Ben Courson Is Back…
Ben Courson has returned to ministry.
Evidently, there is some confusion about where he went and why he was gone.
According to this report Courson stepped down because of sexual sin…according to Courson’s social media he stepped aside to get “fresh direction from the Lord”.
Whether the Lord told him to zip his designer pants has yet to be revealed.
The Courson family followed the familiar playbook that is used whenever celebrity pastors are caught in unsavory situations.
First, you either deny or minimize the allegations.
Second, you demonize the accusers.
Third, you go silent until the moment passes.
Finally, you make a triumphant return with thousands of mindless idolaters thanking the Lord you’re back.
Well done.
It worked again.
The truth is that Jon and Ben Courson are both disqualified from ministry.
They know it, the people around them know it, and many “affiliated ” leaders know it…but accountability will not buy beans or designer jeans.
Jesus wept…but the idolaters cheered…again.
Extremely well stated. Both are disqualified. Both have lied to the sheep about their involvement in the on going coverup as well as their own behaviors regarding predatory sexual sin within the body of Christ at ACF. People like to quote the verse, “he without sin cast the first stone.” This reflects a complete mis understanding and mis application of God’s heart. I am not the least bit surprised at Jon and Ben’s sin. They are sinners saved (hopefully) by grace. I am disappointed. I am certainly not judging them for that, as God is able and will handle that. I am called to be a fruit inspector, biblically,
where there is leaven in the body, that it might not leaven or infect the entire body with leaven. (read 1 Cor 1:5 and many other places in NT) God’s heart in this story is not judgment unto condemnation but unto restoration, that their spirit might be restored into a right relationship with God in the day of the Lord. This is available to Jon and Ben…thru repentance, forgiveness and finally restoration. Sadly, they have chose the hypocritical path of teaching truth but living the lie. It has and is causing many to stumble. Pray that God will give Jon and Ben wisdom, as they are off course.
All he has to do is get on the Preachers and Sneakers site!
I’ve been in two churches where pastors were in deep doo-doo sin wise and everyone played Emperor’s new clothes. When it got serious, both churches were destroyed from the inside out. One church recovered; the other never did. I must confess that I didn’t have a lot of sympathy later when the one church fell apart (I had long since moved on). There are no perfect churches, but leadership that does not take sin seriously is inexcusable.
This makes me sick how once again the “game plan” worked.
Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!
Exactly correct
Thanks for keeping us posted, Michael. So sad, but not surprising at all. This example is one of the many reasons I can no longer attend a church where the pastor is a superstar, with no accountability, and has full access to all that money.
“Touch not God’s anointed” right?
It is quite revealing to me exactly who is liking his current social media posts.
As Gomer Pyle would say, “Surprise Surprise!” NOT.
You have really no understanding of what being a Christian is and is not ! If you think you are perfect in all your ways and sinless you need to really search your heart – I’m sure if you are honest and I’m not sure you are you will find a fairly large list of needed improvements and house cleaning needed. “Search MY heart , oh God and see if there be any wicked way in ME” !! You might try that. You can only know what is your own heart and mind and let God know what is in others hearts and minds. Judge not lest you be judged. Your whole Phoenix Preacher gig is looking more like a teenager comment without responsibility . Who oversees your proclamations and checks you facts and motives — I wonder !
The Courson family have been a blessing to multiplied thousands of people in the Valley and all over the world and that is from first hand knowledge not speculation. Their message is put Christ first in your life and seek Him and get into and fully understand the Word . That is not what I see in the Phoenix Preacher! Perhaps a bit of envy of a family that has put him first in all things. Not sure about that but you should check your heart and see if ……
In the mean time ask Him if you are advancing the Kingdom of God or not ! Just thinking that the answer may be something you are not prepared for.
We are to be workmen not ashamed of the Gosple of Christ and able to give an account for the hope that lives within us!
Cal,
This is a pretty standard response from people who are biblically illiterate and morally bankrupt.
Well done.
There are standards for ministry…ethical and moral standards…that if broken disqualify a person.
Being “successful” does not compensate for all the victims…there is no such thing as “collateral damage” in the church.
I suggest you go somewhere and find true Biblical instruction.
“You have really no understanding of what being a Christian is and is not’
Wow,
Now, there’s a special kind of stupid.
Or as Bugs said, “What a maroon!”
Cal,
What about the victims. These girls were and are traumatized by Ben’s actions. Are we going to just, as Jon says, “out live our critics.” Few people who have sat under Jon for a long time would argue his God given ability to exposit the word of God, me included. However that is not the issue here. Sin in the camp and a massive coverup is the issue. It needs to be dealt with in full transparency or we will continue to see people in the body of Christ hurt, stumbled and devoured by wolves. I personally know and have spoken independently with several friends in leadership and a couple of Ben’s victims. All relate the same story, nearly verbatim, of what occurred in “emergency meeting” called by Joe Strobel. What all of these people (5) confirmed is that Ben’s sexual escapades with young girls in the ACF fellowship is much more involved than any of the leadership has stated. It is accurate that two of the long term elders and friends of mine from when I was an elder at ACF, quit on the spot, due to the coverup being put in place by Jon and Joe. This is a full blown coverup of the senior pastor’s sexual activity with young girls at ACF, led in the full spirit of nepotism by Jon. Zero transparency. Mean time Benny is still currently under investigation by the Medford Police Dept. for sexual assault. So we are going to just say, “the Courson’s have blessed so many worldwide, that we are going to give them a pass on all this?” Your kidding me right now…..right? I love Jon Courson and agree he is a gifted teacher, however he is on the wrong road here and needs to be held accountable. Otherwise we might just as well throw out half of the NT that clearly addresses the standards for pastors and continue on turning a blind eye when we have our pastors initiating sexual relations with young girls in the fellowship with no consequences. Then by that fine example from leadership we will no doubt have others in the fellowship that conclude that it is perfectly ok to behave this way. Great idea!!
Cal Martin, are you just joking? Instead of kissing the ring(s) and drinking the kool-aid, I highly recommend you do some serious research. Not only should you try to learn about what your idols have done with what the Lord has called them to do, but also what the man you are accusing of running a “teenage comment” forum. Your head is clearly in the sand or somewhere else I don’t need to point out.
Cal Martin,
We all dare you to come back and engage in a conversation here instead of just drive-by flaming. But like all the other people who post stuff like you did, you probably won’t. Michael IS advancing the Kingdom (he’s certainly aided me in my walk!), while people like Ben Courson are ruining lives and turning people away from the Kingdom by his actions.
“you make a triumphant return with thousands of mindless idolaters thanking the Lord you’re back.”
And there will be many who will want them back because they want their ears itched. They do not understand grace, repentance, the impact on those who were abused, and they certainly do not understand the stricter judgment that teachers are held to. Those who support this are complicit in this charade of injustice.
This is a systemic problem throughout the entire church—not unique to evangelicalism. There is a total disregard for biblical ethics on so many fronts. Those who get caught attempt to cover their ass and others like them, and you have the formation of a fraternity of those who fell and came back. What a club! They cannot see beyond their own gifting, demonstrating that the see themselves as indispensable. Their self-focus blinds them to everything else. And the masses, most don’t care, they just want another bowl of lentils……..
pstMike
I could not agree more. There is no accountability with our leadership in so many cases. Many of the flock that I have spoken with are completely uninformed about these things, all the while we are instructed by our pastors from the NT over and over to beware of wolves that will come in and devour the flock. Oh the hypocrisy of it all!!! But in the interest of not rocking the boat and maintaining our place in the club, we quote “he who is without sin cast the first stone” News flash, none of us are without sin, that is not the point. The point is dealing with the sin, especially as it relates to our senior pastors preying sexually with young girls in the fellowship. Read James 3:1. The bible teaches to quickly repent, be forgiven and restored. Apparently Jon and Ben feel it does not apply to them. They certainly cannot claim they do not know it as they have been teaching it for decades.
Come back and engage? Never happens. Never.
I attended several Calvary Chapel churches in Southern California for over 30 years. My husband led worship on Sundays for years and I taught Sunday school and we helped lead hone fellowship groups together. Over the years I saw enough that disturbed me that I finally left Calvary Chapel altogether, even though I was saved at Calvary Chapel. These are some really dirty dealings at Applegate Fellow ship- young women preyed upon by the pastor himself. It reminds me of Donald Trump’s words caught on tape. “When you’re famous you can do whatever you want! You can grab them by the ***** and they let you!” This church is just like the church Jesus spoke of in the Bible when he said, “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and everything unclean.” Matthew 23 27-28 Anyone pastoring or attending this church will be tainted unless they remove the rot and seek repentence for the cover-up. God will not be mocked.
Bob1.. ha..I gave it a shot knowing full well he’s long gone. Over the years I have noticed all these folk that come out of nowhere to defend the these scoundrels all post the same drivel..as if from some kind of script.
Michael
Did you receive the email i sent you a few days ago?
Officerhoppy,
I didn’t…
Which email did you send it to?
Michael
It’s pretty important. Where can i send the info
phoenixpreacher@gmail.com
Just sent it
‘ A deluge of revelations about pervasive sexual misconduct in the workplace and secret settlements over the past few years have changed people’s attitudes and tolerance for such behaviors.’ This is from an article I read today in the LA Times announcing a new law that has been passed, The Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Harrassment Act. The law prevents forced arbitration in all workplace sexual harrassment disputes. “It’s being called one of the most signicant reforms in American history” according to the news article.”It will apply retroactively, invalidating every one of these forced arbitration agreements.” Americans support this new law because letting sexual harasses of women by those in authority, whether they’re employers or predatory pastors, sweep their behavior under the the rug and avoid accountability, is morally repugnant . Ben Courson is even worse than an employer who has sexually harassed an employee, because a pastor claims to represent God!
It will be interesting to see if Ben returns to the ACF pulpit. I kinda doubt he will. I think he has his sights set on a larger venue. He may not be accepted back in the RV, but the larger Christian community will overlook the whole “affair” and receive him back with a standing ovation.
Officerhoppy,
He had some big names cheering him on…I don’t think he’s coming to ACF, but find something in SoCal…
I doubt he wants the confines of a church. I think he may want to be an internationally known speaker and author. His “sin” and return will actually become a launching pad for even greater speaking gigs. I predict that the broader Christian community, especially the So. Cal folks, will receive him back to a standing ovation.
This infuriates me…beyond disgusting!!!
I may be way off base here but one of the most telling aspects of many “popular pastors” is their development of a personal brand, tangentially related to the church they lead, but appearing to gradually create distance between their brand and that church. Branded websites, personalized domain names, promotion of said brand front and center on the official church website, etc. I give you Jack Hibbs as exhibit A, though there are many others. A brand is also “superportablewhenthingsgosouth”
We attend a CC that doesn’t feature this type of pastoral self promotion but I’ve already decided that if it goes that direction, I’ll vote with my feet.
Between this and the recent article about John MacArthur/Grace Community Church at Julie Roys website, I am both angered and deflated.
Pineapple Head wrote:
“I am both angered and deflated…”
You’re not alone.
After reading about MacArthur and his enabling of horrific child abuse by one of his parishioners, I cannot fathom why anyone would want to stay in that sick and twisted religion.
Pineapple Head – I had the opportunity to chat with Julie a few weeks ago. Try this for deflating – regarding pastors, I asked her, “Julie, is there ANYBODY who is both famous and legit? She was silent for about 5 seconds and then said, in all seriousness, “Not that I’m aware of.”
Cal – Do what Calvary Chapels exhort you to do and read your Bible.
I wrote to you in a letter not to associate with sexually immoral people. I did not mean the immoral people of this world or the greedy and swindlers or idolaters; otherwise you would have to leave the world. But actually, I wrote you not to associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister and is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or verbally abusive, a drunkard or a swindler. Do not even eat with such a person. For what business is it of mine to judge outsiders? Don’t you judge those who are inside? God judges outsiders. Remove the evil person from among you. – 1 Corinthians 5:9-13
For if we deliberately go on sinning after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a terrifying expectation of judgment and the fury of a fire about to consume the adversaries. – Hebrews 10:26-27
I find it very sad and troubling that that’s been Julie’s experience. It’s not a reflection on her, but of what she’s observed. That’s what’s sad and even pathetic.
How about stop following people and follow Jesus. It’s all idolatry. Cult-ish.
Breeze, you are absolutely right. From the east coast to the west coast, Calvary Chapel is a cesspool of idolatry and cultists behavior. For those still within the movement its time to speak up or get out. Unfortunately, this problem is much bigger than CC so the admonition is really to the larger evangelical church in America. But I feel CC holds the first place trophy for ignoring abuse and supporting idolatry.
Jeff T @ 8:56 “Julie, is there ANYBODY who is both famous and legit? She was silent for about 5 seconds and then said, in all seriousness, “Not that I’m aware of.”
Julie is pretty famous in her own right. She seems legit to me but maybe she doesn’t consider herself famous? I dunno.
Amen! Years ago I lived in a small time where our church fell apart due to pastoral sin. I had some friends who weren’t worried at all. They didn’t like any of the other churches in town, but they had two four-shelf bookcases in their den with all the audio cassettes of John McArthur sermons. They got new ones each month, so they just had “church” at home.
The continued acceptances of the Ben Courson’s and the John MacArthur’s only perpetuates and grows the number of victims who end up getting harmed and abused. So many people of our culture just don’t care as they don’t want to upset the apple carts of their lives and culture and don’t want to lose their idols. That is until they get harmed and abused themselves, and then see they have no recourse as the machine that they so blissfully rode along on rolls right over them.
Cal,
You wrote:
“Perhaps a bit of envy of a family that has put him first in all things”.
You are a “drive by” minion, and IMO, Biblically illiterate. The fact you suggested the word “envy” tells me a lot. When Michael is willing to swim upstream against the current, of which you are a part of, this strikes a chord in which pretending is a part.
There is absolutely no way Courson is fit for further ministry. Unfortunately, individuals such as he, continue to find a Market in which the Consumers are like a Comedy Movie from the early 90’s, called “Dumb, And Dumber”.
Kevin, I’m hoping that the exposure of Josh MacArthur will be a teachable lesson to the church and Mr, MacArthur will repent. I’m optimistic and hopeful. I think the video on Julie Roy’s website is devastating to his ministry. If there are cover ups and NDAs and lawyers trying to protect the truth from coming out, I think we will know if repentance is happening or not.
Hey guys
I wouldn’t let Cal’s comments throw you off too much. Take them with a grain of salt and move on
Dare I ask which CC leaders (or any other leaders for that fact) who gave Ben props on his Instagram page?
The one people here are referring to is Dave Rolph.
I’m surprised at Dave
I’m not.
He’s been in the Courson’s corner for years…never understood why.
I rarely view social media anymore, but just happened to check in here last night. I thought about commenting, but decided to hold my peace and think about what I might say, considering my perspective.
I’ve looked at Ben’s IG page now and then, to just to see ‘the latest’. sigh.
I’ve never been crazy about MacArthur either, but admit I’ve watched a few sermons in the last year. sigh.
In the immortal words of Chuck Swindoll, ‘it only takes one pin prick to burst a balloon”..
Reading the ENTIRE Bible would solve a lot of these issues. God hasn’t changed, though our access to Him has been opened through our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. But all of God’s Word is still applicable.
I love Solomon’s conclusion. Fear God and keep the commandments. This is the whole duty of man.
Yes we are thankfully saved by grace. But the Standards, the Ethics, the Moral Codes and the Cost of sin, Repentance and Making Amends is still God’s Standard. The Fear of God is still a good thing.
Heaven and Earth may pass away, but not one jot or title will pass away until all things are fulfilled. Yes, the Work of Redemption is Finished, but ‘we do not yet see all things under His feet”..
IMV, the church has lost sight of God’s Standards for His own, for those who call ourselves by His Name. Thou shalt not take the Name of the Lord, thy God in vain…. IMV this is a major part of the problem that we call “church”. If we are His offspring, then we should resemble Him and keep the family standards.
I’m an old lady.. I’ve been a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ for more than 50 years. At this point in life, I see that so much of what I experienced as “church’ is ‘in vain’. It’s popularity culture, celebrity church culture. It’s taking the Lord’s Name in vain.
I’ve waited for more than two decades for some kind of support and validation for my experience as an abandoned and slandered ex pastor’s wife. I’ve waited to be defended or for the truth to be expressed, the narrative corrected, and it’s just not going to happen in this life. It’s the path God has given to me.
I have come to the conclusion that God allows all this stuff to occur as testing and training grounds for ALL of us. How will we react, what will we choose to do, what will become of our heart in the face of injustice and abuse? As Paul said “none of these things move me” Acts 20:24 and “all these are working FOR me an exceeding weight of glory” 2 Cor 4:17.
I deeply sympathize with the abused woman from Mac’s church and with the many victims of Ben’s abuse. I can say from my own journey, that this sort of stuff causes a profoundly visceral confusion about who God is. While I am not a ‘little one”, I can understand that Jesus stated ‘anyone who causes one of these little ones of mine to stumble, it would be better for him to have a millstone hung around his neck and cast into the sea”. . But probably not in this life.
I am a sinner for certain. What church culture is lacking, IMO, is humility in the fear of God, repentance and holiness in life, as defined by all scripture, not isolated verses. Stop with the See’s Candy translation. Read the whole thing.
After 50 years of being a full time ‘church mouse’, I have currently stopped attending services or even looking for a ‘church’ to attend. My soul is at the saturation point of interacting with the game. Yea, yea, I know Hebrews 10:25. That doesn’t say ‘church’, it says fellowship. IMO, it’s time to redefine ‘church’. The called out ones.
I do pray for Ben and the family… I’ve prayed for Mac before, but now for this most visible victim. No doubt, tip of the iceberg, as is usually the case.
As someone on this thread pointed out, the larger issue is the coverup and victim shaming. That is the most disturbing and destructive part. It’s a test.
God is testing all of us. A frequent checking in to Galatians 5 and the Lists of evidences of the flesh and the Spirit would refresh our perspectives.
Paige mom, we know that women can be abused by their husbands and told by the male church leadership they are not submissive enough. We know that faithful and serving wives of pastors can be called “batshit crazy,” when he wants a divorce to marry a hot and smoking younger wife and his good old boys club backs him up. We’ve seen the young girls told they aren’t dressing modestly enough because some old men are lusting after them…making it the young girl’s problem, rather than the man’s problem. Much of the church has gone off the rails in how it views and treats women. Thankfully, those of us who have walked with Jesus long enough, know His word, and are empowered by His Spirit, know that Jesus weeps, when this is going on in His name. I’m thankful for Michael and the men here who are standing for righteousness and seeing through these lies.
Paige
Since retiring from 30 years of full time ministry, Debbie and I have found going to church challenging too. Something has changed in church culture.
Most sermons sound like they are taught by therapists and counselors rather than theologians. Corporate worship feels more like a pep rally rather than the worship of God. The lyrics of the songs are narcissistic snd self focused.
We are told how much God loves us and by His Spirit is enabling us to be become the person He wants us to be.But God forbid that anything be said about the holiness of God and the judgment to come.
Churches have become identified by vaccine vs no vaccine; mask no mask rather than the salvivic work of Christ.
Churches spend an exorbitant amount of money to hire a worship leader because they are the rock stars of the church that’s will bring in more people.
As my dad used to say “it’s all bass akwards”
Maybe it’s because I too am old, but I find church exhausting and unfulfilling. We too have stopped attending church or even looking for one that exalts God (although we’d attend one where God was again cent3er stage).
Ok…my rant is over.
BTW—We have always empathized with you Paige. We’ve been friend for a long time
I thank Jesus that I am accepted in the Beloved even though rejected everywhere else.
Thanks Paigemom for sharing. I’m on the same page (no pun intended) as you. Thought it may seem no one is trying to do church in a healthy way, there are a few who are swimming against the cultural tides of hype, show and consumerism. And I resonate with your words about not being defended. My wife and I know that path.
*Though
paigemom,
I do not believe I have met you over the years, however pretty sure I know who you are and a little of your story. I so resonate with your post. Of all the rock solid points you made, for me what we desperately need to return to, “is humility in the fear of God, repentance and holiness in life, as defined by all scripture, not isolated verses. Stop with the See’s Candy translation. Read the whole thing.” My wife and I are still in fellowship at a “church”, however after decades of observing much of what you describes in your journey, we long for something different (heaven), where the Lord is exalted on high above all (not pastors) and His God breathed Word is the standard for ALL of life (not what we thinks fits our agenda). Where we are servants to others and not constantly watching misappropriation of monies towards things that don’t serve anyone, but rather in many cases line the pockets of those in leadership. Where those entrusted by God to lead….would lead in a Godly way, being held accountable in all things that have any appearance of impropriety. We have lost our way.
Maybe some of us should start a new gathering.
Well…he was gone almost exactly the 6 months we were told he would be for a time of personal sabbatical (so to speak). I was surprised…yet…not surprised to find him back on social media. The videos do seem to be building him up for in person preaching again. But I agree that it will likely NOT be at ACF…or anywhere in the RV. I agree with the person that stated that he will likely be welcomed back to bigger platforms on a larger scale. I feel like he will somehow portray himself as the misunderstood victim with new fuel for his “testimony” and new “life lessons” to share….but that is just a personal feeling with zero grounds or proof. Time will tell. I pray for all those that feel victimized in any way. I pray for those that are putting pastors on pedestals and treating them as idols. I pray for those that are struggling to reconcile all that they think they know with all that actually is. Prayers for guidance and wisdom.
I am reading a book written by Jon. Courson’s nephew, Chas entitled “Blessed are the Bank Robbers. It about one of the Courson brother’s son, Danny, who became a bank robber. Chas does a lot of explanation on the Courson family and gives great insight into why the Courson’s do what they do. It’s on Amazon. I’e got your KIndle version
Just bought it…
Finished the book last night. The last two chapters may be of interest to you.
Read it last night…interesting book…
Sounds like your all a bunch of hypocritical people talking like the pharacies and the people wanting to stone the woman at the well. Which one of you are without sin. Forgiveness 70×70. Look in the mirror
JD, nobody here is unwilling to forgive the Coursons. We’re all sinners saved by grace. But the scriptures do hold pastors to a higher standard, and it is clear that those who do things that they have done are disqualified from ministry. I’m speaking as one who has loved the Coursons for decades, and still do. Don’t confuse disqualification with unforgiveness.
Free Masons & Jesuits will not resign from pulpits. They are not done deceiving the masses yet. They have a short time.
Steve,
The Coursons are creeps, but not Freemasons or Jesuits.
I rather like Jesuits…
Please take your psychosis elsewhere…
Freemasons and Jesuits in pulpits? Gosh, who needs drugs?!
What the hell is Steve talking about? His comments seems to be unrelated to anything
Don’t give up, church!, People of God! These are just signs of the times. We need to keep our eyes on Jesus, not on liars who claim to be representing Him. They are a dime a dozen. With God’s help, we are bigger than this! We will not be toppled because of them! God is still God and we are still His. Let not your heart be troubled.