Sex and Power: What’s Up With Sovereign Grace Ministries?

Gotta say…this whole SGM thing stinks to high heaven. I see Challies put a little piece out there the other day asking for caution on this whole deal. I sympathize with his thoughts (I think). But let’s not kid ourselves here. There are plenty of incontrovertible facts already out there. Josh Harris led his church to withdraw from SGM. Other churches are withdrawing. Something is up, and it isn’t good. Circling the wagons under the banner of “wait until all the facts come out” is sounding more and more like damage control. Mohler, Dever, Piper, and others who continue to give Mahaney a platform during this time are very unwise, IMO. The good ‘ol boy system knows no denominational or “movement” barriers. God help us.

How many witnesses does Challies need? There are far more than the biblical “2” witnesses. There are hundreds of witnesses. Let’s stop this insanity.

Challies’ article is ridiculous. He is certainly part of the ol’ boy system. See for yourself: http://boarsheadtavern.com/2013/02/28/36079/#more-36079

This is a proper response to abuse in church and it is written by a pastor: http://goo.gl/8EEkX

Mohler and Mahaney are definitely in it together. SGM headquarters recently moved to be next to Mohler and Co in Louisville. They have financial dealings with each other - each having donated thousands of dollars to each other: http://kinnon.tv/2011/07/c-j-mahaney-semper-reformanda-or-not-so-much.h…

I’ve been watching the responses on other SGM articles posted here on SharperIron and the silence is pretty deafening. Why is that? What does it take before one says to another brother: “hey, buddy, I think in the light of these strong allegations presented by multiple witnesses, you ought to step aside until this thing gets resolved.” Is anyone doing that? Even if they are not a part of SGM church? Or does it become “not my business” because I’m not a part of SGM? Help me understand the logic of this silence, please.

I agree Mark. I have been very vocal about our problems within the IFB. I agree that if the same thigns are happening in SGM that they should be help accountable. Abuse is wicked and should never be tollerated or covered up.

Tim Challies article is quite odd, and for me disappointing. He says he hardly knows C. J. Mahaney after being a major SGM cheerleader for years. I can understand his need to put distance there for his own reputation’s sake, but it seems so transparent, why bother? It looks bad. Then he claims he will only read newspaper accounts to find out what’s going on with SGM. What? Do not the public actions of churches, open letters from former SGM “apostles” and countless testimonies from former members and former pastors mean nothing? There are public witnesses to incredibly poor shepherding, extreme legalism, abuse and cover up. In the Tomczak case, probable blackmail. (This is not gossip, but rather an open claim).

Challies also says we are to “think the best” about Mahaney. But why isn’t that extended to the hundreds of Mahaney detractors trying to expose very dark things in SGM, many of which are openly acknowledged by former leaders and exiting churches. The abused sheep have as much right to be “thought the best of” as the shepherd, don’t they?

I am baffled why Mahaney is so special, since other ministries are criticized or attacked for their errors all the time. I can only conclude it is in fact the cultivated friendships he has made and shared events that have entangled so many with him publicly.

When the shepherds don’t speak up for the sheep, God intervenes and the foundations of men begin to crumble. That appears to be happening in very dramatic ways. May the truth come out and the lessons the Lord wants to teach the church at large be received with proper humility.

The temptation for any individual, church, or group of churches to forsake the cross-centered life for the self-centered life is powerful.

Is this a true statement? “There have been no criminal charges of any kind”

Help me figure this out. Thanks

[Jim]

Is this a true statement? “There have been no criminal charges of any kind”

Help me figure this out. Thanks

My guess would be that this has something to do with legal terminology - i.e. allegations versus charges, etc. Maybe an attorney can clarify.

S/I I’m sure misses some important news …. but if you follow the tag = Sovereign Grace Ministries, the most recent news was a civil case (not a criminal case).

A criminal case is the state against a defendant. Such was the case with Jack Schaap.

––- Please any attorney on S/I jump in and correct me ––-

The SGM case is a civil case brought on by victims/families against SGM and specifically named churches, the school connected with Covenant Life (former flagship church of SGM) and named individuals (including Mahaney, Tomczak, etc).

Criminal charges were filed in some of the cases when parents notified authorities (against advice of pastors/church leaders) and perpetrators were arrested, convicted, and served time. There is another recent arrest (criminal case) involving someone who was connected with SGM/Covenant Life youth ministries. The man arrested was Pastor Nate Morales and here is the story: Nevada pastor faces child sex abuse charge

I’ve been watching the responses on other SGM articles posted here on SharperIron and the silence is pretty deafening. Why is that?

It would be similar to why you don’t see a lot of discussion on abuses within the Roman Catholic Church. It isn’t that people aren’t concerned or are defending the wrongdoing… but there is a lack of familiarity with the parties among the SI membership, so there isn’t as much to say.

I’m not saying SGM is in the same doctrinal category as the RCC- but since they are not cessationists, they would be somewhat foreign to the vast majority of SI members, whose knowledge would be that they publish music, and that’s where CJ Mahaney, Joshua Harris, and Bob Kauflin go to church… (That’s somewhat tongue in cheek…)

Re criminal charges

Thanks … wasn’t aware of that

[Greg Linscott]

I’ve been watching the responses on other SGM articles posted here on SharperIron and the silence is pretty deafening. Why is that?

It would be similar to why you don’t see a lot of discussion on abuses within the Roman Catholic Church. It isn’t that people aren’t concerned or are defending the wrongdoing… but there is a lack of familiarity with the parties among the SI membership, so there isn’t as much to say.

I’m not saying SGM is in the same doctrinal category as the RCC- but since they are not cessationists, they would be somewhat foreign to the vast majority of SI members, whose knowledge would be that they publish music, and that’s where CJ Mahaney, Joshua Harris, and Bob Kauflin go to church… (That’s somewhat tongue in cheek…)

If you type “Mahaney” into a search of comments with no ending dates (like the last 60 days or something) you will get 16 pages of comments, never mind what was provided as a link of SI articles with a plethora of response at the beginning of the article.

Secondly, many here are not only quite aware but quite regular participants or involvers in Neo-Calvinist and Neo-Reformed circles, not to mention a few semi-circles with some tolerant classic or orthodox Calvinist and Reformed, in which Mahaney has been celebrated and promoted as a leader and Teacher to be followed.

But it does not end there. It does creep into Fundamentalism, via NIU and Matt Olson who is embracing a relationship with the charismatic SGM movement with Mahaney as its head. I believe it is a hard case to make of unfamiliarity.

_____________

There is a very ugly reality going on, however in the broad spectrum. If this were observed as the doings of a Baptist Fundamentalist with his associates circling the wagons, blazing fire would be summoned by those who are allegedly so concerned about cover-ups and Evangelical/Fundamental ecclesiastical/spiritual abuse. But it isn’t by a Baptist Fundamentalist, this time it is institutional and systemic abuse developed and implemented by the oversight of CJ Mahaney who was not qualified to lead a ministry in the first place. This time, those who have crusaded have one of their own to deal with and now you see the depth of their conviction, rather shallow to say the least.

Al Mohler (and all of his SBC and Southern Seminary resources), Ligon Duncan, Mark Dever, Russell Moore, Carl Trueman, Ray Ortland, Kevin DeYoung, T4G, The Gospel Coalition,Tim Challies and of course Ed Stetzer of Lifeway which has published and profited from Mahaney’s books along with the some of the others above (I pick out Ed Stetzer especially for his hypocrisy in criticizing Baptist Fundamentalist for being slow and ineffective if not indifferent with the Hyles/Schaap systemic issues and subsequent problems vs his now “silent as a lamb and as complicit as Bonnie was to Clyde” treatment of the CJ Mahaney systemic abuse and rotten theology) all are now and will continue to be unable to mount concerns. They are doing the very thing that occurred to protect FBCH and its leader, Hyles and later, Schaap though Schaap’s event, while sensational with regard to publicity, pales in comparison to all that Hyles did negatively during his reign.

I understand the care of another brother but this man, CJ Mahaney, has been unfit for ministry from the beginning. The money trail that the Wartburg Watch uncoverd regarding Al Mohler and Southern Seminary in which Mahaney’s stature and promotion rose corresponding with the amount SGM(under his direction) gave to the school is the most rotten kind of smell one can encounter in ministry.

You will continue to hear the silence, you will continue to watch the wagons circle and many of you will foolishly continue to feed at the troughs of these men. They have a duty to remove CJ Mahaney from public ministry if possible either directly or withholding their approval and trust and certainly should abstain from partnering with Mahaney if he insists on continuing it independently, until this matter can be settled. If the church or SGM, I should say, wishes to continue to pay Mahaney until it is settled, that is reasonable and fine. The numbers of people affected and their volume is too great for anything else. And until these men take a position of such, they ought to be considered not having the best interest of the body of Christ in mind which is your interest and should be rebuked and avoided with regard to the acceptance and promotion of their ministry.

_________

As to the Internet Monk article. While I do not agree with all the theological views of the women or men of the Wartburg watch, I do agree with the matters of fact in the case of CJ Mahaney, much of the concerns are these.

“I’ve been watching the responses on other SGM articles posted here on SharperIron and the silence is pretty deafening. Why is that?”

Because the sheep won’t say anything until Al Mohler says something…

Even assuming all your points have merit, a personal familiarity with public personalities or the presence of individuals raised in Fundamentalist circles flirting and meandering in those directions does not mean that people are intimately acquainted with the way specific churches function in that movement. If you compare the attention given to the situations involving Schaap or Phelps, for example, more was said at SI than elsewhere simply because it was closer to home and more of the SI membership is familiar with how such circumstances would unfold in an IFB church- not to mention we had members with various degrees of personal observation and experience in the situation.

Being familiar with an author or speaker does not make one an expert, say, on their personal life as a husband or father, or how they treat retail staff when they go to a store or restaurant. Knowing who a celebrity pastor is doesn’t mean that you know how his church is run, or what the conduct of members in affiliated churches is.

I am merely observing that most SI readers are unable to say much more that, “wow, that’s an outrage,” which doesn’t make for a very interesting comment thread. There isn’t a lot of room for disagreement or discussion, since no one has much new or controversial to bring to the table, which is generally what makes threads get posting attention.

Somewhat related example: This thread shows up among the “Month most viewed” entries at SI. There is no commentary at all, though. What does one say about the matter? What else is there to say? Does that mean no one cares? I would say not, judging by the attention of people reading. Something similar is probably happening here. There are people who would be or are outraged, but don’t know enough to say much, and no one has said anything here that is controversial to respond to.

Because the sheep won’t say anything until Al Mohler says something…

Hogwash.

I have been very, very vocal about the Phelps issue, but that it because, as Greg noted, those were the circles that I traveled in many years ago. It is an embarassment beyond words (from my perspective) that Phelps is still looked at as a leader in the Concord/BJU/FBFI community, and I don’t understand why he’s allowed to remain in ministry at the church he’s in. I’ve said that publicly here on SI - if you don’t believe me, look up the posts. They’re open for anyone who wants to do so.

Sovereign Grace? Well, I don’t know any SGM pastors, don’t attend a SGM church, and know little of Mahaney. I’ve listened to some of his messages from the Resolved conferences and have one, possibly two, books that he edited (can’t remember right now). Sooo….not exactly sure why I *should* feel the need to speak out on it. Mahaney left the SGM movement for a year, and I thought that was a good development. He’s apparently been reinstated in the SGM circle. I’m ambivalent about that because I have no way of knowing what’s going on and if he’s getting the counseling that he needs. If I ever swap numbers with him (or we develop some kind of relationship), then yes, I’ll ask him about it and I’ll have more to say. Right now, Mahaney has as much of a relationship to me as “Barry L.” or “Julie Anne” does. I know the name and that’s it.

The problem with these kinds of issues is that a lot of the people who want to talk about it are actually here to gossip or attack. They aren’t interested in the issue - they’re interested in attacking a person that they may have never met or know little of other than what they’ve read on a blog (usually the blog of someone who is carrying, if not nursing, their own grudge).

If there are criminal charges, the authorities will deal with that, and I hope they do. I am glad that agencies like GRACE exist to help provide counsel about structuring ministries around preventing or picking up the pieces after abuse exists. But as for the constant bickering and gossiping and tattling between brothers and sisters in Christ - no thanks. I’ve got other, more important things to do. As for the civil cases - well, Paul wrote about that:

When one of you has a grievance against another, does he dare go to law before the unrighteous [r] instead of the saints? Or do you not know that [s] the saints will judge the world? And if the world is to be judged by you, are you incompetent to try trivial cases? Do you not know that we are to judge angels? How much more, then, matters pertaining to this life! So if you have such cases, [t] why do you lay them before those who have no standing in the church? [u] I say this to your shame. Can it be that there is no one among you wise enough to settle a dispute between the brothers, but brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers? To have lawsuits at all with one another is already a defeat for you. [v] Why not rather suffer wrong? Why not rather be defrauded? But you yourselves wrong and defraud—even [w] your own brothers!

(1 Corinthians 6:1-8 ESV)

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[r] [Matt. 18:17]
[s] Dan. 7:22; [Matt. 19:28; Rev. 20:4]
[t] [ch. 5:12]
[u] ch. 15:34; [ch. 4:14]
[v] [Matt. 5:39, 40]
[w] 1 Thess. 4:6

It is beyond embarrassing that those who have the ministry of reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18) have to resort to hiring attorneys to advise them on how to best get revenge (because in the end, that’s basically what it amounts to) on people that they will spend eternity with and that should be their co-laborers. A believer hires an unbeliever to sue for damages against another believer? How on Earth does that demonstrate longsuffering, peace, patience, meekness or self-control? How on Earth is that a demonstration of Christ’s love for us - which is our responsibilityScriptural duty (John 13:34, Romans 12:10, 2 Cor. 13:11)? I’m sorry, but that kind of wisdom is earthly, unspiritual, and demonic (Jas. 3:15). It should not characterize believers.

If someone is on SI simply to beat up on other brothers or to consistently pick at other people’s flaws, I think they ought to be shown the door quickly as liars, gossips, and schismatics. If there’s discussion about facts and how to do things well or how to avoid these kinds of problems, then let’s discuss that. But I have no time or patience with rehashing all the things that someone may or may not have done and reiterating all the details. Let the police and courts deal with the criminal stuff. Let the church deal with it’s own mess, including excommunicating their own, where that’s appropriate.

That’s the way it ought to be done. Let’s do it that way.