DISQUS

Bill Cork · 2 years ago

Why do you assist in their self-portrayal as somehow victims?

Sin. Repentance. These are not terms invented by Adventism, nor are they "judgments." Seems Jesus spoke a lot about these.

And by the way ... where's Jesus in the video?

Lot's of talk about being "spiritual," about being part of this "group" which is "inclusive" and "safe." No "agenda," except to "help people live in alignment with their own sense of values."

Jesus had an agenda. He preached the kingdom of God, calling people to repent.

They say you can't have community with conditions (what you must believe, how you must act). Well, Jesus taught beliefs. He taught actions.

And Christianity is about him.

Marcel · 2 years ago

Bill,

I don't think even Jesus narrowed the requirements for participation in the Kingdom down to strict repentance. Most of the new testament is a "training manual" for Christian conduct toward one another, God and man.

What I like about Second Wind is that they understand the needs of those they target - the ones that would never set foot inside the walls of the church because it's the church that fails to repent in some instances. Perhaps some members of their group are still working out their repentance, and this is a safe environment to do so.

If I may borrow from the apostle Paul: "I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings." (1 Corinthians 9:19-23)

I think Second Wind gets that.

By the way, check back in a couple weeks as I will have an interview posted with the leaders of Second Wind. They will spell out in detail what their ministry really is.

Thanks for your comments.

Daneen Akers · 2 years ago

Bill--As someone who attends Second Wind and loves this community, and also since my husband made the documentary about Second Wind, I wanted to point out that this film was never made for the "Adventist" or even the "Christian" audience. If you watched it, you saw that it was part of series on tolerance sponsored by Current TV, a new cable channel. We felt that Second Wind found a way to do what is so needed in our sharply divided political and religious climate--truly be religiously and spiritually tolerant.

Although most people who attend are Christian or have Christian backgrounds, the group attracts people from all sorts of backgrounds who want to journey together spiritually but definitely do not have time for the traditional judgements of exclusion that most churches so freely hand out. I continue to admire how freely this community loves without imposing an agenda of behavior requirements on me or others.

Also, I do have to take exception to your question of "why do you assist in their self-portrayal as somehow victims?" If you watched the piece in its entirety, it's clear that Greg and Shasta don't portray themselves as victims in any way. They take full responsibility for their actions and recognize that logical consequences followed. What their current ministry does is force any church, Adventist or otherwise, to face that we say one thing about grace and forgiveness, but practice another--especially when pastors are involved, and especially when the sin is of a sexual nature. They have decided that God can still use them, no matter their past. And, as a member of this community who feels greatly blessed by their ministry, am very, very thankful they have chosen that path.

IMACOWGIRL · 1 year ago

They got fired cause having extramarital sex with their colleagues was in the employee manual for disqualifiers for the job of pastor. They didn't get discarded by the church. They got fired by the people executing the jobs that are in charge of such business. Discarded by the church...such romantic verbage.

IMACOWGIRL · 1 year ago

....and of COURSE God can still use them. they just became inelligible to be SDA pastors. God only laid down laws about 10 big "no's". it's not to be restrictive...it's because those sins are the big deal breakers in this earthly life. He was protecting us. He's sorry shasta and greg lost the jobs they loved.

C · 1 year ago

"In an age of personal, religious and professional betrayals, people are hungry for relationships built on honesty and trust."

I assume this would extend also to the damage they did within their own families?

IMACOWGIRL -- you nailed it. It's interesting to me that this group states as it's desire for connection precisely what they destroyed in the precious gift God gave them in their families of origin as well as the ones they'd helped to create themselves. God desires deep, fulfilling, lasting connection and created us to as well. True and Godly connection can be tested -- it NEVER creates this kind of collateral damage to His other children.

Of course God can use them. He used Ted Bundy to speak about the evils of porn, this one should be easy, right? It's too bad they made choices that have so severely compromised the plans He had for them -- and the innocents involved.

ablood · 1 year ago

"he who is without sin, cast the first stone",i am apalled at the negative remarks left, obviously some of you need to find more quality things to do with your time, for instance, volunteering in a children's hospital cancer ward, god bless you greg and shasta, we have and always will love you and support you just as christ does!