Paul's Passing Thoughts

“….but nevertheless, what seems to be escaping most bloggers is the significance of Pastor Eric Starkey’s recent public confrontation of Eagle Heights Community Church….”

“Did you know that a shark will not eat an attorney? ‘No, I didn’t know that. Why is that the case?’ “Professional courtesy.” Some say such is true about doctors as well, but I can tell you for certain that it is true among pastors. Never before in history has the pastor-buddy network been stronger, and invitations to conferences more important than truth.

Hence, victims of the present-day spiritual abuse tsunami pleading their case to other pastors are like chickens running to Colonial Sanders for help. “I’m sorry, we can’t help. That church is not accountable to us, it’s not our business.” Unless, of course, the member wants to join their church—now being under discipline at another church is an issue, and all of a sudden, it is their business after all. “But, but, they need to tell the other church that it is an unjust discipline!” You’re kidding, right? Also, when it comes to cooperative funds, the song is….”we are Baptist Church, hear us roar, in numbers too big to ignore…if I have to, I can do anything, I am Baptist.” But when a pastor king rapes someone, or destroys their life for asking too many questions, the song is….”I am alone, ….I am a rock, I am an Island, I am an independently autonomous Baptist church.”

In case you haven’t noticed, when a church gets sued, pastors from one end of the coast to the other are not at a loss for words regarding the woes of this “ litigational society” that we live in. Organizations such as PeaceMakers are in business to protect the organization and not the abused parishioner. This is because most abused parishioners have been excommunicated and declared an “unbeliever,” and PeaceMakers only works with “disputes between brothers.” This wink and a nod between PeaceMakers and “gospel-centered” churches keeps PeaceMakers from biting the hand that feeds them. And by the way, I have firsthand knowledge of this—the supposed elder authority honored by heaven, even if elders are in the wrong, is assumed. Neither were churches at a loss for words when they threatened my son-in-law and daughter for building a website to expose Clearcreek Chapel in Springboro, Ohio.

True, my son-in-law is a pastor, and then there is the one, lone name in the GARB/ABWE camp: Pastor David C. Bennett, but nevertheless, what seems to be escaping most bloggers is the significance of Pastor Eric Starkey’s recent public confrontation of Eagle Heights Community Church (eagleheights.oligarchywp.com). This is a pastor taking a stand, and naming names. Go figure, a pastor really believing that the one is just as important as the ninety-nine. Possibly saving one Christian from abuse is all the reason he needs. Really? There are such men among us in this day? Few.

Why is this so rare? Easy: thanks to Augustine and his infatuation with neo-Platonism, the Platonic threefold social model of philosopher king, soldier, and producer is deeply ingrained into the Christian psyche. I have been a pastor and have talked to many of them behind closed doors—an us against them mentality is far more prevalent than we want to admit.

Gross generalization? Then you tell me how the present-day plenary worship of inability and the total depravity of the saints got here coupled with total dependence on elders by proxy. In many “mainline” churches, husbands will barely make any decision at all without permission from the elders. Even when we do accomplish something for God, we lament in sackcloth and ashes that somebody may think well of us. Complimenting somebody will often bring a rebuke for not, “giving all of the glory to God.” Truly, I’m not kidding, after receiving my share of rebukes, I have ratcheted back from complimenting people in the church. Sad, because a cursory observation of  the Apostle Paul’s writings would reveal a constant praising of the saints.

And why is his stand so important? Look, if the pastorate as a whole would not tolerate this behavior, it would simply not be going on. Pastors look the other way because of Platonic class warfare—abuse is “unfortunate collateral damage.” Gross generalization? Then you tell me why the sheep are utterly expendable for the organization and the pastor king. Tell me that the present mentality of the pastorate is not the antithesis of Christ’s one and ninety-nine.

Pray that this pastor is a small flame that God will fan into a big one. All things must have a start, and we need to think about where it goes from here.

paul