Tullian Tchividjianon Forms a *Fuhgeddaboudit* Church and Andy Savage Takes a Stealth Approach to Grace Valley Church

Composite image of Auroras on Uranus by Voyager 2-NASA

“It is not the absence of sin but the grieving over it which distinguishes the child of God from empty professors” ― A.W. Pink


Andy Savage and Tullian Tchividjian: If I had done what these two guys did, I would purposely sink into oblivion, ashamed of my actions. Neither of them shows any ability to earn money except at the hands of pew-sitters who willing to turn over their hard-earned money to two dudes, who in my opinion, have no business playing church. There are suckers born every minute…and these guys know how to play to their weaknesses.

Tullian and Stacie Tchividjian revel in their failures, fudge a bit and forget about repentance.

As most people know. Tullian crashed and burned in his PCA church. He had affairs and claimed that none of them were abusive or coercive. 

Tchividjian denies any abuse and does not believe that authority in and of itself introduces abuse into a sexual relationship. He said, “I don’t care what role a person has, a consensual relationship between two adults is not abuse.”

Tchividjian was defrocked by the PCA. Frankly, he didn’t give a damn. He didn’t need the PCA because he came up with a grand new scheme and no one, but no one would tell him what to do. The Sanctuary, Florida, was started and is led by Tullian Tchividjian. He formed the *fuhgeddaboudit” church. Motto: “You don’t bring it up with us and we won’t bring it up with you.”

Of course, he doesn’t need to respond to the fact he was defrocked. He was able to leave the PCA so quickly that it causes me to wonder if he had really believed anything about that denomination, anyway. Did he just use the PCA to get himself a big, honking church and a good salary? He certainly didn’t care anything about the commitment he made to the PCA. He had affairs and then he got a devil of a good idea. “I’ll make everyone losers so no one will ever question the babe and me.”

The Sanctuary is a non-denominational church, gathering in the heart of Jupiter, Florida. Because of what Jesus has accomplished for us, we are a judgment-free zone where people can come as they are, not as they should be. A place to find love and laughter and hope and healing and acceptance and forgiveness and mercy and help.

*The odd thing about this little statement is that he leaves out the word *repentance.* In fact, I looked hard to find the word, *repentance,* anywhere on the church website. I even looked for it on his tullian.net  NADA.

In my Lutheran church’s weekly service, we have a time of confession/repentance. I wonder if TT is conflicted?  I bet that TT and Stacie know they have some issues that even they might think are problematic. For example, TT appears to know that using his position as the cool dudebro pastor to gain sexual favors just might fall under the category of *clergy abuse.”  So, he has adamantly claimed that the affair did not involve abuse. I think he knows if he admits to this, he is out the door.

Did he fudge what actually happened when he met Stacie?

Under the tab, Our Pastor, Tullian asserts the following.

As a result of infidelity, his first marriage ended in divorce and life as he knew it came to an end.

In the aftermath of his season of self-destruction, Tullian met his current wife Stacie—a native Texan. They have been married since August 2016, and together they have five children and two grandchildren.

Huh?

In fact, TT decided to reconcile with his wife and, at the same time, began his affair with Stacie. Here is part of the timeline from Julie Anne Smith’s Spiritual Sounding Board. Her blog carefully documented TT’s rather prodigious, extramarital sex life.

[I]n the Summer of 2015. A woman by the name of Staci[sic] contacted Lisa and told her she was a friend of Tullian’s, and also lived in the same town as Lisa. She strongly pursued a friendship with Lisa, and regularly insisted the two of them should get together. After Lisa asked Tullian about Staci, and he confirmed that she was “a cool chick,” Lisa exchanged numbers with her. They began talking regularly and exchanged text messages frequently. They even went so far as to make plans to get together. However, Lisa was stood up each time by Staci. In one text exchange, Staci told Lisa that she was going to be in town, so they should get together. Lisa was appropriately confused and said, “I thought you live in my town…” Lisa soon learned that Staci had moved to Orlando for her job.

Orlando, of course, is where Tullian was living at the time. Lisa would later learn the two had begun dating during this time. Tullian and Staci married in September. [Correction: married August 26, 2016.]

This is especially curious, because Staci’s relationship with Tullian began in similar fashion to all the other women he targeted. In fact, he and Staci had been exchanging messages during the time Tullian claimed to be attempting to reconcile with his wife, Kim in the Summer of 2015, after his own sexual misconduct became public.

Stacie admits she began a relationship with TT while he was still married.  (She had a baby out of wedlock and had two divorces prior to becoming Staci Tchividjian.)

For example, I could have not cheated on my first husband. I could have postponed the development of my romantic relationship with Tullian until after his divorce was final

Once again, I believe that TT and ST know that they sinned and they know God can forgive them. But, the word *repentance* is curiously missing from their church, etc. Sadly, this missing element throws their entire enterprise into question.

Both of them should repent and go and do anything but leads a church. Go to a homeless shelter or rescue mission and help the poor and disenfranchised. But I think they really like being in charge and have set themselves up in a perfect little situation in which neither of them will ever be challenged to repent for the pain they have caused countless others.

Here is a little quote from the Sanctuary website that should cause heart spasms in some of our Reformed friends.

Any version of Christianity that makes the focus of the Christian faith the life of the Christian is what Martin Luther called a “theology of glory”—not God’s glory, but ours. A theology of glory is all about us and what we do.

TT claims that The Sanctuary is a member of a network of churches knowns as Table Network. I have never heard of this group. Has anyone else? It is difficult to understand what this group stands for. They claim they are kind of like Alcoholics Anonymous.

It’s easy to miss the significance of the anonymity of this international fellowship. To befriend the recovering alcoholic is to sign up for great uncertainty and cost. In AA, there is no leadership ladder to climb, no currency for bartering in the public square, no illusion of leaving behind a shining legacy. They are a nameless, leaderless fellowship with only one condition upon entry: the desire to stop drinking. As a home for people who have tried everything and lost, AA seems like an admonition of sorts to us as we set out to help people find rest and belonging in the finished work of Jesus.

I couldn’t find out the identities of the members. They have been around since 2014.

OUR STORY
After 14 years of pastoring and planting churches in Asheville and Chicago, Russ & Christa found the freedom to be nothing but who they are, love others as they are, and let the good news be as reckless as it is.

​Knowing there were others who longed for the simple way of Jesus among friends and neighbors who hadn’t yet found rest and belonging, the Table Network was formed in 2014.
Today, you can find members extending good news from coast to coast and internationally.

However, you can take a course on their beliefs for a modest amount of money.

My prediction regarding TT:

Prepare for a further scandal. Since repentance isn’t required, why not take advantage of the *get out of jail free* card?

Andy Savage: A stealth start to Grace Valley Church, Collierville, TN.

Taking a cue from Tchividjian’s playbook, Savage’s church emphasizes that the people at his church have failed, struggled, and experienced pain.

We are people who have faced valleys of struggle, failure, consequences, pain, and loss.
We have been radically changed by the reality that God’s Grace flows down to meet us where we are and changes us from the inside out.
With humility and gratitude, we have become “valley people” who seek to help others discover the grace we have found.

There is very little on the website that describes the set up of the church. It is definitely not Baptist. It is my guess that it is a nondenominational church. Interestingly, the website does not say who leads the church, either as pastor or a church leadership board.  We know the pastor must be Andy (no last name) because:

Andy starts a new series: Part 1, “Parables: God’s Kingdom Concealed & Revealed”.  Jesus often spoke in parables. Jesus used stories to capture attention, to reveal powerful truths, and to covertly reveal the ethics, values, and morality of God’s Kingdom. At a time where there is so much uncertainty, fear and chaos in the world we live in, this series on Parables will take you on a journey to see, understand, and hold tightly to the real source of peace, hope, and security.

Join us at 10am at 901 Cordova Station Road, Cordova TN.

There is a discussion of all those involved being in some sort of circle.

Wisdom – I will refuse to be wise in my own eyes. I will pursue self-awareness and personal growth by inviting feedback and counsel from those in my circle. I will operate in reality and accept disappointment, criticism, and struggles as a gift to help me grow and view blessings as the test of my values and my faith.

They have a stealth Facebook group which is private although it claims 792 members. My guess is that they are still running scared, anticipating protests due to Andy Savage’s molestation of Jules Woodson. They’re probably correct. I’m in the mood for a road trip.

OK, I need to hear from you all.

  • Why do they want to have their histories repeated, over and over? They know this will happen.
  • Why won’t they go away and work hard and quietly, like most people in this world?
  • Do they really think the Gospel will fail without them *leading* churches?
  • Why do they expose their families to the public eye after causing them such pain?

Comments

Tullian Tchividjianon Forms a *Fuhgeddaboudit* Church and Andy Savage Takes a Stealth Approach to Grace Valley Church — 74 Comments


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    1st


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    TT is one of the most about himself people I’ve ever met. And I’ve met Paige Patterson. He’s just like another acquaintance I have who lectures everybody else about not living for themselves because he wants them to serve him and his wants instead.

    It’s not about theology. Theology is just a tool to achieve the money and attention people like them want. What they really need is intense therapy with a licensed and experienced therapist (and maybe also a psychiatrist).


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    Tullian will probably start a satellite campus called “Bada-Bing” Church, targeted to organized crime members.


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    “[I]n the Summer of 2015. A woman by the name of Staci[sic] contacted Lisa and told her she was a friend of Tullian’s, and also lived in the same town as Lisa. She strongly pursued a friendship with Lisa, and regularly insisted the two of them should get together.”

    Isn’t this a form of predation on Staci’s part? It’s super creepy.


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    The Table Network looks like a church franchise.


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    These two stories almost sound like they are made up…..but seriously, you can’t make this stuff up!

    Tullian is a vile man, unworthy of the office of pastor or any ministerial position. What I suspect he is lacking (or lacked) was a few trips out to the woodshed when he was younger. He seems to have no personal restraint or empathy for others. Sociopath or psychopath – you decide. Stacie is a sad, weak woman who is caught up in the whirlwind of this life Tullian is trying to recreate over and over. She has no idea that she is just one of many.

    As for Andy Savage….well as long as there are enough fools out there to write him checks, he’ll keep on grifting. These guys can’t keep doing what they do without lots of people supporting them, so can you really blame them? The holy outrage should be directed towards those who bankroll these morons.


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    “There are suckers born every minute…and these guys know how to play to their weaknesses.” (Dee)

    “Play” is the right word. Actors would have no stage if they didn’t have an audience willing to buy tickets to their show. American churchgoers are some of the most gullible folks on the planet.


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    “I looked hard to find the word, *repentance,* anywhere on the church website.” (Dee)

    Antinomians don’t humble themselves to repent. They are released by “grace” from the obligation of observing the moral law. Repent of what?!

    Tullian is a good poster child for antinomianism in America.


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    “He formed the *fuhgeddaboudit” church. Motto: “You don’t bring it up with us and we won’t bring it up with you.”” (Dee)

    There’s a segment of the American “church” where the unrepentant live. They like “pastors” who are no different than they are. It makes them feel better about themselves. Tullian (and others like him) will always find a people like that who will follow him. But he’s not traveling through the Kingdom of God on earth; he’s on his own.


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    “I will pursue self-awareness and personal growth by inviting feedback and counsel from those in my circle.”

    Sounds like Andy (no last name) has revived the concept of accountability groups. The Promise Keepers made those famous … groups of men gathering each week to sling snot and confess their failures – only to go out, do it again, and sling snot at the next meeting. The “circle” is not a good substitute for the Holy Spirit who will lead you into righteousness. Some of these folks will never get out of the circle.


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    “Why do they expose their families to the public eye after causing them such pain?” (Dee)

    Because they enjoy the limelight more than doing the right thing. Andy (no last name) launched his new gig close enough to the last one to attract his faithful followers … the valley people who gave him a standing ovation when his gross sin was revealed.


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    Brian: The Table Network looks like a church franchise.

    Not a furniture channel on cable?


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    this ‘The Table Network’ outfit is apparently under the auspices of The Missionary Church USA denomination:

    https://www.mcusa.org/online-directory/

    (search pulls up Tullian as a minister)

    ‘The Table Network’ listed under ‘Connect Region’ of The Missionary Church


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    Dee – the post begins with:

    “Andy Davis and Tullian Tchividjian:”

    Is that a typo – like “Davis” should be “Savage”?

    If so, and you see this, delete this comment. Thx.

    (Note: Trying to keep straight with regard to the church predators is expansive with, unfortunately, no sign of slowing down.)


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    Anna: These guys can’t keep doing what they do without lots of people supporting them, so can you really blame them? The holy outrage should be directed towards those who bankroll these morons.

    Good point.


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    Friend: Not a furniture channel on cable?

    A furniture channel that sells dinette sets that seat from four to sixteen people? Maybe 🙂


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    All I can do after reading this is shake my head in disbelief. Kyrie eleison.

    OT but of interest: The Anglican Diocese of Pittsburgh, affiliated with the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA), announced a few days ago that Bishop James Hobby resigned upon the request of the diocesan Standing Committee over his handling of what it described as a “serious pastoral matter.” Today a statement describing the process which led to the committee’s resignation request was posted on the diocesan website. It involved sexual misconduct by a member of the clergy described as an “abusive priest.” You can read the statement here:

    https://pitanglican.org/blog/process-led-bishop-hobbys-resignation

    Sigh. Again, Kyrie eleison.


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    Jerome:
    this ‘The Table Network’ outfit is apparently under the auspices of The Missionary Church USA denomination:

    https://www.mcusa.org/online-directory/

    (search pulls up Tullian as a minister)

    ‘The Table Network’ listed under ‘Connect Region’ of The Missionary Church

    The TN uses a lot of esoteric, metaphorical words on their website.


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    Brian:
    The Table Network looks like a church franchise.

    I checked their website and their staff includes two coaches, one for churches and one for college. Why?


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    re: the four questions,

    Perhaps some day there will be careful psychological research into the mentality of celebrity church leaders. IIRC, “Let Us Prey”, a study of narcissism in Canadian church leaders, aspired to be that, but there was a significant flaw discovered in its methodology.

    I suspect that many of these people are in it for the attention and adoration of the flock more than for money and comfortable lifestyle, though the two often go together. Who knows what they believe; I suspect that whatever they consciously believe about their own importance is rooted more in their subjective imperatives than in objective evidence. Without entirely dismissing the concept of “called of God” in our day, I think that it is the case that in our day many would-be church leaders are “called” by their own desires.

    Perhaps some day the seminaries will require psych assessments as a condition of admission. Perhaps churches will see the value of insisting on this in pastoral candidates.


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    “Why won’t they go away and work hard and quietly, like most people in this world?”

    That’s not usually where the money is readily available, nor the control. Granting one’s self authority over other people and the back accounts figures a lot more reliable and quicker than — shudder — going away and working hard and quietly. That also goes for accountability and the actual need to be useful and productive; running the show figures to work better on that front as well for those with certain priorities.

    Also, what have many of these people actually trained themselves for? One of the shortcomings of those who have limited training in real world skills and / or sheltered intellectualization that some seminary pipeline products may exhibit is that there aren’t a whole lot of promising options outside of the field, especially the learning potential of “leadership“. Thus, it is not surprising when those who have problematic track records in this vocation nonetheless return to it, even if it calls for some fancy footwork.


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    One simple reason to answer the question: they are malignant narcissists. They act like every other malignant narcissist. Every one of these people do this until the day that they die. Can a leopard change his spots? The Christian life would be so much easier if we all just understood this fact and did not go idealistic thinking that anyone and everyone if fully capable of repenting. If this idea is true then why did Jesus say it would have been better for Judas Iscariot to never have been born? Why did God hate Esau but love his brother?


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    Muff Potter,

    Double good point. As Max says, this blog is a watchman on the wall sending out a warning…. …. If the inhabitants within the walls do not rise up, there is not much more that can be done…


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    Jeffrey Chalmers: this blog is a watchman on the wall sending out a warning … If the inhabitants within the walls do not rise up, there is not much more that can be done…

    “And I set watchmen over you, saying,
    ‘Listen to the sound of the trumpet!’
    But they said, ‘We will not listen.’”

    (Jeremiah 6:17)


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    Samuel Conner: Perhaps some day the seminaries will require psych assessments as a condition of admission. Perhaps churches will see the value of insisting on this in pastoral candidates.

    In the meantime, I suggest all churches ask their pastor to go through a psychological fitness test NOW! If he didn’t come in the door with a mental quirk, the pew has probably driven him crazy by now. The American church is a mess on many fronts.


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    ishy: TT is one of the most about himself people I’ve ever met.

    Agreed, And now for snarky. Dd you see some of those pictures of him on his website. *Oh so very serious but pretty sure I’m a dude” look?


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    Yesterdasy, my kitchen was torn apart and there is stuff all over my house. It will be like this for 7 +weeks. I;m trying to hold it together. We are considering Cracker Barrell for Thanksgiving.


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    Example of how I’m losing it. Yesterday, I picked up the phone and screamed “I’ve already voted. Leave me alone.” Then a quiet voice said, “Would you like to donate to the campaign?” Arghhh!


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    Ava Aaronson,

    Last night I was so tired. I’l stick up a picture of my kitchen/house in the next post. Thank you for catching this. Andy Davis hurt come dear friends of mine and he is always on my *Naughty* list.


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    Ava Aaronson,

    Thank you.


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    Jerome,

    Do you know much about this group? Theology?


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    dee: We are considering Cracker Barrell for Thanksgiving

    We did the Cracker Barrell Thanksgiving last year. The food was good and the lack of stress was even better.


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    dee: Example of how I’m losing it. Yesterday, I picked up the phone and screamed “I’ve already voted. Leave me alone.” Then a quiet voice said, “Would you like to donate to the campaign?” Arghhh!

    Ha! Perfect example of why we don’t answer the phone!
    And Cracker Barrel sounds like a great idea, with no guilt!


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    Anna: Sociopath or psychopath – you decide.

    Psychopaths are born, sociopaths are made. With Boz for a brother that rules out sociopath. Psychopath goes too far. Malignant narcissist is the diagnosis that fits the symptoms. See the prof at Cal. State U: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3J4MEQ3N03w


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    Jeffrey Chalmers: If the inhabitants within the walls do not rise up, there is not much more that can be done…

    It’s an ugly thing for church folks to be turned over to themselves … without God and without hope. Celebrity pastors grieve the heart of God and quench the Holy Spirit … because they are on the throne and not Jesus.


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    dee: Yesterdasy, my kitchen was torn apart

    A couple of “instant pots,” perhaps with an air fryer lid for one of them, might help a great deal for food preparation during the project, and could be useful for church community meals thereafter. They can also (make sure these settings, if wanted, are available in the model(s) you consider) be used for sterilization, yoghurt making, sous vide, etc. The “Ultra” model has a setting which is fully user configurable, though if one does not need the additional flexibility, the additional cost is a deterrent.

    Note that the air fryer lid is available only for certain 6 quart models; be sure to verify compatibility before ordering a pot and lid combination.

    The “sterilization” feature was tested in this research article

    https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30533061/

    IP is a lot cheaper than a proper laboratory autoclave, but does a creditable job of destroying the pathogens tested.

    I’m impressed with how little power the instant pot consumes; that won’t be news to people familiar with pressure cooking, but it was new to me. The heating element is 1000 Watt (6 qt model), but it runs at full heat for only a few minutes while coming up to pressure, after which the power consumption (measured with a cheap power meter that plugs in between the wall and the IP power cord) drops to less than a watt. Total power consumption to cook a two quart bean and rice stew (starting with unsoaked dried ingredients and some frozen meat) is about 0.2 kW, about 3 cents at my local power rate. The low total heat output is desirable year round from a cost standpoint, and is handy in Summer, when one may not want to heat the kitchen with high power cooking appliances.


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    dee: We are considering Cracker Barrell for Thanksgiving.

    A good choice. They are one of the few restaurants which makes decent dressing (almost like Mama used to make).


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    dee: We are considering Cracker Barrell for Thanksgiving.

    Dee, that’s not a bad option. If that doesn’t work out or if your governor imposes another lockdown, you could also see if one of your local grocery chains offers a pre-cooked Thanksgiving dinner which you could order ahead of time and pick up on Thanksgiving Day. Or you could pick up a rotisserie chicken at the grocery store as well as some microwaveable side dishes, which I did a couple of years ago when I was alone for Thanksgiving. I might do that again this year since everyone around me is hunkering down due to COVID.


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    Brian: The TN uses a lot of esoteric, metaphorical words on their website.

    To the point they sound like New Age Woo-Woo?

    Or Weird Al Yankovic’s “Mission Statement”?
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GyV_UG60dD4


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    dee: Agreed, And now for snarky. Dd you see some of those pictures of him on his website. *Oh so very serious butpretty sure I’m a dude” look?

    His previous selfies all looked like a stud on a dating service page.

    In the words of the Prophet Right Said Fred:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5mtclwloEQ


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    “Why won’t they go away and work hard and quietly, like most people in this world?”
    +++++++++++++

    because

    1) they know if they stay off the newfangled scrutiny radar (thanks to people like dee) that seems to have taken, there are millions of ‘christian’ people & (and their dollars) in evangeliworld who can’t be bothered with accountability and consequences

    2) if they have any other marketable skills, it’s too much work

    3) and doesn’t feed a need for attention


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    The Missionary Church = Anabaptists who adopted Holiness movement teachings

    https://www.encyclopedia.com/religion/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/nineteenth-century-holiness

    scroll down to Missionary Church entry, near bottom:

    “Mennonite roots, the Missionary Church Association was formed in 1898 at Berne, Indiana, under the leadership of J. E. Ramseyer. The group had been influenced by the Christian and Missionary Alliance in both faith and practice.”

    “1969 the United Missionary Church merged with the Missionary Church Association to form the Missionary Church, Inc. The Missionary Church Association had generally followed the four-fold gospel emphasis of A. B. Simpson, founder of the Christian and Missionary Alliance, presenting Christ as saviour, sanctifier, healer, and coming king. The United Missionary Church, influenced by Methodism, emphasized Wesleyan teaching.”

    Constitution with Articles of Faith:
    https://www.mcusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/CONST-9-17-final1.pdf


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    Jerome,

    My understanding of the C&MA (I spent about 20 years in one of their congregations) was that it started in late 1800s as two distinct but related parachurch organizations (“Christian Alliance” and “Missionary Alliance”) that worked within the established churches to promote church ministry and missions. It incorporated as a “denomination” (though I think it does not have a true denominational hierarchy, though I have the impression that the local congregations may not own their facilities — there’s pages out there about District-level action to eject congregations from facilities they paid for) in the mid 1900s.

    It’s a young movement and that was obvious to this observer; the local congregational leadership I observed pursued church ministry “fads” one after another; in retrospect, I interpret this to be at least in part the result of the movement not having deep historical roots. They hadn’t yet worked out their own traditional ways of “being church.” I gave up on the local congregation about 10 years ago, and got the impression afterward that there was some drift in the direction of thinking aligned with the “International House of Prayer.”

    The splintering and diffusion of the protestant churches continues. Eventually, they will fill every accessible part of the theological “phase space” and will not be recognizably varieties of the same religion. I imagine that that will not be a pretty sight.


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    ishy:
    Theology is just a tool to achieve the money and attention people like them want.

    That’s not what theology is. Manipulation of people for narcissistic ends falls under abnormal psychology.


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    singleman: If that doesn’t work out or if your governor imposes another lockdown, you could also see if one of your local grocery chains offers a pre-cooked Thanksgiving dinner which you could order ahead of time and pick up on Thanksgiving Day.

    One year, we ordered from Boston Market and it was great. I’m cooking this year, but it will just be me and my dad social distancing, so probably won’t be too fancy.


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    And not completely surprised TT planted a church in Jupiter, FL (which is a VERY high income area). Even Ed “The Bed” Young planted his west Florida campus in a poor community (though only a few miles from some very well off ones).

    NOTE: North Port is on both sides of the Myakka River. The part north of the river is well off (the Atlanta Braves moved their spring training facility there), the part south is middle class. Surprisingly Ed’s campus is on the south side. My SO has relatives in this area so I know the layout.


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    Max: “Why do they expose their families to the public eye after causing them such pain?” (Dee)

    Because they enjoy the limelight more than doing the right thing.

    “I’M GONNA BE…
    I’M GONNA BE…
    I’M GONNA BE FAMOUS!!!
    — Opening theme, Total Drama Island (Cartoon Network Reality Show Parody)


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    JDV: Also, what have many of these people actually trained themselves for?

    Becoming a CELEBRITY MegaGigaPastor and nothing else.
    Keeping up with the Furticks and Copelands.


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    Also, a regular job could never supply the dinero required for the fabulous jet-set lifestyles they lead, and the fancy-upscale-digs they’re used to.


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    Ava Aaronson: “Andy Davis and Tullian Tchividjian:”

    Is that a typo – like “Davis” should be “Savage”?

    I am glad you asked; I typed out the same question and deleted it because I thought I had probably missed something in a previous post.


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    So Dee, great post and good job covering all this. There is a warfare-induced “drift” taking place in evangelicalism. I can “feel” it.

    Think about how shocked, or embarrassed, or hurt Christians were when these stories used to break. It was Jimmy Swaggart, then the Bakers many years ago. I was hit pretty hard when a great teacher named David Hocking needed to resign from his radio program in the early 90s. I used to be naive and think these issues were limited and there were still large bastions where integrity mattered. It seemed like major denominations could be trusted and men wiser than me could “fix” things. Now, recently we have seen the SGM drama and Liberty University’s mess. Plus the other countless stories you report on.

    What I have learned as I get older is that “anything can happen at any time and it can involve anyone”. In a way I felt better when I was naive.

    People like TT and Andy can hide for a time. What they are doing to appear viable is simply redefine what church is, what elders are, and what accountability looks like. To your point, they can only do this by removing repentance.

    They do not need to repent because they continue to lower the bar. Sadly, it looks like they have hundreds of thousands of accomplices. There is indeed a falling away and it needs to be covered. Thanks to your blog, I can now see how it started long before I saw it… it started in people’s hearts. Perhaps I played a role by being naive, and not always “watching” like Jesus commanded.


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    George,

    What was the issue with David Hocking?


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    George: They do not need to repent because they continue to lower the bar. Sadly, it looks like they have hundreds of thousands of accomplices.

    Without repentance, there is no remission of sins; we are still under His wrath. These folks are on dangerous ground. There is no repentance, no forgiveness, and no conversion in the grave.


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    George: I was hit pretty hard when a great teacher named David Hocking needed to resign from his radio program in the early 90s.

    The name “PastorDavidHocking” sounds familiar from when I was listening to Christianese AM Radio. Which show was his? (This would have been in the late Seventies.)


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    Muff Potter:
    Also, a regular job could never supply the dinero required for the fabulous jet-set lifestyles they lead, and the fancy-upscale-digs they’re used to.

    They could always go on MTV’s “Real World”…


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    dee,

    Welcome. And as always, thank you for the post.k


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    I know that Tim Challies has been mentioned from time to time, please keep him and his wife in prayer as their son collapsed yesterday and despite all resuscitative efforts died. They are driving down from Canada to Louisville. I k ow I have had differences with him on several fronts but we should all take a moment to pray for them.
    Brief details on his website.


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    Chuck P: Tim Challies … their son collapsed yesterday and despite all resuscitative efforts died

    Thanks Chuck for posting this. So sad. I prayed for the family just now.


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    ishy: TT is one of the most about himself people I’ve ever met.

    I’d use the term “full of himself”.
    “ME! ME! ME! ME! ME! ME! ME! ME!”


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    Headless Unicorn Guy: The name “PastorDavidHocking” sounds familiar from when I was listening to Christianese AM Radio. Which show was his? (This would have been in the late Seventies.)

    Hocking is still on KBRT (AM 740 – Southern Cal.) every morning at 10:30.
    Hocking was removed from his pulpit back in the early 90s for an allegedly ‘inappropriate’ relationship with a female congregant other than his wife.
    Papa Chuck (founder of Calvary Chapel) took him in soon after, and put him on staff at Calvary Chapel, citing that ‘He’s a gifted teacher of the Bible’.

    https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/1993/february-8/update-ousted-radio-pastor-to-join-calvary-chapel-staff.html


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    ishy,

    Wow Ishy…. you seem to hobnob with the “rich and famous”!


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    Muff Potter,
    ManaGAWD screwing a honey on the side and Calvary Chapel connection —
    Why am I NOT Surprised?

    “He’s a gifted teacher of the Bible!”
    Just like Dualistic Gnostics Augustine was mixed up with, where your Spiritual Purity had NO connection whatsoever with Reality (including your attitude and behavior). The goal was to become so Spiritual you ceased to be human, incapable of sin no matter what you did. And looks like PastorDavidHockingCalvaryChapelWherever had achieved that to sit at the Right Hand of Papa Chuck.


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    Missed a word there….in his bio…. as the result of HIS infidelity……..


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    ishy: TT is one of the most about himself people I’ve ever met. And I’ve met Paige Patterson.

    Shhhhhhhhhh!!


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    Once in awhile I mention the SBC church nearby, which continues to be a healthy congregation and an inviting community asset (popular meeting space, fun playground…). They have just resumed in-person worship, with all of the precautions: masks, social distancing, limited numbers, live stream, and ability to watch the recorded service later on. All of it is enforced with a light sense of humor, from what I see and know of them.

    I’m not usually a fan of illuminated church signs, but right now this SBC sign is showing three messages:

    WEAR A MASK
    SOCIAL DISTANCE
    WASH YOUR HANDS

    Not far away, other SBC churches have been pulled into protests that simply do not reflect state law and health guidelines: truly there is no persecution here. Thus I am grateful to see one established SBC congregation find the balance between safeguarding health and conducting corporate worship. Heck, they still even have “Baptist” in their name…!


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    Jeffrey Chalmers: Wow Ishy…. you seem to hobnob with the “rich and famous”!

    I think of it more as being in the wrong place at the wrong time…


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    ishy: I think of it more as being in the wrong place at the wrong time…

    Well, thank you for reporting back! I’ve learned a great deal from your experiences, and I’m sure everyone else has too.


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    My first thought on andy Savage: I don’t care how much pain you have experienced. i want to know how much pain you have caused.


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    I don’t care how much pain you have experienced. I want to know how much pain you have caused.


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    “Why do they want to have their histories repeated, over and over? They know this will happen.”

    Narcissism. It gets them in the public eye and allows them to tell a grand story about themselves.

    “Why won’t they go away and work hard and quietly, like most people in this world?”

    Most of them don’t have any other marketable skills, and they don’t want to take a reduced income.

    “Do they really think the Gospel will fail without them *leading* churches?”

    Sadly, yes.

    “Why do they expose their families to the public eye after causing them such pain?”

    Narcissism. It’s all about them. They don’t care about their families.


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    I’m a little late to the party but as someone extremely familiar with AA I think it’s funny that these Table people say they are loosely modeled after Alcoholics Anonymous- if so, they would not publish their own names or charge money for “courses”…

    Now off to order Cracker Barrel for Thanksgiving…