james river assembly scandal james river assembly scandal

He spends the remainder of the sermon talking about Saul who became Paul and forgiveness. He is listening for your litl sweet voice! But maybe power is just something that is too tempting for him to handle and in order for him to live out his life following Christ, it may be something he must never let pass his lipsmuch like alcoholics cannot drink again. He dropped the moral bar for both pulpit and pew that has far reaching consequences on the way we do church. Otherwise, quit calling those 40 pastors and all those victims liars. Maybe Driscoll can do commercials like John McEnroe, i am against that sort of ministry, that sort of authority over people, that sort of famousness, that sort of using the gospel of Jesus to make money and become well known in christan circles, that sort of using Jesus name for any personal gain, that sort of i have special insight from God and heres how much you have to pay for it in my new book, that sort of quit saying i have to be asking to be forgiven if i hurt people that sort of we are all brethren but i am alpha brethren i dont hold unforgiveness toward mark driscoll but i am not for anyone anywhere doing that sort of ministry. I can appreciate that sentiment Gram3 and I applaud it. Yes, thanks for this. "He saw it for what it was. 16 Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the LORD. AFter the persecution and time in Antioch, Barnabus seems to make a decision on his own to go to Tarsus to find Paul. Every week seems to get more strange and more openly cult like. If the congregation, the pew sitter as you say, cannot do it what does that leave? According to the Pastor John Lindell, Driscoll has spoken there on three other occasions. "But we can speak and encourage people to vote in terms of the morality of the issue.". This has nothing to do with the recent downfall of Mark and demise of Mars Hill. They noted that since the pandemic began, they have taken very stringent precautions at each service, including: take temperatures at the door, fog-sanitize their auditorium, sanitize the childrens areas and common areas multiple times daily and provide masks to everyone who attends. thanks for sharing that peter, i agree with the article but havent read any of his other posts. @ LT: Sopy If you become used to a certain standard of living, that does not mean you are entitled to that standard of living. If so you may be onto something. Or there are people who were sexually abused by Uncle so and so who have forgiven him, and perhaps the man has done his time, but their forgiveness does not mean that they would ever allow their children in the same room with him. https://www.youtube.com/watchv=i7lv9oMjv_0&sns=em&app=desktop. @ Bridget: Not a fan but many are. And Ive certainly heard many tales of people who were awful people moving onto ministry later on in life. If there is one thing I know it is that those around Acts 29 circles are now in Mark who? That does not even mention the eradication of those who did not agree and his cognitive dissonance concerning Hiroshima and working to bring USSR Nuclear missles in Cuba claiming it would be good to use them on Imperialist American. think of him as he is pray to glorified jesusking of kings lord of lords worshiped by angels. stephen says Ive gotta find jesus on the worst most devasting difficult damaging day of my life I have to find jesus (more mark interpreting the bible for all of us non pastors, stephen already knew where Jesus was) and he sees jesus, what is jesus doing? Sincerely want to know what the alternative is. You cant speak in tongues? GW used to require people to take a class and understand the commitment but they couldnt keep their salvation numbers up without the spontaneous element that include giving away free clothes and smart little swag bags for those willing to dunk for the cameras. I asked people who were about as famous (if that is what you call it) as him what they thought. I think it underestimates those believers in the pews who are, themselves, filled with the Spirit and do exhibit the fruit of Galations 5. Is that leader with a criminal record hitting on your young teen? http://www.richmond.com/news/local/city-of-richmond/article_4d131547-f913-5d43-bfc5-5a292f4c27e1.html, What I dont get is why Hillsong and Assemblies of God (James River Church), who have extremely different views on women in the church would even consider someone like Mark Driscoll as a special speaker. Join Us As we Welcome Our Speaker, Apostle Mark Driscoll, The Forgiven. In my opinion Gateway is a cult not a church so they lose their Winters Bone protection status. Because for me, it is the center of the practice of Christianity, and I had missed it. But the Pipers, Mohlers, Akins and others saw him as someone really catching the attention of the young guystheir followers. Youre not trying hard enough! He told me Tuesday that he has every right to campaign for repeal in a sermon. So I can see why some churches would want him on board. James River Church is located in the Springfield, MO! was paul asking for forgiveness? The Jews in Damascus want to kill him and he is snuck out of town by believers. If a pastor makes a statement denying allegations, its a lie. Southern Missouri . . Bob, I loved your comment. I didnt realize tens of thousands had already left. Until that flaw is named and claimed, it is reasonable to expect this kind of thing to happen again. No, there is no reason to believe CJ committed actual crimes. I saw many warnings but there seemed to be some explanation for most of it. He repeated what he has said in the past: He believes if the issue is to be addressed it should be done at the federal level. No I wouldnt allow someone who was an embezzler or criminal back in charge, of course not. i have met people that have told me that they went to gateway (and other churches that are similar) but no longer do without ever saying why. How can a reasonable person look past that? Albuquerque Blue reminded me of something about mark driscoll during the fall. Lindell then got personal with me. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Forgiveness does not address that issue at all. Like God might show up. Connection ends, shunning begins and the cycle begins all over again with the next batch of newbies. These Pentecostals keep insisting that almost everything written on the internet about Mark Driscoll isnt even close to the truth. Seriously? if mark is not truly repentant, (which is totally conceivable since he has never apologized for anything except being too unkind in firing people and running people into the ground under his God given authority) then this could be compared, (by sin levelers who will be quick to show up here and defend him)this could be compared to Jordan Root getting right back in the mission field and preaching about what happens when women and heathens in the press persecute godly people accused of child porn addictions with no evidence. Thank you. appeciate your posts and the others on this blog, i remember that, thanks Van, for the reminder. sheep are watching and wolves coming. This is off topic but your question has been the basis of discussion with many associates for the last 6 months, many recently leaving an authoritarian church. Its the same game he has played. they get tired of hearing his kind words they shove it into his mouth. I find it hard to believe he truly didnt know anything before last weekend! Consider how he attained it fleecing the flock. As a result, the IRS has guidelines on their political activity. So this is kinda what we do So in Africa we partnered and we have an orphanage there that now has I think it is 32 kids and 140 people in Mars Hill give monthly to help support them. what they are. His career has been a total focus on getting his narcissistic supply. Silly me! This guy has lists on his page in bulleted form: Not that I dont admire Saul/Paul. Pun intended. Unfortunately I dont see loose associations of Christ followers functioning in my locale but I continually find more dones, those done with institutional church. Dont you want to be a part of that? Let me look it up. (Those wounded by MD) must forgive even if (MD) never admits wrong. Mark was talking about Mark. He needs a revenue stream and using Jesus is all he knows. It didnt occur to me because I havent seen that modeled in a very long time. this discussion you make today determines your destiny, God wants you to forgive. like i said it went away from that and i didnt look into why. Ive recently read Wayne Jacobsen Finding Church, Frank Viola Finding Organic Church, Terry Stanley The way Church Was Meant To Be and found what they think the church should be an interesting concept but so far Im not convinced. May the Lord bless our search for da truth, and grant us mucho wisdom. Hey Sam you may be interested in how Jews interpret the Mashiach (messiah) passages. He appealed that he had no say in the matter. I never thought of that but that certainly might be the case. A cult expert I spoke at length with said it may be harder to find the right one, but a smaller church is the way to go. a couple months ago a young under legal age man near where i live went to a party and drove home with other kids in the car and wrecked. Some are stronger and more capable of speaking out and as we feel able to I believe that we must. Maybe the apostles did not want to be found by a major persecutor of the movement and Saul/Paul had no alternative but to put some distance between himself and his previous life until things calmed down a bit. The hyper romanticized cinematic version of the uber cool Che trumps the reality of his bloody terrorist tactics and the horrors and oppression that his brand of communism inflicted on others. This can be anything from praying for people over the phone to working in the Online Campus studio. His Father owns the cattle on a thousand hills and Jesus never asked a single person for a single penny. And he actually dismissed several of them as how Sissies or men who wear product in their hair act. Connection ends, shunning begins and the cycle begins all over again with the next batch of newbies. Rejection by churches or others in christian authority has actually resulted in the Lord comforting and building me up (in spite of my flaws) instead of causing me to doubt my salvation, He has used these things to show me how much He loves me, personally. The he takes him back to Antioch where they work together for a year with converted Gentiles. Driscoll, IMHO, is completely unsuited for any position of authority. "We all have desires that are warped as a result of our fallen nature: pride, selfishness, greed, anger, bitterness, unforgiveness, lust, envy, covetousness, chemical addiction," Lindell said. Look all those happy people; this must be a great place! in prison. We will definitely check it out. Even if Houston hadnt properly researched before the demise of MH, surely he must have learned something to have made the decision to downgrade MD from speaker to interviewee. The carpet was worn. Others appear to draw some type of inspiration from Driscoll. Nor has anyone ever lost public office thereby.. It was especially appropriate to hear last night since our current sermon series is on the topic of Worship. Barnabus is the hero of this story that gets little press. What in the world could someone with his outlandish views contribute to conferences at Hillsong or James River? I take it to mean: Don't feel so bad, there are whole lot of other people hell-bound, too. Churches are tax-exempt. I am always eager and willing to learn, so no argument here. He needs to start small, out of the public eye, not in front of thousands. Did he have liveried Armorbearers blowing long trumpets before him to announce how HUMBLE(TM) he was (chuckle chuckle)? Even then he will need what was badly missing from Mars Hill, real accountability. You might be onto something there Sopy. All you have to do is say some magic words and we end up being the mean ones if dare say we otherwise. that young man is in jail, he didnt receive a huge sentence and is receiving a great outpouring of care and compassion from the community. GW is also currently preaching John Hagees End Times Armageddon sermons to pump up the numbers, claiming the Rapture WILL take place prior to 12-31-18, in order to scare folks into those spontaneous tubs. See here: As you all know, my family and I have been facing difficult trials and persecution. Returning so soon to the limelight reinforces the idea that it really is all about Mark. Week of Power with Bill Johnson & Randy Clark Sunday, March 12 - Thursday March 16. Mark Driscoll was totally missing those things. James River Church attenders should google What happens if you get a bad teacher. I believe these churches are using Driscoll as fallen pastor insurance. We are believing this 5-day event will change your life! An awful lot of people are having to do the exact same thing. as to revenue streams, Jesus paid His taxes with money a fish popped up with. Why would either (or any) group that knew him in his previous state ever trust him without lots of evidence of change. My point with Che is to draw a parallel. The women say as part of the program they were taught to believe that they were possessed by the devil, and have since been forced to receive years of professional psychiatric treatment. no., to forgive them prepares you to see jesus. So now is the time ta share with kind folks the destination of their eternal soul? He urged Christians living in the city limits of Springfield to vote to repeal the law and to leave church with a Yes-On-Repeal yard sign. If there is one thing I think is missing from the entire narrative of interpreting scripture it is the theme of wisdom running through it from Genesis on. I could not exactly put my finger on what was wrong. If his values were disdained he would have a far better chance of turning away from the corruption that has engulfed his life so far. And the honest churches will know that most of the allegations are true and will be too ashamed to say anything. In December 2007, Merle and I quietly left Mars Hill Church. And as long as they do, it will continue. I dont think people that have fallen for false teachers are stupid, i think instead it reflects the degree of deceit in the false teachers and the seriousnes of the manipulations being used. Some people believe that God put them there. Where are all the former higly paid speaking gigs that were constant and kept his calendar full with travel? @ sam: (WARNING: Includes graphic language), American news sources didn't waste much time alerting their readers of this development. At some point, with enough outcry and rage from outside, they may hopefully see it as you did looking up at that 3 x 5 card on your bulletin. With this much covidiocy in the country, we are proving ourselves to be the dumbest nation on earth. Your facts are a bit off, beginning with the meaning of Che. I am no fan of his, but there are some big holes in your acvount of his life. In case this was not a rhetorical question, the correct answer is entertainment. He can be forgiven. https://wonderingeagle.wordpress.com/2015/06/12/how-to-respond-to-a-faith-crisis-establishing-and-building-trust/. Is this similar to Radical Chic? FTR Hillsong is also Assemblies of God. CCHD encourages individuals who were present at the high-capacity event over the weekend to monitor for symptoms of COVID-19 for 14-days from the event date and seek medical attention if symptoms develop., Church officials defended themselves in a statement issued to KYTV-KSPR, noting that despite what the images show, we take seriously the safety and health of those who attend our services.. And Shifting the Blame. So glad for the folks that started the petition to dis-invite Driscoll, which I signed as well as for those in Australia who protested his abusive, un-Christian behavior toward others, including women. Just some thoughts to consider. According to the Pastor John Lindell, Driscoll has spoken there on three other occasions. I need to talk to the president, he may be unaware what some of his professors are teaching. This is why I said above I dont think Driscoll should even be allowed to go on speaking engagements, sell Christian books, or anything involving Christianity. The reason for this is that he wept, his remorse was written on his face for months and he still is remorseful, he didnt once make any excuse for his behavior, he accepted responsiblility and reached out to the family of the victim. I find it hard to believe he truly didnt know anything before last weekend! He wants to release you from that burden and bondage, they haven't asked for forgiveness? #driscollreturns paul most influential christian wrote most books this explains marks love of also writing books. Have you not spilled all your dark secrets at Freedom Ministry? In a statement Monday, the Christian County Health Department said they also received numerous complaints from the community about the services and urged those who attended to monitor themselves for COVID-19 symptoms over the next 14 days. None of them see anything wrong with this. i was looking for my link to Rob Smiths orphanage and found that he has recently posted a great response to those propping up Mark Driscoll. Do these Pentecostal leaders believe that there is a doppelgnger out there who tied MD up in a basement then impersonated him, swearing and saying horrible things from the pulpit? Thanks for the link i want to read more of the writers work. i havent seen any video or statement where he has actually apologized for anything except being mean when he should have been nicer in throwing people under the bus, shoulda offered them a pillow maybe so they didnt hit the ground so hard, but totally right in throwing them. Judging a pastors or missionaries repentance is not being critical of pastors, its saying, this is a position that has really high moral qualifications and if you dont have them, get out of the pulpit. Others appear to draw some type of inspiration from Driscoll. Unless of course, they give up the celebrity/money/position and go into obscurity getting real jobs. Youll see they have no standards regarding truth, salt of light. Youre not one of us. But if I had trusted my gut at the time I would have admitted that staff viewing the members as guests is so far outside Body of Christ thinking it should not require an explanation. However, some of his employees and family were taken in by SBTS and seem to be doing ok. IMO, the church as a whole can help to regulate these things by exposing them and explaining how they do not reflect Christ at all. Would you hire back the embezzler to count your cash drawer after he served a short sentence because you forgave him? I have also heard the thoroughly abusive interpretation of Psalm 105:15 touch not my anointed ones, do my prophets no harm. Actually are pews still in general use? That has made logical sense to me forever. The last time Robert Morris met and greeted anyone as part of his service he still had his braces/retainer on. CCHD is extremely concerned about the health and well-being of all our community members and particularly those who attended the high-capacity event over the weekend. If he is serious about ministry then he needs to stay away from those circumstances which enable him to get into trouble-money, power and the pulpit. Gateway is so deceptive in all their practices. Kids will experience life-giving messages and TONS of fun as they watch content created just for them. What Im curious though is how the church (corporate) can self regulate against that in the face of the money and power, both spiritual and temporal, that types like MD help create. I believe in forgiveness, but cautious about putting such folks back on the platform. I dont think theres been any repentance at all. Is there a third way that I have overlooked? Jesus Church or 501(c)3 Religious business? As the one did previously now the other is going thru the hoops of treatment and being checked on by outside agencies because being around the child is worth it. when the pastor first says, his humility he almost breaks out laughing (cause maybe he knows how stupid it is to say that). Why would anyone seek to admire and celebrate a man who plotted to kill millions of innocent American civilians? . And equally astonishing is that other Christian leaders support his abusive style or at least overlook it. During this pandemic, we have helped thousands of people with food, financial assistance, counsel, and. They want their congregations and the world at large to believe that there are no amount of misdeeds that a pastor can perform, no matter how egregious, that means they shouldnt be instantly forgiven and returned to the pulpit ASAP. It was because of a backfire in strategy by then executive pastors Jamie Munson and Scott Thomas, who handled my discipline case. They did not want us to leave. I would think that rehabilitation for him would be finding a job where he was not the boss and not the teacher. love to hear that sermon. With this much covidiocy in the country, we are proving ourselves to be the dumbest nation on earth. Glassdoor provides our best prediction for total pay in today's job market, along with other types of pay like cash bonuses, stock bonuses, profit sharing, sales commissions, and tips. God, I am running for your heart until my soul is on fire?. The problem is that the average pew-sitter has no idea what things a leader should be judged by, and they merely judge based on either looks, speaking ability, or how fun the service is. this is even a bigger bad root than the bad root of complimentarianism and authorityism. Bummer. LT wrote: The Reformed Neo Cal world is going, Mark who?. 99,693 were here. Training ourselves to sense right from wrong based on the Word of God and empowered by the Holy Spirit will result in a clear conscience.. I am not the judge of the hearts of men, but God has given us clues to the genuine presence of the Spirit, and I did not see it. Sincerely want to know what the alternative is. Forgive him? Personally I am not really all that interested in what the celebrites do as in endorsing, spinning events or behavior, etc. I am not surprised he is mobilizing his church, which packs a powerful political punch through the sheer number of members and, I believe, their commitment to vote. any way i am still wrestling with my view of my world and churches and like you mentioned, gun shy when i go into a new church. He can darn well get used to a lower standard of living. I called Stephens and informed him Lindell had mentioned him in a sermon. One needed them because they were somehow spiritually qualified (?) You make an interesting comparison. Within a few months most of the members of Mars Hill Church withdrew their support of orphans under our care. The church has spawned countless church plants, charities and conferences. "It is possible for someone who has been a life-long alcoholic to stop. When not enough graduates came forward they started begging people please any graduate or relative of a graduate, even if you just graduated from Kindergarten, please please come get your free gift because what Kindergartner doesnt need advice on how to buy a car? "Nor is it outside the parameters of a gospel ministry. OT but of interest: the former pastor of a megachurch in Richmond, VA goes on trial tomorrow on charges of sexually abusing two minors in Texas some years ago. There are plenty of people within the Christian faith that have their own issues with mega churches but people outside of it especially do. @ Bridget: But Christians are under the New Covenant and the NT calls Christians to expose false teachers, not facilitate their cover ups. I just do not understand this focus on hoping Christians leaders will actually and finally act like Christians when everything they have been involved with and built looks nothing like Jesus Christ. I know people who were previously baptized that jumped in to get the swag. I began to see him as a marketing expert, who was producing what the young Reformed, technology driven market would respond to, and then marketing it in excellent ways. Your comment about magic words reminded me of Simon the Magician in Acts who was so popular and had all kinds of attention because of his magic performances. If so associating with Driscoll they can get the thug part down. It is definitely not where all leadership and vision is deferred to one man, and it is definitely not authoritarian. GW also exports as they seemed to pioneer or at least perfect the concept of having pastors write books for personal profit then when the books sell too slowly, they have the main church and all their friend churches purchase the books in bulk to give away to the congregation resulting in transferring thousands of tithe dollars to individual pastors. Its just that it isnt what a NT pastor of a group of Christians should be doing. In February 2008, less than two months after his promise not to abandon our orphans, we received a letter from Scott Thomas. I seriously doubt that most younger people then or now who appropriate his image (here in N. America) know much of anything about him. Christian County has unfortunately seen an overwhelming rise in COVID-19 cases over the past several weeks and a subsequent increase in the number of hospitalized residents. . plausible they shoved that in jesus mouth, with that taste on his lips. (the death of Jesus on the cross as written in the bible is not enough, mark adds something more exciting and sickening like they shoved an a##-wipe sponge in Jesus mouth.) I would argue the reverse. The man can speak pretty well and seems to fill the pews. Of course, the major players seem to emulate and incorporate some of the more questionable practices of each other so in a way we are ending up with a somewhat homogenous giga experience like GW having one of those Guest Central kiosks you mentioned. CCHD has been in contact with the City of Ozark, where the venue is located and where there is a current masking ordinance in place. (This was all before the sex sermons and book.) He is young and using Jesus is all he knows. They knew exactly what they were buying. full of manly manness and praise of human strength and wisdom and all the attributes mark has himself. It refers to protecting the King of Israel from physical harm, not preventing people from telling the truth. A grunge rock Lord Byron mad, bad and dangerous to know. Mark Driscoll, thepreacher who stepped down from his Seattle megachurch in October 2014after being accusedof plagiarism, bullying and an unhealthy ego has beentrying to returnto some kind of speaking tourat Christian conferences. The US pastor, who has courted controversy for what has been dubbed his "more-macho-than-thou" brand of Christianity, resigned from his Seattle megachurch in October after being found " guilty of pride" as well as abusive, controlling and manipulative behaviour. I guess Calvinism for these guys means never having to take personal responsibility Thats certainly how Driscoll has handled things. Have you not spilled all your dark secrets at Freedom Ministry? But there is an interesting bit in Acts 9 right after Paul was doing a lot of debating/bold speaking in Jerusalem, the Hellenistic Jews want to kill him. So why would they view power and authority as central to the Gospel? How do you see this as someone looking in? And Ive certainly heard many tales of people who were awful people moving onto ministry later on in life. But MD has been a jerk as far as Ive read, not a criminal or anything. Che was tots adorbs. :o) I would view it like this: If there are reports of a scandal or problems at a church, they are worth investigating with openess and transparancy. So, basically he functioned as Howard Stern for Christians. I noted in my comments on the petition that Driscoll still hasnt repented before all and specifically to the people whose lives he damaged, such as former Mars Hill elder/attorney Paul Petry, a godly, decent man. The question may even be wrong, maybe it isnt what is the church but who is. I also dont think he should work or earn profit in any manner making money off Jesus (such as selling Christian books, pod casts, site subscriptions, accepting speaking fees to appear at churches, etc). I had never heard someone talk like that. Bah, hit reply to soon. His behaviour has been SO egregious, that I believe that he needs to stay out of anything that offers him a place of leadership or authority. I want to know how I was deceived. The Washington Post published the following headline last Sunday: Controversial preacher Mark Driscoll stripped from megachurch Hillsong conference lineup link. When I read your comment, this suddenly popped into my head. I was mainly trying to establish there is a difference between lovable Hollywood Che and reality Che. I felt physically ill when I saw them.