Chapter 16: Myth—God Owns Solid Rock

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Myth—God Owns Solid Rock

I had watched the Elk River Assembly of God Church build itself up

into a very powerful influence in our community. They had full-fledged food, clothing and other ministries. Each year they put on Passion plays. To use a common phrase, the church was “hot” in the spiritual sense. That is until some time in 1991 when news of sexual impropriety came to light.

Senior Pastor James Hoogenboom was accused of having sex with three married women whom he counseled. In one case, he was counseling both husband and wife separately. He told them to stay away from each

other according to one newspaper article. How convenient and self-serving to take advantage of the wife. How evil is this? This Assembly of God church was literally exploding for God in our small city. How does Satan take out a big church on fire for God? He takes out the leader of the church. And what the heck, why not use sex? It works, doesn’t it? Listen — if any

pastor counsels you or your spouse to stay sexually apart from one another, it is ungodly counsel. God’s Word teaches us differently. Again, let me point out that if you are ignorant of the Word, you can be led around like a cow with a ring in its nose. How would you know if you are being misled?

Of course, I assume that both spouses are healthy and that some disease does not interfere with your sexual intimacy. Listen to the Word.

“The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. The wife’s body does not belong to her alone but also to her husband. In the same way, the husband’s body does not belong to him alone but also to

his wife. Do not deprive each other except by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.” 1 Cor. 7:3-5 NIV

From 39-years of marriage, I can tell you that there are always events that will make you distant from your spouse. Likewise, I can tell you that sexual intimacy with one another will always bring you back closer to each

other. If you willy-nilly deny your spouse sex, you give Satan a foothold. The following article1 is one of many written about the pastor’s misconduct.