When struggling through affairs, one of the challenging questions concerns whether it is a matter for the church or the courts. Each body has its own remedies and procedures. When seeking a remedy for an affair, it is important to know what each can do and what they can not do. There are benefits and drawbacks to each option. A ruling by the Texas Supreme Court a few years ago underscores the difference. In the ruling, the court supported the pastor who informed the church elders about a woman’s affair. The court refused to intervene, citing it was a ‘church matter’. The ruling is a reminder that if you choose the church route, you have to play by church rules. If you choose the courts, you must play by the courts rules. People often get themselves in trouble when they confuse the two and try to mix their expectations of each.
If you want confidentiality, go to a counselor, if you want legal remedy go to the courts, and if you want to want a pastor’s guidance, go to the church.
Best Regards,
Jeffrey Murrah
