Mr. St. John, with all due respect, I think your grandmother was an exceptional woman not because she was a christian but because, and above all, she was a good human. It was not a god who helped her during hard times but she, and her strong will and care for others. I envy you for that, in the very good sense of the word.
With respect to Mr. Tester... he should just do what I read in some comments above: Clean himself via confessions, feel righteous about his religion because he says so reading bible passages, and make a little more money to support himself. He will be re-accepted.

No surprise here-typical Christian Republican Conservative Hypocrite behavior. I didn't do it, and if I did, the Devil made me, so it's not my fault and I am already forgiven.

Living in the "Bible Belt", it is assumed that all Christians are without flaws. This story illustrates that this is not true. These men, supposedly representatives of God and his word, displayed behavior that is clearly not supposed to happen. Besides being intoxicated, the one gentleman was wearing a skirt and exposed himself around small children. This is totally unacceptable. Some people wonder why I have issues with organized religion and this is a prime example of why I do. I feel sorry for the people who will be grouped in the same category as these men because of their beliefs and desire to live a life according to their religious values. Not all Christians are like these men and we all need to remember that. The devil had nothing to do with their antics, it was a bottle of liquor and poor judgement.

A sad part of the equation for Mr. Tester and this area is we made Jay Leno. Their bandleader even made fun of the word "Johnson", as in, the arrest occurred in Johnson City. We are still viewed by much of the world as backward and illiterate. Mr. Tester's supposed unprofessionalism is a disgrace and does not in anyway represent the general clergy of this area.

Mr. St John, thank you for a very respectful response. I was just waiting on the local "yahoos" to start pleading for my salvation etc. As far as people being weak, I simply did not intend for that phrase to be taken as physically weak. Your grandmother sounds like a fine example of a human being, and I do agree that Dr. King was not a "physically" weak person. But I most definitely disagree with the fact that these people were great people simply because they proclaimed "Christian Values." There are thousands upon thousands of religions on this planet, mostly all with the same basic "right-or-wrong" principles. We as humans are intelligent beings, and as a whole we are instilled right and wrong behaviour by our parents, or those who raised us. Whether or not they refer to the Bible as the basis of their own principles is completely irrelevant.

Mr. Simmons, if you think Christians are weak,it is because you never met my grandmother. She bore 7 children, all at home except the last one. He was born in a hospital, due to her leukemia. She toiled the fields like a man, in some instances times just a few hours after giving birth. Hers was a hard life, and she stood for what was right even in the face of adversity. One time a chain gang was working the roads near her house. A very severe storm came up. The guards chained the prisoners to a tree while they sought shelter for themselves at my grandmother's home. My grand mother told them that unless they let the prisoners come in, then the guards could not either. The guards at first told her only the white men could come in, she told them it didn't matter what color the men were,because it was her Christian duty and it was right. She stood her ground and the guards relented. She not only gave them shelter, but fed them too. On her death bed, her last thoughts were of her grandchildren, with instructions that we be fed... her last words before she went to meet her Lord. She kept her faith in Jesus and treated people like a Christian should. I was 3 years old when she passed but I will never forget her.To this day, those who knew her will tell you that her life was an example of how a Christian should live. Was Martin Luther King jr. weak minded? I think not. Whether one agreed with his politics or not, he certainly could not be called weak. What about Martin Luther, who put his very life on the line to face a charge of heresy? He faced people who he knew would probably kill him. No weakness there. What of the deciples who denied Christ and hid, until they heard of his resurrection, and saw Him alive again? They preached Christ resurrected with fervor, though they faced death, beatings, stonings and imprisonment. Men would not stick to a lie under the torture they endured, if all they had to do was deny Christ? But they would not do the thing that had saved just 3 days before. Where is the weakness in that? You have a right to believe what ever you do. I respect your views and tend to agree with many of them. I suspect you are a good and decent person. But I ask you... would men who had strongly denied knowing Christ at his trial and crucifixion be so bold as to face death for their belief in Him,just 3 days after the events, had they not been convinced of His resurrection? Knowing human nature, I believe that they truly converted, and it would have taken something special to make such a change. For cowards do not in a matter of 3 days change to bold men without there is some earth shattering event. They were willing to die for something they had denied just 3 days before. Now there are evil men who twist the Gospel and use it to hurt and condemn. They are not true Christians. And if you believe that Christians are week, it is because you never knew the ones I have mentioned.

Unfortunately, using the Times-News comment boards as your pulpit is not acceptable. Repeating the same nonsense over and over, simply because you must lean on a crutch to allow you to live your life without any thoughtful reasoning or responsibility. Thank you all for your own personal favorite Bible verses on how to condemn this man and to validate your own shady ordeals. Christians are simply weak-minded individuals that must be coddled and bottle fed with pure nonsense so that they can feel better about themselves. *Yes, here it comes..."Ronald Simmons has got the devil in him..." etc etc. Do you have any clue as to how silly you all sound?

HONESTY A MUST
I must be honest before God - I am a sinner always in need of His mercy and saving grace. God will meet me where the truth is and nowhere else. I may deceive men, for they look on the outward flesh, but God is not deceived, He looks on the heart! If I confess my sins, He will forgive my sins. If I judge myself, I shall not be judged. If I deal TRUTHFULLY with God, He
will, in Christ, deal mercifully with me. Hypocrisy in any area of life is foolish, but hypocrisy before God is FATAL. "If we say we have no sin we are deceived - if we say we have not sinned, we make God a liar!" What folly to play the PIOUS ONE in the presence of OMNISCIENCE! Is it not better to stand with the publican and cry, "God be merciful to me, the
sinner?" Is it not better to weep with the harlot at His feet and rise forgiven, than to sit with Simon in the seat of Phariseeism and perish?
Pastor Henry Mahan

John Cooper- I appreciate you trying to correct me but that was exactly what I was trying to point out in those scriptures I posted. You were reading those thinking of tommy tester as a brother in Christ and I posted them implying that tommy tester is a goat in sheeps clothing. If he would not of got caught that day he would of been right behind that pulpit again saying the same old thing acting like nothing had ever happen, A man just dont out of the blue get drunk put on a skirt and try to offer oral sex to men. I thank the Lord for exposing Him for what he is just like the Lord exposed Herby Powers, and as far as ronald simmons comment I do not know him or at all agree with him I am a believer in the ABSOLUTE SOVEREIGN GRACE OF GOD but I am just tired of everybody acting so religous and putting on their shows of self rightouness, We need the Lord to come into our churches with a whip and drive the pharisees out.

What are the responsibilities of leadership? I am in the process of reaching Tommy and do my best to know my prayer is for his restoration. I do not condon sin but at the same time it is OUR responsibility as Christians not to judge. Here's what it says in Galatians Chapter 6 - do we have the heart of what God wants us to do?
1Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. 2Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. 3If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.

All I know is that everyone who reads this at one point in their life has sinned. We have all come short of the glory of God. I'm here to pour in the wine for cleansing and the oil for healing. We need to practice what the Good Samaritian done for another. Will you drop your stone? As Christ stood by a woman who dead in the eyes of the law are we going to be like Christ or like the stone holders? Me being a Christian I sure do want to maintain that title "Christ"ian and be "Christ" like. My prayers are with you Tommy.

Chris Moody- The verses from Matthew that you cite involve Christ's condemnation of the Jews and their Talmudic legalism, not the hypocrisy of a brother Christian. The response of the Gospel Baptist church is exactly right. Mr. Tester needs to be accountable, he may need corrective discipline, and I would argue that he quite possibly should face eventual execution if he can't overcome his problems that cause him to endanger children. But he shouldn't be simply condemned and abandoned, and he shouldn't be held up as an example of the imagined "hypcrisy" of Christians.

If there is hypocrisy to be examined, start with Matthew 23 and apply it to today, with the continued blatant hypocrisy found in the modern-day Talmud-ists and their actions in the Middle East. Harrassing this broken down addict and using him as a weapon against Christ is pointless.

Thank you Mr. Moody for such an insightful personal judgement of your fellow man. Obviously, we as humans couldnt function properly without referring to an ancient book full of its own hypocrosies and contradictions. There are millions of people that have never seen nor touched a Bible who have the inherent knowledge of right and wrong. Your use of the Bible as your own weapon is nothing more than laughable in its entirety.

When I read about Tommy Tester I thought about these scriptures.

Mat 23:23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
Mat 23:24 Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.
Mat 23:25 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.
Mat 23:26 Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.
Mat 23:27 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchers, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.
Mat 23:28 Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
Mat 23:29 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchers of the righteous,

All human beings are God's begotten offspring, not Jesus alone! This man's screwup does not prove otherwise...
Still, it looks like this child of God needs addiction treatment, and perhaps a kinder, gentler religion as well. Whether that's as a Christian or as a member of some other faith, it's time for Tommy to come down to Earth.

Becky Ickes wrote: "I suspect fowl play"

That's why the term for men such as Thomas tester are known as "chicken hawks".

By the way: how many actual witnesses and Police Officers does it take to "set up" someone?

"He will not even go to places where people are wearing shorts", well that's just plain silly. And the Johnson City police set this man up? Dressed him up in a skirt and got him drunk, threw an empty bottle of oxycodone in his car and then arrested him? Wow. All these officers putting their jobs on the line to set-up a preacher. Talk about Christians and their blind faith. Geez people, get a grip here.

He will have his day in court. But it is a sad commentary on the state of Christianity in the U.S. to day. From child molestation to such behavior as was mentioned in this story, such behavior is why many do not attend church.Many have seen everything they believe smashed in front of them due to such shenanigans, and it leaves them confused. Your supposed to be able to have confidence in the church leadership, and incidents such as these are destroying that confidence which is vital to church growth. I am sure that this type of behavior goes on in other religions also,but it is seldom reported because Christianity is by far the main religion here. Give the man his day in court. So far we have heard only one side, but I must admit it does not look good for him. In response to Joe Allison... yes there have always been the Elmer Gantrys. But Christ himself forewarned of this. Matt. 24:24 "For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible,even the elect." So that is why we must watch carefully what is preached and what they do, to try and avoid deception. That is why there are guidelines in the Bible as to who may preach, be a deacon etc. But we still must watch their actions. For man is not perfect, and liable to fall. Yes, we need to have confidence in our Christian leaders...but only put faith in the Lord.

I suspect fowl play. Tommy has been a personal friend of our family for as long as I can remember. I've never heard a more powerful man speak about God as he. He will not even go to places where people are wearing short because he finds it offensive. I fully believe he was either drugged or set up. Tommy, if you read this, we love you and our hearts are pooring prayers for you.

It's interesting to see people who have set themselves up as our moral guardians caught doing some very immoral things. Some preachers both nationally and locally have been caught doing the very things they condemned. Mr. Tester's alledged actions have plagued churches since the beginning of Christianity and will till the end times. This brings to mind the book by Sinclair Lewis called "Elmer Gantry," about a traveling tent revivalist preacher in the 1930s, who is a charlatan that takes advantage of believers to drink, womanize and enrich himself. Are some of our religious leaders modern versions of Elmer Gantry? All who ask to be forgiven for their sins will be, but can anyone ever trust the actions of these individuals again. That is a problem many churches face when one of their leaders falls from grace into sin.