; I’m not hurting anybody else.
Whether it’s drinking, drugs, smoking, over eating, or whatever, it’s usually the answer I get when I say, “That’s bad for you!”
But yesterday I realized the truth that what you do does affect others, especially if you are in sin.
For a couple of years we’ve played a minister on our radio by the name of Paul Sheppard.
When I arrived at work I found out the program for that nights broadcast was blank.
I went to a back-up plan to download the program from an internet site.
I was met with the message that the programs were no longer available.
So I went right to the source and visited the Enduring Truth website.
This is what I found; Dear Friend of Enduring Truth,
As many of you may or may not know, Pastor Paul Sheppard recently resigned as an officer and speaker for Enduring Truth Ministries due to moral failure. We’re all deeply saddened by these events. We ask that you remember him and his family in prayer during this trying time.
This “moral failure” was an adulterous relationship.
Did Pastor Paul think he wasn’t hurting anybody else?
Not only did he disappoint his church, damage his marriage, and ruin his Christian testimony, he also caused everyone in the radio industry to scramble and find a suitable replacement for the program.
We aired it 5 days a week, every evening at 8.
I had to change all the program logs for Monday through Friday with a replacement program that fit the exact length of the former one.
While I do feel sorry for his wife and family and my prayer is with them.
I also feel sorry for all those affected by “ I’m not hurting anyone else.”
It is written those who plow iniquity and sow trouble reap the same. Job 4:8
Morning Thought with Pastor Tim 
Our God knows our frailties. We are told He is strongest when we are weakest. I have learned, I can be my worst enemy. But when I focous on Him for help He never fails me. Still I cry, “how much longer Oh Lord. Come quickly”. Mean time let us strengthen the church and offer forgiveness to all who fall into temptation. God will do what ever correcting needs to be done.
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A man of God has fallen, and all you can think about is programming!!! Pastor Paul helped lead thousands to Jesus with his sound biblical base teaching. If he didn’t recognize he was hurting others he wouldn’t have resigned. Pray for him and for yourself because lack of compassion shows a lack of Jesus.
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And, of course, Are you serious? has missed the point.
I did say the Pastor Paul was in my prayers, but the point is how many OTHERS believe they aren’t hurting someone else.
Paul’s moral failure cascaded down to all of us in the radio industry. This is just an example that affected us but is a lesson for all of us to see that there are consequences to our actions.
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I’m heartbroken. My husband and I listend every single morning with our coffee before facing our day at work. We discussed the messages, call most of our friends, emailed the website to both believers and those who do not know the Lord because of the practical down to earth teaching style focused on the Lord Jesus Christ and living a moral life…..so, I’m heartbroken….but I am praying….he is a “man”…and we all fall short of the glory of God. ….but yes…it seems that thousands of others are affected by his decision to take a mistress. I can’t imagine how he must feel now….be sure, your sin will find you out. He has our love and our support.
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I am truly sorry for Pastor Paul I too also listened to his broadcast and I had to ask my self this question. Moral failure he preached on a sermon about not having done drugs and can’t relate on it. I have 3 years clean off drugs so I can testify about it and yes I believed and confessed Jesus as Lord. So know if he’s sincere he can preach on Moral Failure he has a testimony about it he has a message on having a broken life he has a message on forgiveness. I would still love to hear him preach we just have to thank God that is what Jesus Christ is for and we all fall Short of God’s Glory in the gospel it says if the days were not shortened none would make It pray for me a fornicator in Christ.
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I am happy to annouce that Pastor Paul Sheppard and his wife First Lady Meridith Sheppard was apart of the First Baptist Church of Glenarden Bible Study last night in Glenarden, MD. I was blessed by his word and spoke about his infidelity. He is also opening up a new church in the Bay area as soon as next week. If you live in the Bay area check it out. I believe the name of the church will be Divine Destiny, something along those words.
God does forgive, none of us is perfect. We all have sinned and still sinning, and asking for God’s forgiveness. Please get off your high horse and pray, lift and love one another. The church website is http://www.fbcglenarden.org. You are worried about programming, shame on you. 😦
Peace & Blessings to each of you.
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I don’t guess anyone in radio should have been concerned about the “missing” program. We should have just let 30 min of silence stay in it’s place.
The point of the whole message is there is cascading consequences to ALL OF OUR ACTIONS…not just Pastor Paul.
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I really enjoyed Pastor Paul’s broadcast on many occasions his sermons were as if they were for me personally and they were of great help to my growing in the Lord. As for his personal life well it’s just that his personal life and I personally feel it’s not upon us to pass judgement or even voice our opinion one way or the other, thats ultimately between him and God. Besides the Bible says let he who is without sin cast the first stone. That would call for you to be perfect and as far as I know only one man walked on water without sinking and his name is “JESUS” What’s your name?
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I really enjoyed Pastor Paul’s broadcast on many occasions his sermons were as if they were for me personally and they were of great help to my growing in the Lord. As for his personal life well it’s just that his personal life and I personally feel that it’s not upon me or anyone else to pass judgement or to voice my opinion one way or the other, thats ultimately between him and GOD. Besides the Bible say let him who is without sin cast the first stone. That would call for you to be perfect and as far as I know only one man walked on water without sinking and his name is “JESUS” WHAT’S YOUR NAME?
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Pastor Paul now has sermons back on line!!!! YAAAAY. Check out his new site http://www.pastorpaul.net
My heart goes out to him & his family. We are ALL “capable” of the same sin that he committed. Let’s just pray that God gives us the strength to not fall into the many tempting sins that this world has to offer. I used to listen to him faithfully online & I went to see him in person when he came to Dallas, TX. I just found his new sight tonight. Praise God.
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Pastor Tim:
I am SORELY disappointed in your judgemental attitude toward some who has sinned. ALL have sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God and that’s why we need Jesus. His sin is no bigger than the one who lied yesterday….now am I excusing his actions? ABSOLUTELY NOT! But we are to bear one anothers burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ. What does that mean? We are to pray for our brothers who are weak and not be judgemental lest we fall pray to our own hubris. You can’t have it both ways…you can’t mask your judgement under the guise of “compassion”. God is the only righteous judge and it’s up to us to pray that men/women don’t enter into temptation lest they fall, and if they do, it’s our job as the body to pray for them so that they can be restored.
The gifts and calling are without repentence….he is still called to minister a word in season to the body. Please excute your love walk for him and his family at this time.
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I am completely blown away at those who would attack Pastor Tim for this post. It’s perfectly evident to anyone who reads the post in its entirety that he was making a point about the effects of our sin on OTHERS. The mention of radio programming was just an example of those effects. Speaking the truth is not being judgemental – its being truthful. Are we not supposed to delight in the truth? I should say so! And, as a side note, yes, we are ALL sinners – but, should we not expect Christian leaders to hold to the highest standard possible? It would seem that we should.
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Yes we should forgive Paul Sheppard as Christians but the real point is can a pastor who commits adultery be allow to be a pastor again. As a lawyer or doctor if you commit certain crimes you lose your license for life. If you used illegal sports enhancement substances in certain sports you are ban for life – Marion Jones, Ben Johnson. It’s not that complicated. If I was a Pastor and I committed adultery I would accept the fact that I have lost my effectiveness to preach to the lost and right to be a pastor. I’m not saying he can’t b used by the Lord to reach the lost but he should never be a pastor again. In some professionals certain mistakes cost you your job. A Christian Pastor committing adultery should find another job. That’s like a doctor who murders someone be allow to practice medicine again. A true repentant Pastor would give up his desire to lead Christians and rather be content with being a servant of Christ.
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God used David he loved him dearly, Also MANY others MEN in the BIBLE.He has his OWN Divine purpose for what he does. Mark ,you MUST read the word for yourself.Ask for Clear understanding of the WORD.To be used you have to go threw some things,God will forgive 70times70 He ask us to REPENT and TURN from our wick ways.He will Forgive!!!!! What may i ask is your profession???Should your be fired for the lust/porn/hate/unforgiveness in your life???? He without Sin is Able to throw a stone.Let’s Keep all Pastor’s and ourselves in Deep pray. That WE don”t fall into temptations that are not pleaseing to the LORD. God Bless his People with his grace to do his work,in this world.
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Look at Simon renamed Peter’s life – Was a fisherman, became a fisher of men. Cast out demons, healed the sick, followed Christ. Became one of Self, denied Christ, failed Christ. Came back to Christ through the help of Christ, received by Christ, Ministered and brought sheeps to Christ and back to Christ. Lives in the Kingdom of God. Only by the Grace of God are we still here today, not to persecute our brothers and sisters but to lift them up, offer them a hand, forgive them, show them that God did not give his Only Son, Jesus, for those who were good but for those who have sinned and have a sinful nature. LOVE & FORGIVENESS. Pray that Pastor Paul may become the likes of Peter the Rock. (I am transforming everyday my sinful nature and darkness.)
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