Someone In A Sin

The Pastor is brought in and the story goes through all of the steps of discipline laid out in scripture… but just before telling the church that she has been removed, she shows up and repents.

4 actors (2 males, 2 females) About 14-15 minutes long.

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Entire Script:

SOMEONE IN A SIN

WRITTEN BY WARREN SAGER

CAST OF CHARACTERS:

JOAN: A Christian woman involved in an immoral relationship and is being disciplined by the church. In 3 scenes

PASTOR BILL: A lot of long lines of explanation and encouragement actually giving him the most lines. In 2 scenes

TOM: An elder at the church who comes with Beverly to talk with Joan. In 3 scenes

BEVERLY: A concerned Christian woman who wants to help her friend see the sin that has her enslaved. In every scene

SCENE ONE
Two women are sitting at a small table having coffee
JOAN
Beverly, I’m so glad you wanted to get together today, because I have so much I want to tell you.
BEVERLY
Yes…Joan, I wanted to talk to you, too. It’s not going to be easy, so maybe I should just get right to it.
JOAN
Oohh.. that doesn’t sound good.
BEVERLY
It has to do with what you told me the other day on the phone, and I just can’t stop thinking about it.
JOAN
You mean, about Mike and I?
BEVERLY
Yes. That’s it. I’m concerned about that, Joan.
JOAN
Concerned? What do you mean? (Pause) Hey, you’re not going to get all weird on me are you?
BEVERLY
I don’t know what you mean by weird… but I feel this should be addressed.
JOAN
So, you’re going to tell me that you are against me seeing Mike? (Building with some surprise) That you are against me finally finding happiness after all this time?
BEVERLY
No! Absolutely not! I want you to be happy! And if Mike is the one… then that’s great.
JOAN
Okay…so then what’s the problem?
BEVERLY
It’s something you said. You said that he had moved in to your place.
JOAN
So?
BEVERLY
So… that is … or it could be…an appearance of evil.
JOAN
What? An appearance! You mean you are concerned with what people think? You mean my neighbors, and people at church, right? This is the 21st century, Beverly!
BEVERLY
That doesn’t make any difference. The Bible hasn’t been rewritten to fit the times. Now… I don’t want to assume that there is any sin going on… I’m not here to judge you…
JOAN
It sounds like that is exactly what you are doing! If people are drawing their own conclusions just from what they see, then that is their problem, not mine.
BEVERLY
So you are saying that nothing is going on. I mean… you know, physically…
JOAN
(Quietly) No. I’m not saying that. I’m saying it’s nobody’s business. I have finally found the right person and I’m very happy. Why can’t you be happy for me?
BEVERLY
Joan…that’s sin. You and he are not married.
JOAN
Well, I think that is for me to worry about. It’s really no one else’s concern.
BEVERLY
I disagree. You are my sister in the Lord. We are a body, and you are part of the church. In Matthew it says that if we see someone in a sin, then we are to go to them and try to help them.
JOAN
(More emotion)
So, that’s what this is all about! You think I’m sinning and you felt that it was your duty as my sister to tell me about it.
BEVERLY
Well, it sounds terrible the way you say it… but I guess that is pretty much it.
JOAN
You don’t think I know what I should or shouldn’t do? (Pause and then start with confidence) I can’t believe this! You are judging me!
BEVERLY
I just know that sometimes when we are in sin so deep… we just can’t see it. Sometimes we need someone else, who is not involved, but who sees it…we need them to tell us. To help us to repent of our sin.
JOAN
So you are here, as God’s messenger to show me the error of my ways… so that I will confess my sin and repent and then you can be happy that you got me back on the straight and narrow path!
BEVERLY
It’s not about me being happy, Joan. I didn’t want to do this!
JOAN
Then why did you?
BEVERLY
Because I care about you. This will ruin your witness as a Christian and it sets a bad example to other Christians. If Mike is a believer and you guys talk about it, I’m sure he will understand! I mean, if he truly loves you…
JOAN
Well, I don’t see things the way you do. If it is sin… then so be it. But we are adults and I am very happy!
BEVERLY
Are you?
JOAN
If anyone is wrong here, it is you, Beverly! Now, you have always been one of my best friends… and I hope to keep it that way. But you need to love me for who I am, and not judge me. I would do the same thing for you! Isn’t that what being a Christian is about?
BEVERLY
It’s about a lot of things. One thing is to live a life a purity. It’s not too late. You can turn this around.
JOAN
I don’t want to turn it around. So, I think the best thing is for you to turn around and leave. I’m sorry, Beverly. I know you meant well… but this time, you were wrong.
BEVERLY
It’s not supposed to turn out like this.
JOAN
Let me pay the bill.
She reaches for the bill and Beverly stops her and grabs it.
BEVERLY
No. No…it’s on me.
JOAN
Okay… I’ll see ya, later.
She exits.
SCENE TWO
Joan is sitting alone on a bench when she is approached by Beverly and Tom. She looks up as they walk up and quickly reacts with a spirit of defense toward them.
BEVERLY
Hi Joan. Can we talk to you for a minute?
JOAN
Beverly, what is going on? Why did you bring Tom here?
BEVERLY
Joan, we want to help you. We care about what happens to you.
JOAN
Nothing is happening to me accept the feeling that my friends are starting to butt in where they don’t belong.
TOM
Joan, Beverly shared with me about your conversation the other day.
JOAN
How many other people at church know about it now?… not that I really care what people think…
BEVERLY
I only told Tom. He’s our Sunday School teacher, Joan, and he is also an elder, and I believe he has some good wisdom that he can share about this.
JOAN
You know what you are doing don’t you? You are making me out to be some kind of horrible person! I won’t be able to step foot back in that church! Is that what you want? You want me to leave?
TOM
No. We don’t want you to leave. We want to help you understand the truth of the scriptures. There are certain things that God doesn’t want us to participate in and when we do, then we need to confess that sin to Him. And you know the passage in 1st John: if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
JOAN
How do you know I’m not confessing my sins? Isn’t that a private thing between me and God?
TOM
It certainly is, and we wouldn’t pry in anyone’s life, but your particular sin became known to Beverly, and if you have confessed it and repented, then it would be good to share that with Beverly so that she would know the truth. You see, Beverly has been following the scriptures very carefully in this situation. When you didn’t seem to want to repent after her first talk with you, then she has gone the next step and brought a witness with her to encourage you again to repent. That is unless you have done that already.
BEVERLY
You do understand, don’t you? God doesn’t want you to continue in this sinful practice. He wants you to admit your guilt and confess it to Him and repent. He will gladly forgive you and restore that fellowship with you.
TOM
When you sin and don’t repent, then you are out of fellowship with God until you do. You see, you told Beverly about the relationship you are having with this man, and you led her to believe it was immoral. When confronted about it, you did not deny it. And the worst part is that you acted as though you were doing nothing wrong. As a Christian, you should know that you are sinning, and you should be able to admit it.
JOAN
So, now you are saying that I’m not a Christian.
BEVERLY
I don’t think he is saying that.
TOM
Joan, that is between you and God. I only know that when you became a member of our church, you shared with the elders your testimony of how God saved you through Jesus Christ. We believed your testimony and welcomed you in as a member. You are part of our family. Like any other family, if we see one member going down a wrong path, we try to help them back on the right path. When they refuse, then there needs to be discipline.
JOAN
So, what is my discipline?
TOM
This is it, Joan. We are here to encourage you to do the right thing.
JOAN
Or what?
TOM
I don’t want to go into that. You can read it yourself in Matthew 18 and see what the Bible says. But that needn’t be necessary, if you simply admit…
JOAN
But it isn’t just admitting that I am doing wrong…you also want me to change the relationship. You want me to have him move out!
BEVERLY
Of course, Joan. Otherwise, what’s the point? You are not really repenting if you continue in the sin. You must know as a Christian that God has laws in His Word about this sort of thing.
TOM
We love you, Joan. We want to help. Don’t you feel the least bit guilty about this? Haven’t you been getting the prompting in your spirit that this is wrong? I think the Lord is really speaking to you. Please listen to Him.
JOAN
I guess you guys feel that you have to do what you have to do. Personally, I find it very insulting and very… very…well, it’s just really none of anyone’s business, that’s all!
Joan hurries off the stage leaving Tom and Beverly looking a bit stunned.
BEVERLY
I guess that didn’t go very well. It wasn’t much different from the first time.
TOM
We prayed before talking to her. I felt we both had a good spirit and good attitude of love. I just don’t understand why she doesn’t see what she is doing. It seems to me she has not repented, so the next step is to tell the church.
BEVERLY
Oh dear. I had hoped it wouldn’t come to that.
TOM
Same here. I think the pastor will contact her one more time and let her know that this will be brought up at the next elders meeting, and she will surely be dropped from membership. Maybe she will repent in time. You know… after the last step, we are to no longer associate with her. Let’s hope that doesn’t happen this time. In fact, why don’t we pray about this again, right now?
They both bow their heads in prayer as the lights fade.
SCENE THREE
Tom and Beverly enter with chairs and sit down next to Pastor Bill
PASTOR BILL
Hello, thanks for coming in. I wish this was a happier reason for meeting together, but I’m afraid it is not. Before we have the business meeting, I wanted to let you know where it stands now and what our next step is.
BEVERLY
I never thought it would go this far.
PASTOR BILL
Of course not. In these situations, you really hope that when you approach the individual, that they will hear you and respond in the right way.
TOM
Pastor Bill, Beverly and I felt that our attitude toward her was right and we couldn’t think of how we could have done it any differently.
PASTOR BILL
I’m sure you are right. Usually, it is that second meeting that does the job. But, you know, sometimes it doesn’t matter how loving we are, some people just can’t bring themselves to give up their sin. It is a sad thing. I talked with Joan again this morning. She still has not changed. I told her what was going to have to happen. She didn’t seem to care. As usual in situations like these, she is out of fellowship with God and really doesn’t want to come to church anyway…so being removed from membership isn’t a big deal.
BEVERLY
Did we fail her?
PASTOR BILL
When you follow the teachings of God’s Word, I don’t believe you CAN fail. This is what God is doing in her life. He has his purpose and He can use it. I believe we have done the right thing. When the elders met, Beverly, we did everything we could to bring reconciliation. She was invited to the meeting, but she did not come. That didn’t surprise me, so we tried to contact her and I did get her on the phone. I explained the procedure from Matthew 18 and told her that we loved her and wanted her to be restored; not just in the church, but most especially, restored spiritually through repentance. She still would not.
BEVERLY
How did she seem?
PASTOR BILL
She was very quiet. I almost felt we were getting through to her, but when I proposed the question to her again, she said she had not changed her mind. She said for us to go ahead and do what we felt we had to do. I told her that if she agreed to repent at that time, that the news of her sin would not go further than the board of elders who were meeting with me in the room at that time. I assured her that there would be no need to let the entire church know. However, I made it clear that eventually the church would have to know, should she refuse to repent.
TOM
I’d like to say, Beverly, that I believe the desire of all of the elders was for her to come around, so that we would not have to do this. None of us took this lightly. We spent a lot of time in prayer for her and for our decision before Bill called her. I think this is one of the hardest things I have ever had to do.
BEVERLY
Well, I will tell you both that I am not looking forward to this business meeting. I think if I could have seen this day back then…I would not have even gone to her.
PASTOR BILL
You went to her out of love and concern for her, not out of some kind of obedience to church discipline. I understand that you knew the scriptures, and I commend you for that. I will always believe that God can and will use this whole thing for His glory. Please take that to heart. You know, this very thing happened in the Corinthian church. They had to have a member leave because of a sexual sin that he would not turn away from. They were allowing it, but Paul set them straight and told them to use discipline. But in the next letter to them, Paul was scolding them for not letting the man back into fellowship, as he had clearly repented. So you see… there could still be a good outcome for Joan in this. When she repents, we need to lovingly accept her back and help her regain her strength as a Christian.
BEVERLY
I’m glad you said, “when” she repents.
PASTOR BILL
Yes… I did, didn’t I?
LIGHTS FADE
SCENE FOUR
We continue with the same scene, as the three are still talking about the upcoming meeting.
PASTOR BILL
Now as the meeting begins, Tom I would like you to come forward and share what happened when you and Beverly approached Joan. You don’t need to go into detail, just share briefly what the sin was and that you encouraged her to repent and that she would not. Then explain that the board of elders have met and agreed that she be removed from membership.
BEVERLY
It all sounds so legal and cold. I’m sorry, I know it’s not.
PASTOR BILL
I don’t think it will come across that way. I think we should probably have prayer for her again with the congregation. I may explain to them also how we must be obedient to God’s Word, even when it involves someone we love and care about. Parents have to discipline their children. They should be doing it out of love. They know that it is for the child’s good.
TOM
Reading over the passage in Matthew 18 might be helpful, too.
PASTOR BILL
Excellent idea. I might have you do that, Tom. I hope you don’t mind me putting the burden of all of this on you, but since you were the one who went to her, it seems appropriate.
TOM
I understand.
Suddenly Joan bursts into the room and surprises them and she stops when they look up at her.
JOAN
I’m sorry to interrupt.
PASTOR BILL
That’s quite alright, Joan. What can we do for you?
JOAN
I need to talk with you, Pastor.
PASTOR BILL
Very well. Can you talk in front of Tom and Beverly?
JOAN
Well…I guess that only seems right, since they know.
PASTOR BILL
We were just discussing the business meeting that will be happening after the service tonight.
JOAN
Oh. So you haven’t done it yet? I mean…you haven’t told the church?
PASTOR BILL
No, we haven’t. We don’t want to do it, Joan. The elders didn’t want to remove you from membership, either.
JOAN
I believe you.
PASTOR BILL
Why are you here? How can we help you?
JOAN
It’s over. I broke up with him. You were right, Tom!
(Becomes more emotional)
I was feeling guilty! I knew all along that I was doing wrong! Mike could tell. He knew something was bothering me. I tried to explain and he didn’t agree. He told me he was a Christian, but now I’m not so sure! I told him that God was convicting me and I needed to repent and stop. I told him that he would have to move out. He said I was letting some church run my life. He walked out and told me to call him when I had come to my senses. Well, I have come to my senses. I do want to come back… back to God and back to all of you! Please forgive me! What do I need to do?
PASTOR BILL
Why don’t you just get down on your knees right here, Joan, and pour your heart out to God. He is waiting to forgive you.
She drops to her knees and they all bow in prayer as the lights fade.

THE END

Copyright 2006 Warren Sager