SINCE 2018 THE SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION HAS BEEN FRONT PAGE NEWS WITH THE #METOO/ #CHURCHTOO MOVEMENT AND ACCUSATIONS OF RAMPANT SEX ABUSE, COVERUPS AND ONGOING MISHANDLING OF THE ISSUE. CONCERNS, ATTENTION AND EFFORTS TO “RESPOND” HAVE CONTINUED AFTER THE HOUSTON CHRONICLE FIRST PUBLISHED THEIR ”ABUSE” STORY IN 2019.
NOW IN A FEDERAL LAWSUIT FILED IN TENNESSEE -SBC LEADERS ARE CHARGED WITH RACKETEERING AFTER HAVING MADE A STRING OF POOR DECISIONS IN RESPONDING TO THE ACCUSATIONS AFTER YEARS OF NEGLECT AND ABUSE.
Rev Thomas Littleton
2-4-2024
WITH THIS NEW LAWSUIT AGAINST THE SBC -TWO ATTORNEYS HAVE RESPONDED THUS:
“Notice it has a count under RICO, i.e., the SBC is a criminal enterprise…”
WITH THIS LAWSUIT- “THE FLOODGATES ARE NOW OPEN.”
Press outlets point out the RICO issue and explain :
RICO (Racketeers Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act) ALSO NOTED BY BAPTIST NEWS .
“New lawsuit against SBC and four churches alleges systemic negligence on sexual abuse.”
MARK WINGFIELD | FEBRUARY 6, 2024
“In a novel twist, the suit filed part of its claim under the Racketeers Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, known as RICO. It says the SBC Executive Committee “is an association-in-fact” within the meaning of federal law and “is an ongoing entity (enterprise) that functions as a continuing unit” that “was used as a tool to effectuate defendant(s) pattern of racketeering and use its influence over the local churches.”
Page 16 of the lawsuit :
COUNT IV
“The Racketeers Influenced and Corrupt
Organizations Act (RICO) 18 U.S.C. Sections 1961-1968
- Plaintiffs incorporate each and every allegation contained in all of the above
paragraphs of this complaint as if set forth in full herein. - Defendant(s) are “persons” or entities within the meaning of U.S.C. Section
1961(3) who conducted the affairs of the enterprise through a pattern of racketeering activity in violation of U.S.C. 18 Section 1962.”
THE ACCUSATIONS AND HISTORY.
OPINION OVERVIEW :THE ABUSE IS HORRIBLE- THE RESPONSE AND COVERUP ARE SICKENING- THE CULTURE IS CORRUPT ..BUT THE INVESTIGATION PARTNERS AND THE “SOLUTIONS” OFFER NO HOPE AT ALL TO THE VICTIMS- THE CHURCH OR THE FUTURE OF A DYING DENOMINATION.
The SBC and other denominational churches have had an issue with sex abusers and pedophiles in their ranks for years. Churches in this authors state provide news HEADLINES almost weekly of some new abuser or some pastor or staff member “falling from grace” with a church member. Sadly many of those headlines involve pedophiles abusing children and responses have often been delayed and poorly executed. These isues have already caused opportunity for outside interest to press their agenda’s in the name of “properly responding” to the abuse. With the feminist and #MeToo /cancel culture mixed with critical gender and feminine theology abounding in the mix -biblically faithful ministers and churches face A MULTI-LAYERED AND COMPLEX LANDSCAPE.
THE PUBLICITY AND THE INSIDE MEN,
A CHRONICLE INVESTIGATION
“The Houston Chronicle and the San Antonio Express-News have added 45 more criminal cases involving Southern Baptist church leaders and volunteers to our searchable, online database.”
“In the past 20 years, a disturbing number of Southern Baptists with formal church roles have engaged in sexual misconduct, a new investigation by the Houston Chronicle and San Antonio Express-News reveals. They were pastors. Deacons. Youth pastors. They left behind more than 700 victims. Read and hear the stories of those victims, and learn the depths of the crimes and misconduct of the church leaders they trusted.”
SBC AND THE ELEVENTH COMMANDMENT WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO THE ISSUE.
The Southern Baptist Convention and the “11th COMMANDMENT “
“Thou shalt not publicly criticize
other Southern Baptist leaders.“
NOTICE: WHILE THE SECULAR PRESS WAS BUSY EXPOSING THE ABUSE ISSUE SOME OF THE VERY LEADERS WHO HAD HELPED CULTIVATE THE CULTURE THAT COVERED UP ABUSE BECAME THE VOICES CRYING FOR JUSTICE FOR VICTIMS.
EXAMPLES-
Russell Moore and his mentor Albert Mohler have placed themselves front and center in the #MeToo / #ChurchToo movement and used their voices and media outlets to animate the story and direct the narrative. This included “LEAKED EMAILS” or letters from Russell Moore to then SBC President JD Greear- an accomplice with Moore and Mohler – accusing the SBC leaders in the Executive Committee of covering up the long history of sex abuse and also of rampant “RACISM” in the SBC. All this came as operatives from the Mohler Camp promoted CRT and Intersectionality as “useful analytical tools” with the Gospel in 2019 and rolled out “resources for churches” on abuse along with pushing Beth Moore forward as a possible future SBC President.
It is hard to conclude anything other that these men and some fo their underlings were working from the inside to position churches in the SBC in the vulnerable place they are today. To the level these accusations were/are true , it is also evident to many that Moore , Mohler and others in their circles have their own agenda and alliances with the progressives seeking to overhaul the SBC both politically and culturally . They are seeking to do so with narratives wrapped in Baptist doctrine and “Gospel driven” emotions.
RUSSELL MOORE IS A LONGTIME STUDENT/ EMPLOYEE AT ALBERT MOHLER’S SBTS – A SOUTHERN BAPTIST INSTITUTION.
Moore’s bio reads-
“Russell D. Moore is an American theologian, ethicist and preacher. In June 2021, he became the director of the Public Theology Project at Christianity Today , and on August 4, 2022, was announced as the magazine’s incoming Editor-in-Chief.”
“Moore previously served as president of the Ethics and REligious Liberties Commission, the public-policy arm of the SBC, and at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (led by Albert Mohler since 1993) as dean of the School of Theology, senior vice president for academic administration, and as professor of theology and ethics.”
THE GOSPEL COALITION PROGRESSIVE LEAVEN
BOTH MEN HAVE HELPED DRIVE THE CULTURE OF THE SBC AND A THEOLOGICALLY CLOAKED PROGRESSIVE POLITICAL AGENDA THORUGH THE ERLC AND THE GOSPEL COALITION OF WHICH THEY ARE LONG TIME LEADERS.
The single most divisive entity in the conservative denominational church over the last 15 or so years has been the progressive political agenda driven organization called The Gospel Coalition (TGC) . It has used Calvinist theology and weaponized WOKE justice narratives to drive a guilt and shame laced set of talking points from TGC conferences, web outlets, books.MANY seminaries are under thier sway and, worst of all, thousands of pulpits across the nation and the world.
THIS NEO-CALIVIST ORGANIZATIONS LIKE TGC HELPED PUSH THE WOKE AGENDA ON RACE- LGBTQ AND FEMINISM’S ” #MeToo MOVEMENT .
Russell Moores CT headlines on the SEX ABUSE CRISIS “REPORT” helped place the abuse controversy on the front burner as he was terminated at head of SBC’s ERLC.
“This Is the Southern Baptist Apocalypse”
“The abuse investigation has uncovered more evil than even I imagined.”
RUSSELL MOORE|
“They were right. I was wrong to call sexual abuse in the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) a crisis. Crisis is too small a word. It is an apocalypse… The conclusions of the report are so massive as to almost defy summation. It corroborates and details charges of deception, stonewalling, and intimidation of victims and those calling for reform. It includes written conversations among top Executive Committee staff and their lawyers that display the sort of inhumanity one could hardly have scripted for villains in a television crime drama. It documents callous cover-ups by some SBC leaders and credible allegations of sexually predatory behavior by some leaders themselves… ”
OF COURSE -RUSSELL MORE WAS Southern Baptist his entire career UNTIL HE WAS FIRED AND JUMPED SHIP TO Christianity Today as “Public Theologian ” ( whatever that is supposed to be) and later EDITOR.
ALBERT MOHLER’S HEALINE READ:
CHURCH & MINISTRY
“The reckoning of the Lord: The Southern Baptist Convention faces the truth.”
June 23, 2022
“I am writing this essay in one of the most difficult moments ever experienced by my beloved denomination, the Southern Baptist Convention. Considering the historical roots of the SBC, that is quite a statement, but it is true. It is a moment long in coming and it is not over.”
“Yesterday afternoon, the report produced by the investigative firm Guidepost Solutions concerning sexual abuse in the SBC was released to the public. Along with everyone else, I saw it yesterday for the first time. The report was produced as an independent investigation of sexual abuse in the SBC and the handling of abuse accusations by the denomination’s Executive Committee. The report is devastating, heartbreaking, and infuriating.”
AN EARLIER MOHLER HEADLINE WHEN HIS DISCIPLE MOORE FIRST MADE THE ACCUSATIONS AND ADDRESSED THE “#METOO MOVEMENT IN THE SBC”.
MAY 23 2018
“THE WRATH OF GOD POURED OUT-THE HUMILIATION OF THE SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION .
(REALLY? The Wrath of God Poured Out—The Humiliation of the Southern Baptist Convention.” OUR JUST YOUR OWN IN-HOUSE TRAINED ACTIVIST working the issue.)
“The last few weeks have been excruciating for the Southern Baptist Convention and for the larger evangelical movement. It is as if bombs are dropping and God alone knows how many will fall and where they will land.”
“America’s largest evangelical denomination has been in the headlines day after day. The SBC is in the midst of its own horrifying #MeToo moment.”
“At one of our seminaries, controversy has centered on a president (now former president) whose sermon illustration from years ago included advice that a battered wife remain in the home and the marriage in hope of the conversion of her abusive husband. Other comments represented the objectification of a teenage girl. The issues only grew more urgent with the sense that the dated statements represented ongoing advice and counsel.”
“But the issues are far deeper and wider.”
“Sexual misconduct is as old as sin, but the avalanche of sexual misconduct that has come to light in recent weeks is almost too much to bear. These grievous revelations of sin have occurred in churches, in denominational ministries, and even in our seminaries.”
NOTE : THIS IS ALBERT MOHLER’S PUBLIC STATEMENT WHILE HE PRIVATELY BROUGHT IN VICTIMS “ADOVOCATE ” RACHEL DENHOLLANDER AND HER HUSBAND JACOB TO SBTS IN-HOUSE TRAINING.
Note also Jacob’s academic studies which followed THEIR INVITATION from Mohler leading to his obtaining a Masters Degree from Mohler/SBTS as his wife Rachael was becoming one of the central figures in the #Church Too Justice Drive .
THE MAD SCRAMBLE TO RESPOND.
GUIDEPOST SOLUTIONS : FAITH BASED SUICIDE SOLUTION:
THE SBC’s SUICIDE SOLUTION
THIS INVESTIGATIVE FIRM WHICH BOAST ITSELF TO BE A “MOSAIC OF DIVERSITY EQUITY AND INCLUSION”, IS EXTREMLY PRO LGBTQ AND CLEARLY HAS A “SOCIAL JUSTICE” AND FEMINIST AGENDA AS IT INVESTIGATES AND COMMITS TO “CULTURE CHANGE” FOR ITS CLIENTS AKA – EMPLOYING CTIRITCAL THEORY IDEOLOGIES TOWARD EMPOWERING WOMEN AND MINORITIES /DE&I . iN THIS CASE THESE TOOLS AND OUTCOMES ARE TO BE APPLIED IN THE SBC.
The mistep of hiring Guidepost Solutions by multiple SBC entities has proven to be controversial and an ongoing trainwreck .
Just before the SBC annual meetings in California 2022- Guidepost Solutions showed its PRIDE commitment for June on social media.
BIBLICAL WARNINGS ARE CLEAR- “CAN TWO WALK /WORK TOGETHER UNLESS THEY ARE AGREED?“
This organization’s value system is in total contrast to the SBC biblical stance on almost EVERY issue and yet SBC leaders have subjected their churches to the investigation. The outcome has been to only deepen accusations and the “SUICIDE SOLUTION” of having PARTNERED WITH an agenda driven organization run by former Federal Agency employees. It has allowed the organization to take control of the future of the largest Protestant Christian Movement” in North America to make it DE&I compliant.
A CLUE AS TO WHY?
(Here is a CLUE to understand this insanity. Do you think it is possible that this organization and the “compliance culture” outcomes and “Solutions” have anything to do with the Faith Based Partnerships and “non discriminatory policies” outlined and required in those grant contracts THE SBC have signed ? So now they are willing to go along with this entire compliance effort to meet the non discrimination DE&I metrics?)
This decision has resulted in a deep dive by the opposition into the SBC’s dirty laundry but it does not end there. A long list of problematic SOLUTIONS are also included like TWO SEX ABUSE TASK FORCE being formed for ongoing agenda driven response , a FAILED DATA BASED of those determined to be”CREDIBLY ACCUSED OF SEX ABUSE ” Labeling someone guilty by accusations which are deemed “credible ” by Guidepost Solutions or one of the Task Force made this web DATA BASE a non starter.These FAILED plans also provide evidence of some rampant stupidity and an extremely broken reasoning process behind the Feminist Movement as well as the understanding of liabilites associated wiht accusations and just how the legal system functions in America.The “Guilty ( by accusation) until proven Innocent” approach is an open invitation to lawsuits. Also THE ACCUSED who clear themselves may never RECOVER their reputations from the onslaught of #METOO /CANCEL CULTURE and a RABID SECULAR PRESS. But they can potentially recover “damages” in the courts.
You get the picture of how this stuff plays out and WHY IT PROVIDES NO “SOLUTIONS” FOR EITHER SIDEin the abuse problems. Plus the SBC giving in to the Feminist agenda will take the movement and “cooperating” churches down the same failed part of mainline denominations like Presbyterians, Episcopals and Methodist.
FEMINIST DO NOT HAVE THE ANSWER.
The given answer for the Sex Abuse scandal providing assurance of preventing future abuse , according to the feminist agenda, is to “empower women in leadership”. The problem with this approach is that it is unbiblical and undermines the SBC long standing efforts to remain a “Complementarian ” movement and NOT be forced into an Egalitarian posture on women in leadership .WHY? Because this move always brings the Femenist agenda in full force. In Today’s post #MeToo world this would mean -Take Down – Lawsuits- JUSTICE and Diversity Equity and Inclusion compliance…
… and
FEMINISIM IS ALWAYS AFTER THE NUCLEAR FAMILY
nu·cle·ar fam·i·ly
noun
- a couple and their dependent children, regarded as a basic social unit.
Feminist have long classified the Biblical vision of Family as Idolatrous and DECLARE that it must be targeted for destruction.
MORE ON THE LAWSUIT FILED DECEMBER 31ST 2023 IN FEDERAL COURT.
“EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE
SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION;
FOUNTAIN VALLEY BAPTIST CHURCH;
FAITH BAPTIST CHURCH; AIRLINE
BAPTIST CHURCH; and FIRST BAPTIST
CHURCH,”
Defendant.
“Defendants have maliciously and systematically engaged in covering up and
concealing instances of sexual abuse by the church members and employees as a strategy of denying the rights of sexual abuse survivors .”
“Because of the opportunities to develop deep relationships with its members, the
47,000 Baptist churches that make up the Southern Baptist Convention attract many truly caring and giving individuals; however, at the same time, service in the Baptist Church attracts an extraordinary number of sex abusers, molesters and those who take advantage of their position of authority.”
MEDIA COVERAGE OF THE LAWSUIT READS-
“A federal lawsuit brought by alleged abuse victims accuses the Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBCEC) of “maliciously and systematically” covering up sexual abuse and seeks $10 million in damages.”
“The suit, filed in a U.S. District Court in Tennessee, also calls out several prominent pastors for being a part of alleged cover-ups. “
“This is one of more than a dozen known lawsuits pending against the SBC or the SBC Executive Committee related to sexual abuse claims.”
KEEP IN MIND THIS LAWSUIT IS JUST THE FIRST OF MANY !
THE GREATER PROBLEM IS BEING LOST IN A SHUFFLE OF AGENDAS.
A company which is driving the WOKE Justice and Feminist agenda is NOT going to focus the attention on homosexual issues- on womens roles in afffars and the ANCIENT art of seduction or even on pedophile abuse.The main focus is going to be “oppressed women and minorities” who “suffer because of the systems of male dominated power which need to be taken down”.
There is no place for the Gospel or forgiveness or redemption in this agenda which is the one being served.
CONCLUSION
The SBC’s days are likely numbered and it is on its way out. Its own Lifeway Resources confirm that between 2021 and 2022 nearly half a million people stopped attending SBC churches withdrawing their memberships. Boast by the SBC years ago of over 16 million members are now down to below 14 million but actual WEEKLY ATTENDANCE numbers are well below 4 million. The SBC is dying and it mostly dying from self inflicted wounds.
From The 80’s Church Growth Movement – to the 90s Seeker Freindly – to the Neo-Calvinist /Reformed theological turned progressive political movement -to the Obama era Faith Based Partnerships and tons of government $$$$ flooding in from FEMA and DHS and HHS other agencies- to TODAY- the SBC has set itself up to fail. AND the “Sucide Solution” of the Sex Abuse Investigation and hiring of Guidepost/Faithbased Solutions Feminist and Jutice driven agenda has he SBC is PRETTY MUCH DONE IN by its own HANDS -charting the course for its own demise.
Many leaders are fools and blind to the agendas they have aligned the churches with while others are complicit and allied with it. Many preachers, not just Southern Baptist,have built houses on their egos and earthly wisdom and strategies and ideologies made of straw, wood and stubble.
The Axe is being laid to the root and the fires of divine judgement are kindled .
1ST CORINTHIANS 3:
9 For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building. 10 According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. 11 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. 14 If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.
THESE ARE SAD DAYS FOR THE PEOPLE WHO LOVE THE LORD WHO REMIAN IN SOUTHERN BAPTIST CHURCHES BUT LITTLE OF THIS HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH REAL CONSIDERATION FOR THEM OR FOR THE GOSPEL ON THE PART OF PRESENT LEADERSHIP.
1 Peter 4:17
17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
But remeber the rest -unbelivers be warned and believers take heart.
18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?
19 Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.
HEBREWS 12 :
25 See that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if they did not escape who refused Him who spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape if we turn away from Him who speaks from heaven, 26 whose voice then shook the earth; but now He has promised, saying, “Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also heaven.” 27 Now this, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain.
28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. 29 For our God is a consuming fire.
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