Posted on 05/28/2024 2:16:27 PM PDT by Morgana
Imagine being in a church where you’re told you can’t have a public opinion on anything without the approval of your pastor. Imagine being in such a cult that your church controls what you post on Facebook. We’re not talking about publishing heresy or sin but having an opinion that your pastor simply doesn’t like. You may remember from a few weeks ago, the Stronger Men’s Conference hosted by James River Church in Springfield, Missouri, turned into a spectacle more befitting a Las Vegas strip club than a Christian gathering.
The controversy erupted when Mark Driscoll, a prominent and often contentious pastor, condemned a performance by Alex Magala—a professional sword swallower with a sordid past as a male stripper. Magala’s act, which involved pole dancing and the removal of his shirt—well, let’s just say it seemed out of place at a conference ostensibly designed to promote biblical masculinity.
Driscoll’s rebuke, some claim it was staged for attention, was met shouted down by the Pastor of James River Church, John Lindell, who interrupted Driscoll mid-speech, declaring him “out of line.” Little did one mother know, publicly disagreeing with Lindell would also get her the boot, and an escort off the property by police.
Rahela Petian, an attendee of James River Church, recently wrote her thoughts on Facebook regarding the controversy at the Stronger Men’s Conference. In her post, Petian expressed deep respect for Pastor John Lindell and his family’s long-standing ministry, acknowledging the significant impact the church has had locally and internationally. However, she raised several concerns about the handling of the event and the subsequent fallout.
Petian questioned the decision to invite Alex Magala, a professional sword swallower with a past as a male stripper, to perform at the conference without providing context about his Christian testimony. She highlighted the inconsistency between the church’s stance against practices like yoga and its acceptance of Magala’s performance and suggested a need for clearer communication from the leadership.
Petian also criticized Lindell’s public rebuke of Mark Driscoll and said that Driscoll’s message could have been beneficial to other attendees. She expressed disappointment in what she perceived as a lack of transparency and humility from Lindell, calling for a more sincere approach to addressing the incident and fostering unity within the church.
But apparently the Church didn’t like that, and took action. Following her initial Facebook post, Petian detailed in a new post a subsequent meeting with church staff members, including Pastor Josh Longanecker and his wife, Laura. Petian described how she was escorted by five men—three church security team members and two Greene County Sheriff’s deputies.
Here are notes Petian took from the meeting:
During the meeting, Petian was told that her post had caused disunity within the church and was asked to reconsider her stance and her place at James River Church. Despite her long-standing membership and service at the church, Petian expressed feeling marginalized and unheard. She questioned the leadership’s approach, emphasizing her commitment to transparency and biblical principles.
Petian reported being asked to “reconsider where I stand” and was ultimately informed that she was not allowed to attend services until her post was taken down. This escalation culminated in her being asked to leave the church premises, an action that left her feeling ostracized and concerned about the church’s priorities and methods.
Here is an audio recording of the incident where she was escorted by law
My Babtist church is strongly against sword-swallowing pole dancers.
Seems poorly written. Too much work to figure out what the journalist is trying to say.
Agreed. I had to read and re-read the article.
Jesus came to divide, let the division begin............
Sounds like most of the congregation needs to find another church.
But what is there published position on pole swallowing sword dancers?
They are allowed.
“My Babtist church is strongly against sword-swallowing pole dancers.”
Everything has a time and place. It’s okay at cirque du soleil but in Church? What were these men thinking?
I never understood churches that had the same pastor for decades and relied on their opinion and approval of their actions so much. It can easily cross the line and become a cult of personality if you’re not careful, which sounds like the case here.
******
The problem is caused by the royal pastor model of church governance. The earliest churches had plurality of leadership with mutual accountability.
copy/paste from my profile page
COMMON CULT PRACTICES USED IN CHURCHES
1- Righteousness is equated with an established set of rules and responsibilities (AKA legalism).
2- Right standing with God is connected with right standing with a man, or woman of God.
3- Leadership is consistently over-emphasizing ideas like “submission to leadership”
4- Leadership is above respectful, healthy questioning (AKA “don’t touch God’s annointed”).
5- Members are kept tired, over-worked and unable to do much else besides church and ministry (AKA legalism).
6- Members are afraid to make life decisions without the permission of leadership.
7- Members who leave, no matter the surrounding circumstances, are labeled as “rebellious”, or “outside of God’s will”.
8- Members are discouraged from fellowship with believers from other churches, or ministries.
9- Members are afraid of missing any church function, for fear of being rebuked, looked down upon, or ostracized.
10- Members are seen as “belonging to” a man or woman of God.
11- Members are afraid to assess, or even consider these things.
...Be careful little children of God
“a professional sword swallower with a past as a male stripper”
Okay, wait a minute. “Sword swallower” used to be a euphemism for gayness. Is that what they’re talking around here?
I have seen churches with pastors that stay decades that end up destroying themselves and I have seen churches where it worked out fine. If the pastor stays true to the Word and gives God the credit it usually works out fine. When the pastor starts taking the spot light and deciding his opinion, rather than God’s Word is the way the church should go look out!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.