The Real Enemies of the Church
If you go up to the menu board on this site you will find a section called “Potters Field Survivor Stories”.
There you will find over fifty stories of alleged abuse at the hands of one organization, an organization that is still successfully soliciting funds to the tune of $50,000 a month.
The alleged abusers have not answered any of the charges against them, spoken no words of repentance, nor any words of remorse for their actions.
There has been little support from the denomination that enabled the alleged abusers, indeed, some still will support them as soon as I stop writing about the matter or die, whichever comes first.
Prayers are ascending for both scenarios…
That section of the blog doesn’t get many clicks…stories about Bob Coy still get a dozen a day…mainly from people hoping that somehow “Pastor Bob” will make a comeback. “Pastor Bob”s” trail of broken lives and rank immorality don’t matter…he was “such a good teacher”. He was a vile human being, but he sure was funny…
The Gospel For Asia scandal took up a lot of our attention a few years ago…they brought on a new celebrity in Francis Chan and are making bank once again.
There is now a small army of victims and victims advocates online and on social media.
They have done great work on exposing and naming corruption.
The only people that care are their peers.
Corruption doesn’t bother Christians.
Abusive clergy don’t bother Christians.
Victims don’t matter to Christians.
Popularity matters a lot.
Politics means a lot…debates on doctrinal issues have been replaced with fights about the political positions of denominations and clergy.
The SBC has had a host of sexual scandals recently, but the big fights are about women preachers and other “liberal” issues.
“Social justice” has replaced predestination and baptism as boundary markers for biblical fidelity and doctrinal debate.
Sexual and spiritual abuse aren’t even on the radar.
None of the systems that run ecclesiastical life in this country have fundamentally changed at all.
This is somewhat like the sin of Achan who buried the “devoted things” under his tent after conquest and the whole of Israel paid for that sin until Achan was dealt with.
In the church, we bury the victims of “conquest” under the tent and hope God hasn’t noticed.
I’ve bet my life on the belief that He has…and justice is coming.
I doubt that most will recognize why.
We have met the enemy and he is us…
Good post, Michael, good post
I wonder at these exploiters – making their living exploiting the Faith at others expense
One thing seems clear, though… they are not sons of God as they have no fear of Him
They will, but it probably will come too late – sorrowful fact
Do we pray for their souls?
Em,
I don’t.
I pray for those abused and don’t care if the leaders split he’ll wide open.
That’s on them…they claimed to be the spiritual leaders.
God has noticed.
I am at a point where I can’t even consider these abusers people of God. I wouldn’t fellowship with them.
Problem is, the church had not taught the whole counsel of God and many Christians apparently don’t read their bibles or seek the truth before God.
If we allow evil, evil will prevail. Apparently a lot of Christians real don’t know what evil is.
I pray every day that God will wake up his people who are sleeping and get them of their butts.
Come on, isn’t the line that the church doesn’t ever do anything a bit cynical?
You HAVE TO know stories of Christians and churches who’ve properly exercised church discipline, don’t you?
I appreciate your zeal though
Jtk:
I wrote a rambling comment fuel by the frustration with our church institutions and then, before hitting send, reread your post.
“You HAVE TO know stories of Christians and churches who’ve properly exercised church discipline, don’t you?”
I hit delete and started over.
Yes there are Christians and churches doing the work you mentioned. Let me point one out.
I don’t know much about his personal life nor the church he is a part of, but this man and his productions are a light.
Alex Kendrick
http://kendrickbrothers.com
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alex_Kendrick
https://sherwoodbaptist.net
Many might think his films are a bit corny and sappy at times, but how does someone who loves Jesus show, demonstrate and teach how to live it out? His films are a worthy light in the darkness of the men and women whom Michael is writing about.
Thank you Jtk, you helped me this morning!
1000+ unbelievables! heart breaking! grievous! Father forgive us! Lord have mercy! Holy Spirit help us!
Ezekiel 8 and 34…
Jtk,
Yes, a few have exercised church discipline properly.
However , the systemic issues haven’t changed at all in the last 20 years.
If anything, things are worse than when I started.
You mean the church that threatened anybody who worked on a different type of Christian movie?
https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2012/marchweb-only/blue-like-jazz-conspiracy.html
Not a great example in my books…
Okay Steve, the enemy is in us then and I’m sure you will find fault with all ministries, including PP.
I read your post and frankly it tells me very little about the situation or the actual and factual comments which were made amongst the parties.
Jtk asked a legitimate question and all you can do is find fault, so please post the ministry you find is a golden example of truth and righteousness. The enemy is within.
“…what so ever is… think on these things.”
“Thank you Jtk, you helped me this morning!”
Literally smiled out loud. Thanks.