Calvins Corner
In all the fallout from the Together For the Gospel conference controversy, I believe a critical point has been missed.
That point is this.
The 8-10,000 pastors assembled learned more than theology from Al Mohler and C.J. Mahaney.
They learned to have the same attitudes toward abuse and abuse victims that their leaders have.
Mohler mocked the whole situation and mocked those who have brought attention to the matter.
Men of conscience and the Holy Spirit would have walked out at that point.
If any of them did, they were too few to notice.
They applauded their leaders and went home ready to duplicate the same attitudes that were displayed in front of them.
Tyrants begetting tyrants…
God help us all.
This week Phil and I speak of how people control the narrative in these cases and God’s narrative about you.
I have heard of two who refused to attend CJ’s “preaching”. Those are two true Protestants, whose consciences are captive to the Word of God, not bound by the faux-authority of celebrity men.
I pretty much avoid conferences these days. (I think the last big conference I went to was back in 2008 or so, the Preach the Word conference at Harvest Church in Riverside.)
Yet this past weekend I was, at the last minute, invited to attend a one-day conference at our local rescue mission in Spokane. It was a conference for parents and grandparents of adult children who have entered into homosexuality. By the grace of God, I’m not in that category, but I was interested to hear from an expert in this field. (The speaker was Jason Thompson out of the Portland Fellowship ministry).
Jason kicked off his teaching by describing it as the conference no one wanted to be at. What a true statement. I was humbled to be among such a weary, broken people. Yet they were leaning on God to walk them through something that was confusing and painful for them.
Bottom line, this gathering was way more helpful and enriching to me than a $$$$$ conference marked by celebrity Christian leaders.
Hey, I saw you there, Piney.
That was my last conference, too!
It’s a Business first and foremost. That is proven in spades.
The Institutional Church like Calvary Chapel and SBC etc are corrupt. Don’t trust them, don’t support them.
Just got done with mandatory mediation with Bob Grenier. Nada, which was not unexpected.
Before the mediation, his attorney had floated the idea of them simply backing out of the lawsuit and avoiding a Jury trial which would be telling of his guilt in these matters IMO. There would certainly be ramifications from that outcome if he chose that path after all this time and all the trouble he caused.
Can’t and won’t discuss any details of the mediation due to confidentiality agreement other than to report what I reported above, nada.
When will you guys realize that hard cold truth I had to accept when I met with Chuck Smith?
Church constructs like Calvary Chapel are a Business. That is the dynamic in play. It is not a spiritual exercise at all. There is no happy ending. There is no magic. There is no Santa Claus.
It’s the hard cold facts of life.
Accept it for what it is. A biz. Don’t put any faith in churches or leaders, don’t support them. Don’t trust them. Don’t give your hard earned money to them. Warn others.
Yuppers. Like I said since day one on here…you gotta control the narrative. I tell that to my politician friends as well.
The professional pastors and Calvary Chapel examples that in their Sect/Cult dynamic. The best most lethal Politicians do it, the most successful Businesses do it. It’s the way of the World…and the Church is no different.
tyrants producing tyrants, because that is what tyrants do best.
we need another Reformation.
The fact of the matter is that CJ’s influence shrinks by the minute. He gets to speak at a conference of which he was a founder, but he is met by protests and the kind of press we were praying for 8 years ago. The old white guys will stick by their buddy, but there will never be a new conference like t4g that will want to have anything to do with CJ. All he has left are scraps and crumbs. The leftovers from past glory.
I’ve learned to take the long view. While I mourn with those who rightfully seek justice, because I doubt they will find it, I think it’s a mistake to ignore God’s fingerprints on CJ’s neck.
Ok, I have to admit that rarely listen to the podcast, but wow, that was fantastic.
AMEN
Jim – I like your take. CJ had a spot at this conference because Mohler is his best bud. That’s the only reason. Even (most of) the other guys at the conference wouldn’t have had him had it not been for Mohler.
The comment about these conferences being about tyrants training up new tyrants is the very reason I started frequenting the blog of a certain author/CEO. I had a friend who was a pastor who started sharing posts from that site, it opened my eyes to the lupine (or tyrant) assembly line that has been set up in the church. I read the things that are out there, and I want to scream “WHY CAN’T YOU SEE WHAT IS GOING ON HERE”.
I should probably change the things I shout about. Not sure there is anything scriptural about the one shouting in the wilderness “WTF”.
This would seem like an obvious question:
If CJ is the product of the Shepherding Movement, then who is under who’s authority?
Is it CJ?
Or are National Christian personalities under his?
Even giving every last shred of benefit of the doubt, how is this not the way that this played out:
Mohler: Look CJ, you are my friend, and you know that I stand behind you one hundred percent, but you have to admit how bad it would look for us to put you behind that podium, and how disrespectful it would seem to the people that don’t know you personally add I do. I’m sorry, but this just isn’t something we can do right now.
Mahaney: You’re absolutely right. Completely understand.
This stuff is so easy.
Say to yourself:
“I am an adult. I don’t need to be treated like a child. I am capable of making my own decisions.”
Then walk away without a single ounce of guilt for not “being under authority”.
Rob,
Yep, yep and Yep.