Doing Mega Churches Wrong

I'm not a huge fan of mega churches to begin with.
And I even went to one for a short time.
Without going into details, the mega church that I went to did mega churching as well as could be expected. But the pastor there started off in missions. He'd already started churches in the U.S and over seas. He had a particular large church as a home base while he went over seas. The pastor that he left in charge kind of took over and rather than make a great big dispute, the missionary pastor just started another church. That pastor had the right attitude toward his church and the members in it. He was humble in dealing with people treating them as fellow heirs of the promise. They fed the hungry, had a missions and ministry school sending out people to start churches world wide,  and were huge supporters of U.S, and International missionaries alike. That pastor did mega churching as well as it could be done. It was global in the best, most godly sense.

Mark Driscoll does mega churching wrong. He has the wrong attitude. He'd never walk away from a church willingly. Rather, he'd throw people under the bus in order to bolster his position as ruler over the church. And he holds onto whatever churches he starts with an iron fist.
There is a lot wrong with the way Driscoll does church. For someone who actually went to a fairly well run mega church, watching anything Driscoll does just makes me cringe.

Now, with a multi-million dollar budget, Driscoll claims that Mars Hill is not a wealthy church. What the heck does he hope to accomplish by that move? Whatever it is, it can't be good. Will the insanity in Seattle ever end?

Apparently Mark Driscoll now says of Mars Hill, "We're not a wealthy church."

[mege eye-roll from me over mega church shenanigans by mega church pastors who shouldn't be.]

Story of Abuse

Here is a terribly disheartening story of abuse that must be heard far and wide to see how far things have gotten in IFB churches and at BJU. The blatant injustice that this woman experienced at the hands of these religious institutions needs to be exposed.
If you have means, please pass this story on so that we can blow the lid off of these aberrant institutions.

A Christianity To Make Satan Proud

Thanks to Retha for the heads up on this one.

Exposing the Masculinist Cult Overtaking Christianity

Or better put, revealing the error that has propagated this horrible masculinist cult that has been taking the Kindgom of Heaven by force.

Wade does a good job of this on his blog in this post:

Artemis and the End of Us: Evangelical Errors Regarding Women

Thanks, Wade. I need to get your blog on my role/roll.

Voddie Baucham Forcing His Way into Power

Voddie Baucham plays fast and loose with the scriptures in order to seize power in the Kingdom of heaven. He manipulates scripture in order to secure power over his wife and daughters and whatever part of God's Kingdom that he can get his hands on.

He is guilty of this:
Matthew 11:12 From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence [is forcibly entered], and violent men take it by force [seize it for themselves].

And this:
Jeremiah 8:8 How can you say, 'we are wise, and the law of the Lord is with us'?
But behold, the lying pen of the scribe has made it into a lie.

To see this fact laid out before you, check out:
Does Baucham Embrace Marriage as a Sacrament, or is it Just Another Rhetorical Trick

Though Voddie accuses others of playing fast and loose with the scriptures, the fact of the matter is, he is the one doing so and causing great damage and destruction in the Kingdom of Heaven as he grabs for more and more power.

What Is Feminism? What Are Its Waves?

As noted many places besides here, Feminism has become the dirty F-word of the Evangelical world. It has become the scapegoat of all that is wrong with modern society. And there are men and women who are in active witch hunts for that Jezebel, Feminism in order to discredit it and destroy its hold on our culture.

These witch hunters don't get it.
Feminism is not the main thing that is ripping apart American families. Feminism, like everything else, is not all black or all white. It will neither destroy nor save the world. It has good points. It also has bad points. But the point is not to try to destroy it or promote every part of it.
The point is to understand it, recognize where you agree with it and where you disagree with it rather than to just mindlessly declare it evil like Hitler going after the Jews.

Okay, rant over.
Now you can go to the link that talks intelligently about Feminism, it's different waves and what they mean.

The F-Word: Why Feminism Is Not the Enemy

The Violent Take It By Force

It is hard to watch. It is hard to hear about. But it is not something that I can pretend is not happening.

Matthew 11:12  From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence [is forcibly entered], and violent men take it by force [seize it for themselves].

The Southern Baptist Convention is being taken over by men, by force. That once paragon of Christian grace and promoter of "the priesthood of the believer" is being taken over by power hungry men who seek to build their own kingdoms. Under shepherds are infiltrating the sheep pen to fleece the flock and lay heavy burdens upon them.

Here is the latest move by Al Mohler. He closed the independent music department so that he could move his own guys in.

Who Calls the Tune in the Southern Baptist Convention

Men, who claim authority unto themselves, who cover over the sins of pedophiles in order to save face and to keep hold of their ill gotten places of power in the Kingdom, these men seek to rule and reign on this earth in God's name. They are no different than the Pharaohs of Egypt, the Pharisees in the days of Jesus, and the Borgia Popes during the times of the worse corruption in the Catholic Church.

First they twist scripture to make it say what they want it to say to support their position:

Jeremiah 8:8 How can you say, 'we are wise, and the law of the Lord is with us'?
But behold, the lying pen of the scribe has made it into a lie.

Then they congratulate each other on being such great men of God and being so theologically brilliant and being so holy etc...:

John 5:44 How can you believe; when you receive glory [honor or fame] from one another and you do not seek the glory [honor or fame] from the one and only God.

Men see the church as an opportunity to advance themselves and build their own kingdoms. They take up residence as kings and lords of the manor claiming they speak for God when really they speak from the darkness of their own hearts.

I see this over and over again. I saw it in the abusive church I went to back in the 80s. I see it in Driscoll now. And now I see it taking over SBC. It is a time for mourning.

For those who were not following my blog back in 2009, here is a link to a post on a dream that I have about violent men who forcibly enter the Kingdom and seize it for themselves.

Do you believe in dreams, pt 3

Having that dream helped me to get some perspective on these false shepherds.

'Christian' Doctrine and Systems That Promote Abuse

Someday I'm going to actually add Cindy's blog to my blog roll rather than just threaten about it. Her in depth look at and experience with the abusive doctrine of Complementarianism, Patriarchy, the Quiverful movement, and other such derelict systems is unparalleled.

If you can make the time, please read this.

Family Dogs Get Better Breaks than do Comp Wives: The Heart of Domestic Abuse in the Heart of the Complementarian Mindset.

Souls of Greater and Lesser Value

Men make judgements based on their beliefs and value systems. But they are based on the darkness of their own hearts rather than on anything resembling the heart of God.

Shirley explains it well here:

The Most Valuable Soul

A Pastor Father Using Legal Terrorism against Son

I probably wouldn't have posted this one. But the plea from the abused son (now grown) made me want to do my part.

Here is the plea:

This is the best told version of this story to date. Please tell everyone you know and spread it all over facebook.
-Tim Taylor

Here is the link to this "best told version":

Outrage Growing Over Calvary Chapel's Bob Grenier Suit against Alleged Son

I suppose one of the reasons Jesus told His disciples that in order to become great, you must become the least is that many men once given a little bit of power, they simply turn into monsters. It is better to be small and good than to be great and evil.

How Many Strikes Does Piper Get?

I left this comment over at TWW. I'll link it at the bottom if you want to join the discussion over there and find out why I spelled bitter the way I did. But here it is if you are in a hurry.

You have heard of “3 strikes, you’re out”?

I think Piper is working on strike number, wait, I’ve lost count.

1. He loves Mark Driscoll’s theology. (this is a pretty big strike. in fact, “1 strike your out” kind of applies when it’s this big.

2. He doesn’t allow women to read scripture out loud in the assembly.

3. His contributions as editor and writer of that horrible piece of tripe “RECOVERING BIBLICAL MANHOOD AND WOMANHOOD.”

4. The stupid things he says concerning God’s sovereignty during times of disaster.

5. His abuse and over-use of flowery adjectives to make the b!tter pill of his b!tter gospel more swallowable to poor, unsuspecting souls. (hope it’s okay to use the word b!tter here.)

6. And now, to prove that he isn’t getting soft in his retirement years, he’s going to speak at SGM in support of CJ.

Gee, how many strikes are the referees gonna let him have before he’s out. He should have been out long ago. How can he even still be relevant in the minds of so many.

Day 100 and GRACE Helps the Sheep

Kevin Swanson's Verbal Abuse of Women

I didn't get much involved in the Kevin Swanson controversy. I just haven't had a lot of time lately and others were doing such a good job of covering it. He really stuck his foot in his mouth, spreading falsehoods and being deceitful, like the false prophets of old.

But I didn't really get how devastating and crushing his words were until Julie Anne laid it out for me and made me remember a friend of mine who lost her child while it was still in her womb. She gave birth to a dead baby and the mourning that she went through... It was monumental.

Thanks Julie Anne for reminding me of this with your story. It shines the light on how despicable Kevin Swanson really is.

My Response to Kevin Swanson

And for more info, if you missed all this:

Kevin Swanson and Womb Tomb Babies

Gospel Coalition, STOP YOUR BULLYING!!!

RIGHT NOW!
I MEAN IT!
(to my regular readers. sorry for all this shouting. but this one really did tick me off.)

Look, dudes (at the gospel coalition). I realize that you believe that you represent the pinnacle of all that is true and right having to do with American Christianity and Christianity in general. But I'm afraid the elevated position that you see yourselves in has deluded you and made you stupid and boorish, dumb beasts, bulls in China shops that believe they are justified in their tramping, shaming, silencing, and dismissing woman who are addressing the very real concerns and injustices that they have experienced at the hands of abusive 'Christian' systems.

You guys just better back off of these wounded women. Not because I have any power to make you hurt for it. I have none. But I'm kind of concerned about what the One who IS in the position to take you to task for your bullying. What will He do to you if you don't back off from perpetuating spiritual abuse in His name?

Elizabeth Esther and other women charged and condemned by bully Gospel Coalition