Rings of Saturn. NASA
“If you’re faking it, people will know, and it’s going to turn a lot of people off.” Billy Eichner
I have been blogging for 14 years, and I am startled by all the people from the past who rise again from the ashes and make comebacks. In the coming weeks, I will be writing a 2-3 part series on The Remnant, Gwen Shamblin’s church, which, unbeknownst to me, is still a thing, and it is fascinating and sad at the same time. Others, like Jerry Falwell Jr, attempt to make lots of cash by suing former institutions.
Then, there is James MacDonald…Yes, he’s back in a myriad of ways. There is his new church and his ministry called Rock Bottom. There is his million-dollar settlement with Harvest. For those of you of you who would like to read all of the posts TWW has written on MacDonald, have at it at this link. It may ruin your day.
Now, it appears that James MacDonald has a diagnosis of PTSD and blames it on social media. He especially targets Julie Roys. For a quick catchup as to what led to this “diagnosis,” here are links to two posts at TWW: An Example of Codswallop: James MacDonald Claims He Blacked Out and Fell Into a Lady, Has PTSD, and Accuses Julie Roys of Fomenting’ Mass Hysteria’ and Is James MacDonald Batshit Crazy or Crazy Like a Fox?
Here is a quick synopsis. MacDonald claims he had PTSD from all the hoopla surrounding his long goodbye from Harvest. The guy is so ‘beaten down’ from all of the criticism on social media that the poor guy could not contain himself. He was parallel parking his car, something that Dee hates to do herself. He bumped the car in back of him and then rolled forward to bump the car in front of him. The lady in the second car emerged to speak with him. He claims he must have blacked out, fallen forward, and put the lady into a hospital for about three weeks. In other words, she was severely injured. My mom had surgery on her fractured leg and then had a massive stroke. Duke got her out in 8 days!
PTSD: Maybe yes, and maybe no!
MacDonald got a doctor to diagnose him with PTSD and appeared somewhat successful in a possible mental health diversion. Julie Roys is not taking this sitting down in California Judge Rules James MacDonald is Eligible for Mental Health Diversion Due to PTSD. It appears that the prosecution isn’t either.
After hearing arguments that MacDonald suffered from PTSD, San Diego County Superior Court Judge Carlos Varela ordered a contested hearing for February 28 to determine if a mental health diversion is appropriate. If granted, the charges against MacDonald would be dismissed, pending successful completion of a treatment program.
…Assistant District Attorney Alexsis Lamprea stated that the injuries sustained by the victim required her to be in the hospital for 21 days. Lamprea added that only recently has Bass been able to walk without a walker or cane.
He claims memories of Julie Roys, the internet, and his former church made him do it!!
It is the examiners professional opinion that James’ reaction is a function of PTSD,” Judge Varela stated. “. . . ‘Once the woman in the car in front of him got out of the car and moved towards him in an angry and agitated state, the years of traumatic memories of being vilified by Julie Roys rushed back to him and triggered a fight or flight response. Feeling powerless and misunderstood and essentially trapped in his truck, he got out of the vehicle to fight back against his accuser.’ So again, that is the analysis of Dr. Anderson.”
MacDonald used to like social media when he was king. Now, he claims it is what caused his PTSD.
MacDonald’s attorney, Marc Carlos, claimed in today’s hearing that MacDonald responded the way he did because he suffered from PTSD due to “some really bad reporting,” “internet trolling,” and “constant harassing” online.
I have a saying, “Play in public; play in public.” Look back over the history of Harvest. Go to his current resource page on which he sells books, devotionals, etc, for money. He uses social media to sell his stuff. I could go on and on about the myriad of ways MacDonald used, and still uses, social media to make money.
One takes a chance by going onto social media. Sometimes people love or like you, and sometimes people won’t. MacDonald had a history of lots of admiring followers. He also had a history of being ugly to others. He doesn’t get to pick only the admiration. This section from TRR spells it out.
Referring to MacDonald’s 30-plus years at Harvest Bible Chapel in the Chicago area, Carlos stated that MacDonald used to pastor a “very, very large congregation.” Carlos added that three to four million people used to watch MacDonald’s various ministries online and he has “basically done everything right.”
Carlos made no mention of the numerous allegations of bullying, spiritual abuse, deception, misuse of finances, or sexual misconduct, which led Harvest to fire MacDonald.
MacDonald could go to prison for seven years unless his attorney can convince the judge otherwise.
The Christian Post picked up the story in James MacDonald’s PTSD goes on trial as he seeks to avoid prison for assaulting a woman.
MacDonald is currently facing seven years in prison for the felony assault and battery of Barbara Bass in March.
…The former megachurch pastor’s attorney, Marc Carlos, highlighted in the evidence presented before the court, including testimony from mental health experts, that MacDonald was first diagnosed with PTSD in 2020 and as recently as 2023.
The prosecutor doesn’t buy the PTSD defense and will seek to negate it.
According to The Christian Post:
The assistant district attorney, however, strongly disagreed.
“While the defendant was diagnosed by an expert with PTSD, the people do not believe that the PTSD was a significant factor in the crime committed. It is the people’s position that the crime committed was a willful and callous act that the defendant thought about just based off the facts,” Lamprea said.
“The defendant bumped the victim’s car, the victim got out of her car to keep the defendant from leaving, the defendant got out of his truck, runs towards the victim, which they fell to the ground, and the victim sustained significant injuries that she was in the hospital for 21 days,” the assistant district attorney said.
Lamprea said Bass is still receiving physical therapy and only recently stopped using a walker to get around her house.
The prosecutor suggests MacDonald’s claim of PTSD is suspect.
…They’re members of his community, and many of them were negative towards the defendant based off of his behavior. Now, whether the PTSD can come from somebody saying something about him online, that’s for an expert to opine, that is something that the people, if the court is going to grant the prima facie, we would be asking for the contested hearing so we could look into hiring our own expert,” Lamprea argued. “As it stands, the people do not agree that his PTSD played a significant factor in the crime committed. The people believe the crime was a willful and thought-out crime that the defendant committed.”
James MacDonald has been unsuccessfully treated for PTSD before!
Live and learn.
“He’s already been unsuccessful on treatment multiple times. And if the defendant has had three years since his diagnosis or previous diagnosis in 2020, now we’re in 2023, obviously, whatever he was doing in between that time hasn’t affected him in a good, in a positive way, or helped his mental health diagnosis in a positive way as we are now here on this crime, and his behavior in this crime was very egregious,” Lamprea said.
My opinion on the PTSD claim: stolen valor!
The National Center for PTSD and the US Department of Veteran Affairs states:
Veterans are more likely to develop PTSD than civilians. Among Veterans, those who deploy are more likely to have PTSD than Veterans who do not. Also, Veterans who use VA for health care are more likely to be diagnosed with PTSD than those who use community health services. This may be due, in part, because VA screens for MST and PTSD for all Veteran patients.
I think James MacDonald appears to be stealing this diagnosis of PTSD from those who have genuinely suffered. I think of veterans and abuse survivors who have seen and experienced horrific events. He needed to pull on his big boy pants and deal with the online criticism. He didn’t. He fought it, sued for defamation, and now lives with the fact that he is no longer universally admired.
Listen to this codswallop from his attorney, who is trying hard to present a positive view of his client (as written in TRR.)
Carlos (ed. his attorney) presented MacDonald as a model citizen. In his 62 years of living, he’s “had no incidence of violence, no incidence of any type of criminal history, no substance abuse, domestic violence—nothing,” the attorney said.
Referring to MacDonald’s 30-plus years at Harvest Bible Chapel in the Chicago area, Carlos stated that MacDonald used to pastor a “very, very large congregation.” Carlos added that three to four million people used to watch MacDonald’s various ministries online and he has “basically done everything right.”
Final Thoughts
- If he has PTSD, we need to suggest a support animal to assist him. I’m looking for suggestions.
- I don’t buy the diagnosis of PTSD. I wonder what other psychiatrists, such as Diane Langberg, might say.
- I support the victim. She was severely hurt, as evidenced by three weeks in the hospital.
- I wonder if she has a civil suit against MacDonald as well.
- MacDonald still has two lawsuits against Manny Bucur and Mancow Muller for defamation, which seems to demonstrate MacDonald’s attempt to prove himself perfect. I hope he loses against these two pleasant men I remember from earlier posts. He should drop the lawsuits and show others how to forgive. I hope he knows how to do that. He is a pastor, after all…
- It is time to see a well-known pastor go to jail for their actions. Will it be MacDonald? It appears he deserves some time.
- If anyone reading this supports MacDonald, will they explain why? I’m genuinely interested.
- Good for Julie Roys! She is honest and persistent.
- James MacDonald: Get help.
I am not an expert on PTSD. Nonetheless, I have always associated it with things like war, or witnessing a murder. I have heard people use PTSD as an excuse when really all they are suffering is accountability or criticism. I agree that it really comes across like stolen valor.
First??
As someone diagnosed with C-PTSD, I find MacDonald’s latest weasel-ness especially disgusting. One has to wonder just how inept Dr. Henry Cloud is as a psychologist to be Hybels’ and MacDonald’s therapist and fail to either accurately diagnosis or successfully treat their mental health challenges. Cloud sure made money from his professional association with both “pastors” speaking and selling his resources in their churches. In the real world, duel relationships and ethics violations are supposed to matter. I know Big Eva makes its own rules but he is a licensed psychologist making bank by treating the big dogs. (There was plenty of documentation of sermons after the issues were exposed showing Cloud doing business as usual on their platforms.
Also, despite my C-PTSD diagnosis before treatment, I was, I am and always will be responsible for my behavior. This narcissistic bully needs to finally meet his match. What a disgrace to the name of Christ!
I suggest a rabid pot-bellied pig for his support animal. Birds of a feather…
I wouldn’t necessarily dismiss Macdonald’s diagnosis of PTSD. It interferes with your perception of events (eg make things feel more or less threatening than they are) and because it interferes with your internal regulation you either over- or under-react to things.
It’s not impossible that he perceived Julie Roys’s reporting as overly hostile but I’m also hearing lots of other stressors in his life that may have had a cumulative effect.
I agree he needs to get help and particularly avoid/manage stressors because if he is hyper-aroused as a result of PTSD he’s likely to do this again. Certainly the bizarre account of bumping two cars and injuring the lady suggests something’s not right.
(Dee congratulations on the wedding and sympathy about your mother and the family disagreement).
If Mac does have PTSD and it is such a severe case that it triggers him to injure someone, particularly as badly as he injured Ms. Bass, he doesn’t just need counseling..….. he needs to be institutionalized….. committed!
Personally, I don’t think he has PTSD. I think he just has his panties in a really nasty wad because he lost power and control over Harvest when everybody got fed up with his pre-PTSD antics. He just isn’t man enough to put on a pair of big boy breeches on and own up to it. So, he vents at the risk of hurting innocent people…… then he cries “Not my fault! Mean people gave me PTSD!”
Social media put the New Calvinist movement on the map. Without it, they have no voice. Social media will eventually take all the NeoCal darlings down … the price to pay for dabbling in aberrant theology and narcissistic authoritarian behavior.
I suppose most Wartburgers suffer to some degree from PTCD (Post Traumatic Church Disorder) caused by NeoCal theodudes or other such religious rascals.
He needs to be contained (jail or other institution) to protect the public from him using his PTSD as an excuse to harm the public.
As for an “appropriate” support animal, how about a big huge donkey. AKA a name that has 3 letters, begins with an A, and ends with SS? That seems fitting – as long as it is big enough.
“If he has PTSD, we need to suggest a support animal to assist him. I’m looking for suggestions.”
I suggest a deer. Having one as a support animal would also serve as redemption for shooting several of them at Camp Harvest … at point-blank range and then emptying his gun on them.
https://wonderingeagle.wordpress.com/2019/05/25/does-james-macdonald-take-personal-pleasure-in-killing-animals/
Yes, he needs to have a deer as a friend for a change.
“If anyone reading this supports MacDonald, will they explain why?”
I’ve noticed that when one of the NeoCal darlings fall, the rest of the gang distance themselves from them. It then becomes “Driscoll who?” … “Mahaney who?” … “MacDonald who?” … etc. The dudebros stick with them as long as they can (e.g., Mohler hanging onto Mahaney until the Houston Chronicle articles) … but when the potatoes become too hot to handle, they drop them and move on.
A pastor gets himself in trouble with the law so he blames women and social media.
Nothing new. Right on script.
Afterburne,
Awwwww, don’t go insulting cute, furry, four-legged, warm-blooded critters. My daughter had an adorable pet donkey when she was a youngster.
James Mac needs a support animal that crawls on it’s belly and has scales and fangs….. and venom.
Nancy2(aka Kevlar),
PTSD my a$$.
MacDonald is a fraud.
Talk to some real vets who were on the Nam all those years ago and you’ll know what the real McCoy (PTSD) is.
Same with the troops who served in Iraq.
Like the cases on Dateline and 20/20 tonight, the only victim the criminal acknowledges is himself.
It’s a type.
What I want to know is, if he has PTSD, how the heck did he get it? He’s inflicted PTSD on a lot of other people, including those he sued, kids he bullied in the Christian school at Harvest, people he threatened/plotted to kill/shot at photos of, etc. But all Julie Roys did was report what McDonald did. He gets to claim PTSD for someone reporting the truth?
Perhaps a nice cuddly gecko would be a good warm and fuzzy support animal just suited for him.
I would not be surprised if MacDonald has genuine PTSD, given that his life exploded rather spectacularly and suddenly and a lot of people he thought he could count on (like his elder board) ended up turning against him.
HOWEVER, unlike veterans are car accident survivors or domestic abuse victims, MacDonald largely brought this upon himself. And I agree with Nancy2 that PTSD is not an excuse to go around hurting people; if it’s true, he needs to be institutionalized for everyone’s safety. His own included! Imagine if he’d done that to someone with a concealed-carry firearm.
If the defense has pursue a diagnosis of PTSD, I wonder if the prosecution can pursue their own diagnosis of something like narcissism?
I suggest a WEASLE!!!!! I hope spelled that critter correctly!
Muff Potter,
I agree with you, Muff.
I have a lot of connections to the military and military people/families (Marines, Air Force, and Army) through my kinfolk and my husbands 24 year Army Career. I’ve spent way too much time in Ft. Campbell territory.
And, PTSD is not just a military problem. It can be a result of a brutal dog attack, a bad traffic accident ….. I know two some ones who have suffered with PTSD because of those things. It’s nothing to scoff at.
But, I am convinced that James Mac is nothing more than a selfish crybaby who’s trying to use PTSD to excuse away the childish, destructive, temper tantrums he throws because he just can’t have his way and nobody bows and caters to him anymore. Boo hoo hoo.
I guess he has to find somebody to blame his bad behavior on (particularly since he’s in a bit of a pickle with the law, now) and the meanies who tattle on him are the only targets he can find.
James MacDonald’s lawyer explains that Julie Roys is to blame for his client’s sad inability to react with decency to a woman whose car HE hit? Bwahaha. Reads like a headline from the Babylon Bee.
We can only hope that the prosecution contacts eyewitnesses from Harvest Chicago who would give sworn statements as to Mr MacDonalds bullying behavior “pre Roy’s report”. I mean, even tradespeople in the area knew MacDonald to be an angry mean man.
Sadly this seems to be the flavor of our time, famous celebrity “leaders” who act outrageously, say all kinds of awful things on public record then gaslight everyone. I find myself mightily discouraged by it all.
His groupies have given him PTSD and not his fair critics. Some people are “natural” figureheads, and the others shunned their responsibility to only accept one who was going to value their honest and thoughtful collaboration.
MacD should have been steered towards a secular occupation where there would be lots of other top dogs neeeding to pull together, or settle for being a smaller operative.
The entire “influencing” manipulating materialistic Holy Spiritless evangelicalism phenomenon – Bismarck and William James rolled into one – has robbed them all of any morals.
Please pray about this situation (praying is a nice, unchristian thing to do these days).
If he truly has had PTSD for three years, why are there not other examples of his condition leading to him respond to others in this way? They’re trying to ride both sides of the fence… He has no history of violence, but his three year bout with PTSD led to this violent incident?
I suggest a bull for his service animal. That way he’ll have a natural source for all the BS he’s attempting to peddle.
Julie and her staff report news, checked against public sources. Who are these though?
“christianpost.com”
“churchleaders.com”
Dr Cloud had (about 40 years ago) some insight into bad boundaries but appears to have shifted his focus to his narrow definition of sharing in the “success” of fellow big business people (without regard to the lesser success of their inferiors).
Nancy2(aka Kevlar),
Codependents don’t make good models for the rest of us, unless they are working against it; spiritual means have helped some.
If folks like MacDonald, Mahaney & Driscoll were truly Christian, they would just fade into obscurity ashamed of the mess they made of their ministries and their poor testimonies for Christ.
Consider the response of disgraced John Profumo…
https://www.theamericanconservative.com/the-penitent-of-toynbee-hall/
Riley,
Thank you for this comment.
George,
You did it!
MacDonald does not appear to accept that he has responsibility for anything. That, in itself, adds to his over the top and apparently no holds barred response. He needs to go to Florida nad lay on a beach, far away from those he has influenced.
Agreed,
You made me laugh.
Another great suggestion.
Well said.
Let me get this straight: this dude thought in his fevered brain he was selected for salvation while others were created to fry, and thought also he was destined for the religious big leagues because God so ordained it.
I guess if you think that, and believe in predestination that much, you also think you can do whatever you want with no repercussions.
Enter reality, the bubble bursts, and yes you face consequences when you act badly. So he throws a temper tantrum, others call him on it, and now he blames all his subsequent bad behavior not on his own sinful soul, or his own actions, but on the person who called him out for his tantrums?
Wow, he must have flunked out of preschool. No little Johnny, you cannot take the toy from little Bobby, smack him if he wants it back, and blame the rest of your life’s misdeeds on the evil teacher who made you give the toy back and go stand in the corner.
You just can’t make this stuff up, now can you? Talk about twisted theology!!
These days, do you Really expect anything else from CHRISTIANS(TM)?
doubleplusunpersons.
Given the ManaGAWD’s track record…
I suggest a 9mm Glock with EMOTIONAL SUPPORT painted on the slide.
Or a TactiKEWL-blinged AR-15 wearing an EMOTIONAL SUPPORT vest modified to fit over the forearm/barrel shroud and ASK ME ABOUT JESUS! bumper stickers on the receiver and/or collapsing buttstock.
What about “TOUCH NOT MINE ANOINTED!!!!!”?
“WE ARE ALL UTTERLY DEPRAVED SINNERS!!!!”?
“THERE IS NOE RIGHTEOUS! NO, NOT ONE!!!!!”?
“LET HE WHO IS WITHOUT SIN CAST THE FIRST STONE!!!!!”?
And all the other automatic Christianese MP3 playbacks.
“POOR POOR PERSECUTED ME! PITY ME PITY ME PITY ME!”
Just like any sociopath who gets caught.
Matter of fact, this type of DARVO plus Mass Charm Person is one of the surest signs of a Sociopath.
And there’s always Scapegoats (plural) to blame, all lined up in advance.
Nah … the NeoCals are too arrogant to humble themselves like Profumo. If they won’t minister to orphans and widows during their “ministry”, they sure the heck ain’t going to do it if they fall from grace.
I’ve not yet read any of the comments, so someone might’ve already suggested something similar…. 🙂
From the Opening Post (from the Christian Post article Dee linked to, James MacDonald’s PTSD goes on trial as he seeks to avoid prison for assaulting woman):
https://www.christianpost.com/news/james-macdonald-eligable-to-avoid-prison-because-of-ptsd-judge.html
How would James MacDonald have
responded“reacted” 🙂 if Barbara Bass (the woman he claimed he reacted to as a result of PTSD) had — instead of ending up on the ground — hit and / or attacked him back, claiming she reacted as a result of PTSD?When I read the article, my thought was (and is) that James MacDonald would whine and snivel over the tiniest scratch.
If Barbara Bass (the woman he attacked) — claiming it was a result of his PTSD — had fought back claiming she had PTSD as a result of past abuse(s) (domestic, physical, sexual, etc.), what would James MacDonald say about her in court (or the court of public opinion)? What would James MacDonald’s lawyer say about her in court (or in the court of public opinion)?
And if James MacDonald had been diagnosed with PTSD in 2020, and — if I remember correctly — he’d also wanted to step back from ministry and the Elders (or whoever) had wanted him to return — why did he return to ministry?
And if James MacDonald didn’t like the way social media treated him, why did he continue using social media?
FWIW, our understanding of trauma has changed significantly in the past 15 years or so. PTSD was once viewed as involving events “outside the range of usual human experience.” More recently, there has been more focus on the impact of stressful events on a person’s nervous system, leading to some of the classic signs associated with PTSD (overwhelm, hypervigilance, intrusive thoughts). Relational trauma occurring over time, such as childhood abuse/neglect/abandonment and physical/emotional/spiritual abuse of adults/children, is sometimes described as C-PTSD (where C=complex). C-PTSD often leads to “emotional flashbacks,” where a trigger causes the person to re-experience emotions related to the trauma. Of note, the current DSM-5 criteria for PTSD were published in 2013 and so do not reflect the evolving view of trauma; the DSM-5 doesn’t recognize C-PTSD at all.
Unfortunately, all mental illnesses are diagnosed by symptoms, since there are no tests to reach a definitive diagnosis. That means experts may arrive at different conclusions. The prosecutor is wise to wish to proceed with one of their own experts.
It’s always concerning when individuals seek to game the mental health system for their own benefit and especially when it’s to escape responsibility. Hopefully the severity of the injuries to the victim will feature prominently in the process, since that is an important consideration for safety.
True.
My therapist and my psychiatrist accused me of complex PTSD due to years of witnessing abuse in the church. I do not think it is for only things like war, and I caution people here not to make such claims because it can hinder people from seeking and recieving treatment for it.
Whether JMac has PTSD or not, I wonder if he was diagnosed with anything else, because I suspect he has a serious case of something like NPD or psychopathy. This guy has done seriously terrifying things (things that I’ve heard him admit on live broadcasts like hiring a hit man to murder his son-in-law) which I believe make him a danger to society. For what he did to that woman alone, he deserves jail time. I think he’s done a good bit more.
He presents as a church mob boss.
Elevate the HS gift of pastoring to a paid position in charge with little accountability and see what happens.
Administration or running the org is a completely different HS gift.
There is also the HS gift of discernment to sniff these activities out and expose the criminals in churches.
Does the HS give all 18 gifts to the Church? Rom 12, 1 Cor 12, and Eph 4 says He does. So I believe so.
What’s your HS gift to the Church? The Bible says all believers have at least one to give.
Are we allowing the HS to give our gift to the church?
Or, are we paying for and entitling so-called “pastors” to run their schemes and scams?
There are church workers who vow to live in poverty, chastity, and obedience, but they are neither Protestant nor Reformed nor Evangelical.
sort of like “the devil made me do it”
Twinkie Defense: A non-Christianese version of The Geraldine Defense.
Surprised he’s using the Twinkie Defense instead of the Geraldine, but then his lawyer(s) are probably making that decision.
Because an incognito Angel appeared to him at a gas station in rural Wyoming and before vanishing laid on hands and prophesied a command from God to return to Ministry, that’s why!
(Of course, we only have the ManaGAWD’s claim as evidence – Touch Not Mine Anointed!)
Because Profumo is one of those Reprobate Heathens and they are God’s Personally-Predestined Elect.
It is impossible to exaggerate the arrogance of God’s Special Pets.
Good points worth underscoring. MacDonald may well have PTSD, but unlike most people living with PTSD, he brought it on himself. People with narcissism are easily wounded by criticism, let alone ongoing public criticism, even if it’s true. If someone develops PTSD from unwarranted attacks and slander (as I am guessing several people within MacDonald’s realm of influence have), that is a different position than if someone who himself has harmed others develops it from people telling the truth about his behavior.
I think this second point is key to understanding the situation with MacDonald. Given the reported descriptions of his behavior, it’s likely that he has both NPD and other disorders and its these that make him an ongoing danger to society. PTSD is treatable. There is much less success in treating personality disorders. (Why wasn’t he charged with hiring a hit man? )
I, too, am concerned that equating PTSD with war experiences can keep people who have it from seeking care because what they experienced wasn’t “as bad as being in a war zone.”
Diane Langberg describes her early clinical experience as an intern in the early 1970s in which she had women clients report childhood sexual abuse to her. There was nothing in her training that covered that and her supervisor told her that if she believed them, she’d be playing into their pathology. She did believe the women and so just stopped telling her supervisor.
Then she began to have Vietnam vets as clients and realized that the women and the men were reporting the same symptoms. (PTSD was not a diagnosis until some years later.)
Her conclusion was that “There are different kinds of war zones.”
dee,
If MacDonald claims to have PTSD due primarily to Julie Roys’ treatment of him to the point that he violently attacks a woman whose car he just hit, it seems he would be a great threat to Julie given the opportunity. Let’s not forget that this man claiming a lack of responsibility for causing grave bodily harm also had a weapon in his possession during this event.
If he injures a woman who “makes him feel like Julie Roys did,” imagine what he might do to Julie given the opportunity. From my understanding, having pursued an order of protection against an abuser, losing rights to carry and possess weapons is part of the impact.
I think Julie has good reason to consider an order of protection against MacDonald. He is clearly willing to physically harm women in certain situations. Wait until he loses his right to possess and carry weapons. Such men often regard weapons as an extension of their masculinity. I think he would truly come unglued. Such unstable, violent people should not have access to weapons. I make this statement as a concealed carry permit holder. If I violently attacked someone, I should lose that right.
His Rock Bottom ministry is another pitiful ploy for influence. Imagine hitting rock bottom and James MacDonald supposedly held the answers. The man is made of teflon, unmitigated gall and unending hubris. Make it stop!
The New Calvinists knew this when they gave him a platform. He was a bad-boy darling of their movement from the beginning, attracting thousands of young wanna-be-bad-boys that are now in American pulpits. Macho-man leaders like JMac & Driscoll were used to mobilize the new reformers. The movers & shakers of the NeoCal movement should be ashamed of themselves, but their strategy worked. The Calvinistas now own a huge chunk of the American pulpit, with their “teflon, unmitigated gall and unending hubris.” They are often the subjects of TWW posts.
JMac wouldn’t have ongoing criticism if wasn’t always ongoing about something. His resume is more bad-boy than good-boy.
Does MacDonald’s son also have PTSD or just a chip off the old block?
As a pastor “he exhibited bullying behavior, urinated during a meeting, threw chairs in a rage, and failed to report the alleged abuse of a minor in the megachurch’s youth ministry.”
https://www.christianpost.com/news/james-macdonalds-son-launches-church-near-harvest-bible-chapel.html
The telltale sign of an abuser is consistently presenting themselves as the victim…even when they physically assault a woman. Watch for it. Poor Mike Bikle is the victim of false allegations.
Let’s also not forget that this is the same ManaGAWD who in fits of rage would take a knife and stab pictures of hie enemies. (Which if you know Folk Magic traditions is a way to put a death hex on someone.)
And who in shot a deer from his private canned hunt herd to pieces in another fit or rage.
Max,
If all that stuff is true, and they still bank-roll the guy with their ‘tithes’ and ‘offerings’, they deserve each other, and I have zero sympathy for them.
I refuse to buy into the ‘victim-hood’ card here, it’s more like a kind of deluded masochism.
I can confirm that from experience growing up.
Poor little JMac of Chicago, this one’s for you:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srpwqf2MWAw
Off topic: my mother died early this morning. She was on a five-day period of respite care at a nearby nursing home and was scheduled to come home later today. I was called by the nursing home staff at 01:30 and met with my brother there to wait for the hospice nurse to declare her dead. That has been taken care of, my brother and I went over and drank coffee at the house, and now I think I’m going back to bed. I had just gotten home from Boston a few hours earlier.
I wouldn’t say this was truly expected as my brother and I had talked about how I would need to come over on Friday to take care of mom while he went to the doctor. But she had serious problems breathing before I went out of town so it was kind of expected. At least she is with my father now.
Muslin, fka Dee Holmes,
So sorry to hear about the loss of your mother. I wish I had the right words to say, just know I care.
Bad-boy preachers would have no stage if they didn’t have an audience in the pew willing to buy tickets to the show. Yes, they deserve each other. Jesus will have nothing to do with it … He goes to church elsewhere.
And this was ‘before’ he contracted PTSD!
Muslin, fka Dee Holmes,
Dee,
I’m sorry you’ve lost your mom. It’s never easy even if expected. You’ve been a good and loving daughter to her. Peace to you and your brother.
Eyewitness,
There are articles that say he was being investigated, but I guess they dropped it. Probably not enough admissible evidence. I hope they do not drop the charges for his assault.
Exactly my thoughts – Copperhead would be an option!
readingalong,
I am partial to a sunk… with or without its sent glands
Disgusting. He obviously does not know any forever broken Vietnam vets. And lots of other vets…..
Muslin, fka Dee Holmes,
I’m sorry, Dee. It’s so hard to lose a parent. May God comfort you and your brother.
“James MacDonald Has a Diagnosis of PTSD and Blames It on Julie Roys and Social Media.”
Will that be Mike Bickle’s defense? That the “accuser of the brethren” is trying to take him down?
https://www.christianitytoday.com/news/2023/october/mike-bickle-ihopkc-intl-house-of-prayer-abuse-allegations.html
I’m so sorry for your loss, Muslin, fka Dee Holmes….
Thank you for the link to the Christianity Today article International House of Prayer Founder Mike Bickle Accused of Sexual Abuse, Max….and Julie Roys has a post on Mike Bickle as well.
International House of Prayer Founder Mike Bickle Accused of Clergy Sexual Abuse ‘Spanning Several Decades’
https://web.archive.org/web/20231030102356/https://julieroys.com/ihop-founder-mike-bickle-accused-clergy-sexual-abuse/
Reading through them both, it’s obvious that Mike Bickle is an abuser, no one responded properly, and all the classic “church” games were played.
In his last sermon to the IHOP congregation, before this news broke, it’s clear that Bickle was trying to prepare them for this. It was delivered in DARVO style before there was anything announced to deny.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qIRtq5PWzA4
It’s a thing.
Bragging Rights a la Bob Larson:
“SATAN Himself hath singled ME out for Personal PERSECUTION! SEE HOW GODLY I MUST BE! SEE? SEE? SEE?”
DARVO in advance.
Pre-Emptive Counterstrike.
PTSD has become Trendy.
Just like Tourettes and MPD on TikTok.
I hope to God there is a hunter from space who will stalk, and make a trophy of him (MacDonald).
He was getting a form of mania – which he was told by materialistic seminary staff or pastor search committees is “charism” – and was in an economic position to give himself space and time to source self help (preferably alongside agnostics) probably augmented by simple medical therapy.
Grim reapers like Harvest shame anyone that won’t carry on fulfilling their violent values. That is why he didn’t have the discretion to stay resigned or avoid “social medias”. Modern day religion denies everybody any discretion (the secular world now on the point of looking to that example set).