Rev. Gary Aldridge's death

[NYBlue1]

My reason for posting this is Im curious to know if it makes people think about people of the cloth that preach one thing and live a very diffrent life than what they preach. Does this make one question there religious beliefs? Question messages being preached to us by certain religions on who we should be called sinners? No reaction?

Im not sure if this would violate any TOS terms on the DIS and dont want to link it, its easy enough to search if your intrested.

 

[DawnCt1]

I like to think of church; any church as a hospital for sinners and not a museum for saints. One doesn't need to be a saint to try to tell us what is the best way to lead a righteous life. Its an embarrassing way to die and his family has my sympathy.

 

[ilovepcot]

This sort of thing no longer surprises me in the least. It's sad to be able to say that.

 

[NYBlue1]

I like to think of church; any church as a hospital for sinners and not a museum for saints. One doesn't need to be a saint to try to tell us what is the best way to lead a righteous life. Its an embarrassing way to die and his family has my sympathy.

I really like that answer Dawn, I agree to point about the best way to lead a righteous life, I just am not a fan of judging anybody as a human being and to preach that , while having this in your life just seems, well hypocritical to me.

 

[NYBlue1]

This sort of thing no longer surprises me in the least. It's sad to be able to say that.

With the media the way it is today and the investigative reporting of sites like smoking gun nothing seems to be kept private. I supose the hope I have of things like this poping up more and more is that people would stop judging others .

 

[EltonJohn]

1. Who is Gary Aldridge?

Okay-I Googled his name a found a report at the Smoking Gun and found that he had a kinky side. LOL A lot of people have a kinky side-I don't see this as hypocritical.

2. Hypocrites are to be found in every religion.
3. The actions of a religion's adherents has no bearing whatsoever on the validity (whether the religion is true or not) of that religion.

 

[salmoneous]

Does this make one question there religious beliefs? Question messages being preached to us by certain religions on who we should be called sinners? No reaction?

Gary Aldridge spent a lifetime attacking others for their moral failings. That was not his "religious belief". That was boorish behavior. Don't confuse that sort of moral tut-tutting with religion. It is human flaw.

Aldridge's religion - Christianity - makes it clear we are all sinners, none better than the other. Aldridge's death should not make us question Christianity - if anything it reinforces it. It should make us question those who misuse the trappings of Christianity to attack others.

 

[disneyfan67]

With the media the way it is today and the investigative reporting of sites like smoking gun nothing seems to be kept private. I supose the hope I have of things like this poping up more and more is that people would stop judging others .

I know people aren't perfect, but it's not a lot to ask that those who make a living off of telling us what's right and wrong, that they try and live by the standards they want to impose on us. I'm disgusted by this sick man's actions and he needed some professional help. I can't help but feel sorry for his family though, to have to bear this as their final memory of him, especially if he has children. You would think people of today who preach morals and clean living, would realise that nothing is secret in today's internet/media age we live in. It doesn't take much to be on You Tube, The Smoking Gun, TMZ, etc. I have to admit that part of me likes the intense scrutiny we now have today because it exposes hypocrites for what they are.

 

[NYBlue1]

I explained why I did not think it was appropriate to post the story on the board. Its easy enough to search. I agree with what you said, but thats not my point. I may not be explaining my thoughts well. I am not attacking any religion, im questioning that if events like this one give people pause to reflect on there judgements of others. Seach the name, it may make more sence.

 

[disneyfan67]

Gary Aldridge spent a lifetime attacking others for their moral failings. That was not his "religious belief". That was boorish behavior. Don't confuse that sort of moral tut-tutting with religion. It is human flaw.

Aldridge's religion - Christianity - makes it clear we are all sinners, none better than the other. Aldridge's death should not make us question Christianity - if anything it reinforces it. It should make us question those who misuse the trappings of Christianity to attack others.

Good point.

 

[NYBlue1]

I know people aren't perfect, but it's not a lot to ask that those who make a living off of telling us what's right and wrong, that they try and live by the standards they want to impose on us. I'm disgusted by this sick man's actions and he needed some professional help. I can't help but feel sorry for his family though, to have to bear this as their final memory of him, especially if he has children. You would think people of today who preach morals and clean living, would realise that nothing is secret in today's internet/media age we live in. It doesn't take much to be on You Tube, The Smoking Gun, TMZ, etc. I have to admit that part of me likes the intense scrutiny we now have today because it exposes hypocrites for what they are.

Yes exactly I would hope it might open eyes , even if its a few to stop judging others

 

[NYBlue1]

Gary Aldridge spent a lifetime attacking others for their moral failings. That was not his "religious belief". That was boorish behavior. Don't confuse that sort of moral tut-tutting with religion. It is human flaw.

Aldridge's religion - Christianity - makes it clear we are all sinners, none better than the other. Aldridge's death should not make us question Christianity - if anything it reinforces it. It should make us question those who misuse the trappings of Christianity to attack others.

Yes I agree!

 

[BensMom]

No wonder God is Not Great is on the best-seller lists. Organized religion has played a part in warping people's minds for many years.

 

[DawnCt1]

I really like that answer Dawn, I agree to point about the best way to lead a righteous life, I just am not a fan of judging anybody as a human being and to preach that , while having this in your life just seems, well hypocritical to me.

Sometimes the best way to teach a hard lesson is by being an example of what not to do.

 

[mrsltg]

Gary Aldridge spent a lifetime attacking others for their moral failings. That was not his "religious belief". That was boorish behavior. Don't confuse that sort of moral tut-tutting with religion. It is human flaw.

Aldridge's religion - Christianity - makes it clear we are all sinners, none better than the other. Aldridge's death should not make us question Christianity - if anything it reinforces it. It should make us question those who misuse the trappings of Christianity to attack others.

MTE!!! There are hypocrites everywhere and I'd be willing to bet we've all been guilty of it at one time or another. The "however" lies in what you do with the lesson after you are inevitably burned. No one is perfect.

 

[goofygirl]

I had to look it up because I was unfamilar with story. Whoa, how bizarre!



I am very good at sensing when someone is not what they claim to be. There's always something a little "off" about the person. I was not familiar with this pastor but I think if I saw him speak, I probably would sense something was amiss.

I belive in "practice what you preach" and he certainly failed there.

I also know not all people of the cloth are like this, so it does not change my faith.

 

[LuvN~Travel]

Ohhh I was SO hoping this wouldn't show up anywhere else!

First of all...Gary was my pastor for 16 years. When this happened this summer it was a shock to all of us! Gary was nothing like that.

I told my parents and my husband when it happened something stunk..big time!
After reading the report the other day, I'm really sure something stinks now.

In reading this report I'm sure the perpetrators have accomplished exactly what they wanted..for the entire world to doubt the convictions and life of a very Christian and loving man.
Only those of us who have worked with Gary all of these years can know just how 'off' this report is.
I'm not saying the police didn't do their job. I am say they are very hamstrung by the lack of evidence because of someone's planning.

I have pointed out to my family and a few friends about all of the inconsistencies in this 'act'. And, all of them point to a very vengeful act on someone's part. With my parents highly involved in the church and my sister as well, we are aware of some circumstances (i.e. ppl with mental problems) that could have played a part in this. However, and I'm sure this is a very good reason of his wife to ask for the report to be quieted.
Right now I and others are very convinced that there is someone out there who is enjoying what they did to him, but definitely needs repentance in their life.

And, yes there are so many non Christians out there, and as a Christian I see this time and again, that absolutely HATE Christianity and all it stands for. We know that there are people who rejoice in stuff like this when it happens, no matter if it is true or not.

The community here has been devastated by it, though there are many who like some here just love to rejoice in the scandalous nature of what supposedly happened. We even had another pastor killed here the other day and people are already trying to make his murder sound like it was all about sex! For pete's sake! It's almost as bad as college when the professors thought all of the american lit and english lit was all about sex!


At this point yes, the police have 'closed' the file. Which i can see, if you have no witnesses, and no fingerprints. However, most of us are getting the feeling that they too are waiting for the right evidence to come along.
But, that is one thing our church addressed this past Sunday to the adults. We may never know the answer to who did it this side of heaven. But, we do have to get on with our lives both personal and as a church body.

And, as one poster did point out, Christians are not without sin, not one of us. However, with Christ in our hearts we can work daily and sometimes moment to moment to over come that problem. Most of us don't go around trying to point fingers and say that some lost person isn't as good as us. That is not our message. Our message is of love and a very satisfying relationship with our heavenly Father through his Son.

Kim

 

[NYBlue1]

Im very sorry for the loss of your Reverand. I have lost a dear reverand to a massive stroke at a young age and know its shocking and painful to recover from.

I dont want to argue with your assesment of the situation as it serves no purpose to. If things were as the police and med examiner have found them it does not mean that the Reverand was not a loving man or ment any less to you , his congregation or his family.

I am again sorry for your loss and in being the OP of this thread only hoped to use it as a tool for people to maybe realize that we should not judge our fellow human beings.

 

[Zippa D Doodah]

Ohhh I was SO hoping this wouldn't show up anywhere else!

First of all...Gary was my pastor for 16 years. When this happened this summer it was a shock to all of us! Gary was nothing like that.


Kim

I am sorry to hear about the loss of your pastor.

This is the first I've heard of this story. Hard to say what I think about this. I guess I'll just leave it as 1)it's sad, 2) who knows what the whole story is.

 

[LuvN~Travel]

Im very sorry for the loss of your Reverand. I have lost a dear reverand to a massive stroke at a young age and know its shocking and painful to recover from.

I dont want to argue with your assesment of the situation as it serves no purpose to. If things were as the police and med examiner have found them it does not mean that the Reverand was not a loving man or ment any less to you , his congregation or his family.

I am again sorry for your loss and in being the OP of this thread only hoped to use it as a tool for people to maybe realize that we should not judge our fellow human beings.

That's just it. The evidence 'point's to what someone wanted it to point. Just basing this on how he preached isn't my point. Basing it on his overall character, his habits, the 'timing' of this and so on are. With the evidence at hand, the police can't pull anyone in without having any witnesses or fingerprints. Plus I wouldn't feel comfortable here pointing out all of the inconsistencies which make the report, not as the reporting done by the police and coroner did, but by the very habits of the man himself make it look like. We know enough of the law enforcement here both in the police dept and the sheriff's dept to know they feel tied up by this. There is an overall dissatisfaction with all of it.

I think the main thing that has 'bugged' many of us is was it done by these persons just to make him look bad, and they would just try to blackmail him or 'terrorize' him with pictures or such, and he died truly by accident because they were just so stupid, or if they really meant for him to die altogether. In other words just how twisted are these people? And, if it were some of the people who we knew things about, does it mean they may try to do something to others in the church who they may feel had something to do as well with their own dissatisfaction as to decisions made about them.

Before the report came out, my mom and husband even were talking about how God has always manged to use people even when they were in sin in their lives. The bible is just chock full of such events! And, yes Gary has been leading our church in so many endeavors over the years it has been amazing for us all.
However, after the report came out, my mom and husband now know just what I was telling them. Knowing this man and his character and his habits and his 'quirks', and reading about the 'known' facts of this case told them immediately that this was all wrong from any angle. They like to say it's the little things that trip you up. In this case it definitely is. But the little things aren't in the report and would never be. So now it will be a waiting game for who knows how long....
Kim