Guest Post: Living a Double Life

The following post was written by Sheldon Cooper, who blogs at the Ramblings of Sheldon. According to his bio, "Sheldon was born into a fundamentalist Christian family. He made his profession of faith at only five years old and went to a Southern Baptist College for a year where he worked on a Biblical Studies minor. A crisis of faith lead him away from Christianity back in 2010 and around 2011 he began to consider himself Agnostic."


It’s another Sunday morning in the St. Louis area. I wake up, get in my vehicle and drive to a church, and walk in the door. An elderly deacon hands me the church bulletin for the week, and gives the perfunctory and expected greetings.

I walk into the sanctuary where I am surrounded by people, some of which have known me since I was 12 years old, and sit down.

The praise band sings, the pastor gets up to give the sermon, it’s all a very familiar experience for millions of Christian people around the country. There’s a big difference here though between me and the people seated all around me

I’m not one of them. I don’t believe in Christianity anymore.

I was just like all the rest of them, maybe even more so. I believed from a very young age, made profession of faith at only 5 years old, baptized at 7. By the time I was 10 or 11, pastors were amazed that I could have discussions on advanced theology and Biblical subjects that quite frankly, most of the congregation either didn’t know, or had a hard time grasping.

I was always questioning, always wanting to learn more, and I think it was this curiosity that eventually lead me out of fundamentalism, but until this time I always wanted to know more, but only within the confines of what I already believed. As one of my favorite bloggers, Grundy of Deity Shmiety says, it’s it's hard to realize a counterpoint when all you've ever heard was point.

And I had heard plenty of point. From my elementary school experience in a school ran by a church that was a part of the Independent Fundamental Baptist organization, (they are a scary cult, I’m glad I left there in the 5th grade, I have an entire page on my blog dedicated to them), to my homeschooling until the 12th grade and spending my childhood/teen years in two different fundamentalist denominations, I was fully immersed in that world.

About 3 years ago, I gave it all up. After a nervous breakdown at college I was blamed for by family (it just “guilt”, you don’t have a “right relationship with god”), I believed those lies, and stating burying myself deeper into my faith.

Ironically, that’s what led me out of Christianity.

I started reading the Bible more, and what I read shocked me. It’s not as though I hadn’t read the more barbaric passages of the Bible before, such as the Old Testament law, the atrocities committed that were ordered by god (entire cities and tribes massacred by ancient Jewish troops), and even disturbing passages in the New Testament, like Paul condoning slavery.

Not reading it before wasn’t the problem, it was looking at it again without sticking my head in the sand about the reality that it represented, and not making excuses for it that started making me question god. Why is it that Jesus depicts in many ways a merciful, loving god (and modern Christianity tries to depict god this way), yet all of the Old Testament, and much of the New Testament (try reading the book of Revelation sometime), depicts the exact opposite?

Then I started truly seeing the suffering of this world and think that a loving. merciful god wouldn’t allow this to happen to people who didn’t do anything to deserve it. I soured completely on the idea of a the god of Christianity. I thought this might be a phase, I hoped it was, and that’s what some people I confided in led me to believe. It wasn’t.

I prayed for hours, hoping something would lead me back into Christianity. There was a sense of mourning, a loss of the very foundation of what I had built my life around for all these years. I simply did not want to leave Christianity, even as much as I was slipping away from it.

This is what convinced me that I truly was a dedicated Christian, despite what fundamentalists believe, if I wasn’t a “true believer”, then why was there so much confusion, guilt and grief involved ? If I never was the real deal, wouldn’t it have been easy for me to leave?

Eventually I knew, if I were to be honest with myself, and honest to who I really am, I had to convince myself that rejecting Christianity altogether was the right thing to do, it’s the only thing I could do in this situation.

After I left, I was shocked, shocked by what I was missing out on in life, by cutting myself off from the outside world, and I was shocked by the damage that fundamentalism causes in US society, depriving people like the LGBT community of their basic rights, the rampant abuse of children that goes on in fundamentalism. I was especially appalled at how many frightening cult groups that are out there, a fact I was made well aware of after researching my sister’s former church, which was a part of the Independent Fundamental Baptist organization after it’s pastor, Jack Schaap, plead guilty to sexual abuse charges. Seeing it all for the first time, with a new perspective can be overwhelming.

At least I knew where I stood, after some searching, trying to figure what I believed post-Christianity, and I even started my own blog, Ramblings of Sheldon, to talk about my past, and what I believe now, and I’ve had success unlike anything I would have ever dreamed of (an average of about 1.000 readers a week). The blog has helped me to confront my past, and move forward, it really has been “good therapy” like my blogging inspiration Godless Poutine, said it would be.

All was going OK, but a problem came up. Due to a change in work schedule, I couldn’t use work as an convenient way out of attending church, and if I didn’t attend, there would be many questions and rumors. Call me a coward if you will, but some personal circumstances make it rather impossible for me to come out as an agnostic right now, it will be at least a year before I can start making major changes like that, I’m not ready. for that at this point in my life.

My only other alternative was to go undercover, and that I have done, I’ve blended into the world of fundamentalism, and only have told a few people about my loss of faith. It’s not a comfortable place to be, stuck between 2 worlds, torn between delusion and reality, but that’s where I am, it’s frustrating. It turned out to be a unique opportunity though. I’ve always thought that there’s been a big disconnect between those in the skeptical community who have never experienced fundamentalism personally, and those who know it all too well, that many in the first group do not understand what being raised fundamentalist is like, or how the fundamentalist mindset works, or what it’s isolated culture is like.

I have started writing about my experiences inside fundamentalism in my blog series, Undercover Agnostic. I want to show people who may have never had this experience of living through it, what fundamentalism looks like from the inside. I want to show people the fundamentalist mindset and culture from someone who sees it personally, day to day.

I hope that my series gives people a new understanding of this world, and that maybe something good can come of the position I currently find myself in.

Thoughts on Operation Christmas Child

Fall is here, and Protestant churches will be collecting shoe boxes full of children's items for Operation Christmas Child, sponsored by Samaritan's Purse. Several other bloggers have been posting their insights and reservations about the project, which I'd like to share here.

Samaritan's Purse, a Christian charity founded by Bob Pierce and later led by Franklin Graham, sponsors a gift-giving project called Operation Christmas Child. Every November, Samaritan's Purse collaborates with churches across America in collecting shoe boxes full of hygiene items, school supplies, and toys, which are shipped to disadvantaged children worldwide.

I first learned about Operation Christmas Child from friends years ago. The idea of giving boxes full of gifts to children in need was a powerful one, and I was soon at my local department store, buying soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste, crayons, colored pencils, paper, and other sundries for shoe boxes. For two years I assembled shoe boxes, dropping them off at local churches designated as drop-off points.

And then I read the fine print.

According to their website, Operation Christmas Child distributes shoe boxes as part of its proselytization efforts. While Samaritan's Purse states that they share shoe boxes with children "unconditionally", shoe boxes distributions can be part of larger Gospel presentations. "Wherever appropriate, children are offered a copy of The Greatest Gift of All booklet in their own language by local churches and ministry partners," the Samaritan's Purse website says. "Soon after an OCC distribution event, the local churches and ministry partners may offer The Greatest Journey (TGJ) to the children participating in OCC in many of their communities," it adds.

This created a moral quandary for me. On one hand, I wanted to offer comfort, no matter how small, to children in difficult situations. I respected the global charity work of Samaritan's Purse and thought Operation Christmas Child was a novel initiative. On the other hand, I had moral qualms about proselytizing to children, especially children who might be emotionally vulnerable because of trauma from war or dire poverty. Children do not have the mental faculties to evaluate many of the messages they hear, including evangelism efforts, and may not fully understand the religion they are embracing. Choosing a religion is an adult task, not a childhood task, which is why Operation Christmas Child and the Greatest Journey made me so uncomfortable. Because of my discomfort, I stopped donating shoe boxes to the program, donating the money I would otherwise spend to secular charities instead.

Sheldon Cooper posted commentary about Operation Christmas Child at his blog, Ramblings of Sheldon. Sheldon is annoyed that an charitable organization would try to convert people while offering aid, instead of providing aid for its own sake.

"This really annoyed me, this is often the attitude that fundamentalists have when it comes to giving aid, whether in their home country, or elsewhere, that carrying out charitable aid is not done simply for the purpose of helping your fellow human beings live a better life, it’s done solely for the purpose of getting access to people to try to convert them. Carrying out charitable work solely to help people is seen as kind of pointless and ineffective.

... In the case of Operation Christmas Child, I find their attitude not only repulsive, but highly ironic since it’s lead by an organization (Samaritan’s Purse) that takes it’s name from the famous “Good Samartian” parable that Jesus told his followers.

In the story, the Samaritan man never expected anything from the man whose life he saved, and never tried to convert the man, who was Jewish, to his way of thinking, even though the two men would have had different opinions about religion. If the man in Jesus’ fictional story (which he used as an example for how people should act towards others) didn’t try to convert the man he helped, then why should an organization that takes it’s name from this story try to do exactly that? Why can’t helping others just be done for the purpose of helping others?"

(EDIT: At their request, I have made the source of the following comments anonymous and removed the original blog link.)

A friend of the blog shared insights from her missionary work. She highlighted both the strengths and weaknesses of programs such as Operation Christmas Child. On one hand, toys in shoe boxes might not be appropriate for children in all cultures, and charitable money might be better spent on the ground by humanitarian workers themselves. On the other hand, the shoe boxes were a great kindness to destitute children. She reminds readers that Christian organizations do deliver aid across a wide swath of the world, and that secular charities have a lot of catching up to do.

"OCC went to my partnering orphanage in [redacted] I don't know what was said because I wasn't there. But it's worth pointing out a few things.

1) This is the orphanage where the kids have nothing. Literally nothing. Every child has lice. They are malnourished. They kids don't even have an extra pair of clothes. Helping them out has been nearly impossible because the head of the orphanage (a local guy NOT westerner) is not wise with money. Bottom line: truly helping them will never be an option. A one time gift is about all that works, or spending time with them. So I honestly I thank OCC for what they did.

2) Obviously money goes further if we give money directly to the humanitarian workers to buy. Like waaaaaaaaaaaaay cheaper. Plus it's easier for us to buy what they need. For example, it's too hot in [redacted] for socks. In the jungle, our kids don't know what to do with a stuffed animal because animals are what you eat. Kids have to carry babies on their backs by the time they are 6. The jungle kids have no interests in dolls or stuffed animals. But then this remote village where I lived in the mountains, we couldn't buy socks there, yet had to have them for boots because the mud was too thick for flip flips. Where I lived 70 miles from there up until a few months ago, I never used socks. As you can see, what the kids needs vary so much that people who fill up the boxes are stabbing in the dark. However, I've never met kids who don't cherish paper and school supplies. Pretty much people can't go wrong there.

One of my friends refused to receive boxes from the US. She said, "Give me the money, and we'll buy." But here's the problem. Westerners won't send money. A pastor can get a congregation to send 200 boxes. But if a pastor asks everyone to donate $30, only a handful will respond. That is EXACTLY why we have boxes. Not because the missionaries prefer boxes. Not because the locals prefer boxes. But because that's how we get people to give.

3) Obviously I'm not a big fan of evangelism. I will also say as one who lived in an area with a lot of missionaries, that missionaries evangelize 99% less than they tell their western churches. In fact, I could count the number of missionaries that I've seen evangelize on my hand, of course the IFB missionary being one of them. Yet everyone goes back to their home churches in the west and acts like they evangelize because western churches would stop giving without it.

4) The secularists are not even remotely trying to take the place of where the evangelicals have gone wrong. If they don't like OCC, what are they doing instead? Usually the secular people tell me about a local western charity they are doing instead. I've got nothing against local charities. Nothing at all. But they can't ask me as a western missionary to stop working with or even thanking evangelicals for donating boxes for foreign aid until they step into their shoes. There are some organizations out there in my area, the UN, several animal rescue places in SE Asia, and a few non-religious organizations. There are also plenty of Christians who have funded non-religious organizations. So of course, this isn't a sweeping problem. Yet it remains true that the evangelicals have their hands in more areas.

5) I say this as one who would gladly work with a secular organization if I found one. I get tired of working with Christians because I'm expected to go to church and this and that. But you know what? I haven't found one that suits me."

Readers, what have been your experiences with Operation Christmas Child? Do you donate shoe boxes? If so, what motivates you to do so? What are your thoughts on some of the issues that Sheldon and the friend of the blog have brought up?

Bill Gothard Releases Statement on Sexual Harassment Scandal

Bill Gothard, founder of the Basic Life Principles ministry and a supporter of Christian homeschooling, is embrolied in a sexual harassment scandal. Recovering Grace, a website dedicated to helping those who have been negatively impacted by Bill Gothard's teachings, has posted statements from multiple women accusing Gothard of sexual harassment. Last month, Religion News Service reported that Gothard had resigned from the Institute of Basic Life Principles, a week after he had been placed on administrative leave.

Gothard's ministry was popular among Quiverfull Christians and respected by the Duggar family, according to Religion News Service and No Longer Quivering. Radar Online reports that Megan Lind, one of the women who accused Gothard of sexual harassment, wrote an open letter to the Duggars urging them to reconsider their endorsement of Gothard's ministry.

The Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests (SNAP) expressed concern over allegations that Bob Jones University officials helped Bill Gothard cover up sexual harassment allegations against Gothard's brother. In a March 27th statement, SNAP urged Bob Jones University to hire an outside firm to investigate these claims, arguing that "it's best to err on the side of protecting the vulnerable and wounded, not the accused and the powerful."

Now, Gothard has finally commented at length on the scandal. In a statement at Bill Gothard's website, which was previously withheld "in order to honor the request of the Board of Directors to wait until an initial review has taken place", Gothard sent mixed messages. On one hand, Gothard admitted to inappropriately touching young women at his organizational headquarters. However, he insists that none of this touching was sexual in nature or intent.

"My actions of holding of hands, hugs, and touching of feet or hair with young ladies crossed the boundaries of discretion and were wrong. They demonstrated a double-standard and violated a trust. Because of the claims about me I do want to state that I have never kissed a girl nor have I touched a girl immorally or with sexual intent."

I found Gothard's excuses flimsy. How on earth does an old man touch the hair and feet of young women without sexual intent? What about accusations of more extreme harassing behaviors? Libby Anne at Love, Joy, Feminism also finds Gothard's excuses hard to swallow.

"Does Gothard honestly expect anyone to believe that a 50 or 60-year-old man could play footsie with a 16-year-old girl, hold and stroke her hands for long periods of time, caress her hair, etc., all without any “sexual intent”? Especially a 50 or 60-year-old man who leads a religious empire and teaches his followers that couples should not touch or have physical contact before marriage? Why in the world, if not with “sexual intent,” would Gothard touch these girls like this, violating not only his own rules but also the girls’ consent and their parents’ trust?

Honestly, Gothard’s claim that he never “touched a girl . . . with sexual intent” sounds rather like Clinton’s wrangling about the definition of “sexual relations.” He’s lawyering, and transparently so. He’s not being completely honest, complete transparent. He’s still making excuses and trying to wheedle out of what he did. He’s still trying to find the least offensive crime to confess to so that he can get out of responsibility for the whole that happened."

Much like the scandal involving Vision Forum's Doug Phillips, the Bill Gothard scandal demonstrates that cults of personality, misogyny, and fundamentalism make for a toxic brew. Religious insularity and patriarchy protect no one; to the contrary, they may have played a role in Gothard's alleged behavior by rendering young women even more vulnerable. Should it be any surprise that such allegations are being lobbed at a man whose organization promotes callous attitudes toward sexual abuse survivors? Whose so-called "umbrella of protection" gives men unfair power over women and authority figures unfair power over subordinates? As more information about the Doug Phillips and Bill Gothard scandals becomes available, let's hope that their followers begin to question the hollow promises of Christian Patriarchy and fundamentalist homeschooling.



To read additional commentary, visit the following links.

Ramblings of Sheldon: Recovering Grace Founders Speak to Christian Radio Show About Bill Gothard

Micah J. Murray: On Growing Up in Bill Gothard’s Homeschool Cult

Chicago Now: Bill Gothard still goes uninvestigated by police

The Wartburg Watch: Recovering Grace Confronts Bill Gothard

The Gothard Scandal: Toxic Attitudes Are Part the Problem

Religion News Service reports that Bill Gothard of the Institute in Basic Life Principles has been placed on administrative leave after female employees accused him of sexual harassment. Gothard's leave comes after Recovering Grace posted stories from former IBLP staff accusing Gothard of sexual misconduct and intrusion into their romantic lives.

Gothard's teachings have attracted thousands of Christian homeschoolers and Quiverfull families, including the Duggars, Religion News Service states. Survivors of Gothard's ministry, such as Micah Murray and Jeri Lofland, have called Gothard's empire a "cult".

The accusations against Gothard must be taken seriously and investigated. The women coming forward must be listened to and offered safe spaces to speak. In the meantime, the scandal is an opportunity for public conversations on sexual abuse, spiritual abuse, the dangers of a "cult of personality", and institutional accountability. Unfortunately, some voices from the Christian Right have squandered this opportunity, reducing the Gothard scandal to a matter of "sin" or alleged persecution rather than a serious situation.

First, Michael Farris, chancellor of Patrick Henry College and founder of the Homeschool Legal Defense Association (HSLDA), posted a statement on Facebook regarding misconduct by Christian leaders. (Hat tip to Homeschoolers Anonymous.)

"I continue to hear distressing news about the moral conduct of Christian leaders and speakers some of whom were/are popular in the homeschooling movement. Of course, anyone can sin–including me. But I cannot be so gracious about protracted patterns of sin that reveal a deep hypocrisy.

From my own observation there is a central problem that often accompanies these kinds of failures. All leaders have to have a certain amount of ego strength to be able to withstand the slings and arrows of the naysayers who attack anyone who attempts to lead. But, that basic strength can get out of control. Consider it a danger sign when the leader never shares the spotlight with other leaders in the organization. Consider it another danger sign when the leader does not have anyone in his organization with both the power and the character to tell him “no” at times."

In my opinion, Farris' comment neglected the larger issues at hand. For instance, if the accusations are true, how was Gothard able to abuse his station with impunity for so long, and what role did his Christian Patriarchy ideology play in rendering his victims vulnerable? What can institutions do to protect staff from sexual victimization? Instead of addressing these issues, Farris chose instead to talk about sin, "ego strength", and sharing spotlight.

It's vital that we recognize sexual abuse is calculated, criminal, and morally unacceptable, rather than just "sin" or a misuse of "ego strength". R.L. Stollar at Homeschoolers Anonymous was disgusted with Farris' language, arguing that sexual abuse goes far beyond "sin" and "hypocrisy".

"Taking advantage of and molesting children and young adult women isn’t simply “sin” or “hypocrisy” which “anyone” can fall into. Taking advantage of and molesting children and young adult women is criminal behavior. It is sexual abuse, plain and simply. This isn’t a question of people’s fallibility; it isn’t a question of “ego strength,” unless you somehow believe leaders are innately abusers.

And it sure as hell isn’t a question of “basic strengths.” Sexual abuse isn’t a “basic strength” that “can get out of control.” It’s not something that comes from “too much of a good thing.” Michael Farris’s attempts to spin these situations away from criminal activity and into the realm of “we’ve all fallen short” is self-serving, inexcusable, and horrifying. It is yet another example that he is in denial about abuse within the movement he himself helped to build."

Second, Kevin Swanson responded to the accusations against Gothard with sarcasm and ad hominem attacks. In a Generations with Vision radio show entitled "Why the Old Fundamentalism Is Cracking", Swanson began his show with condemnation of the "Neronic agenda", in which "aberrant sexuality is being celebrated and encouraged and funded by your public dollars". He talked at length about how "God's law" is a superior moral path to the alleged freewheeling morality of the modern age. This segued into his discussion of the Gothard scandal, which was less about Gothard's reported misconduct and more about mocking those who brought the misconduct claims to light.

"Patheos and Spiritual Sounding Board are dancing on the grave of Bill Gothard and the whole ATI thing right now," Swanson claimed, demonizing the websites as degenerate blogs eager to convert Christians to a heathen agenda. He provided no evidence for his wild claims against either website. At the 9:31 mark, he had this to say.

"Friends, right now Patheos and Spiritual Sounding Board are the apostasizing websites working hard to drive another 10% out of the organized, historical, biblical churches to a pro-homosexual, pro-socialist, pro-evolution pro-atheist agenda. They're just so excited ... They're sort of like the proselytes of the left."

At the 10:20 mark, Swanson warned listeners about believing what they read on websites, arguing that witnesses in a civil or church court are necessary to corroborate abuse claims.

"As Christians we ought to be very careful when we see these things on public websites, news sites presenting this information. We ought to demand two or three witnesses in a proper church court or a proper civil court."

At the 10:37 mark, Swanson accused Patheos and Spiritual Sounding Board of being unconcerned about corroborating claims. He accused the two websites of gleefully seeking to tear down a Christian leader so that they can celebrate depravity.

"But Patheos and [Spiritual] Sounding Board doesn't really care that much about it. They just get very excited about the fact that there may be some problem, some compromise in the life of a spiritual leader, and if they can find that, they can find the compromise, the moral compromise in the life of a leader, they get very excited because now they know that they can toss out everything that guy ever said about God, Jesus, honoring mothers and fathers, etc. etc. If that be the case, they can throw all that out and they can do whatever they want, and how fun that can be! They don't have to worry about this adultery thing anymore, don't have to worry about homosexuality, don't have to worry about incest, don't have to worry about pedophilia, we can just celebrate! We're free from anything that this Christian leader every said because there may be some moral compromise in his life."

I'm used to bombastic words and ad hominem attacks from Swanson, but these comments were twisted and offensive, even for him. Swanson refused to consider the possibility that the accusations against Gothard could have substance, or that websites bringing accusations to light might have noble motives for doing so. By lobbing baseless insults at Patheos and Spiritual Sounding Board, Swanson deflected from the sexual abuse issue.

Swanson's other recent comments about abuse, while less vitriolic, still reflected his skewed priorities. In the February 19th edition of Generations with Vision, Swanson acknowledged the existence of sexual abuse in churches, but seemed more concerned about how abuse damages churches and encourages apostasy. What about how abuse harms victims? What about how abuse is indicative of deeper institutional problems? I thought.

Swanson's response to the Gothard scandal is an all-too-common knee jerk reaction. When a popular leader is accused of wrongdoing, misguided supporters will deflect attention from the accusations and demonize the accusers. Rather that confront the accusations and what they might suggest about an idol, some prefer to mock and silence those who allege abuse. If accusations grow too numerous to ignore, some might downplay abusive acts as mere sins or indiscretions. The outward appearance of a church and the illusion of a happy ministry become more important than truth and accountability.

These kinds of attitudes are the problem. 

When toxic attitudes like these are pervasive in a community or an institution, it becomes very difficult to tackle institutional problems like abuse. Honest conversations and abuse prevention efforts are hampered when such attitudes prevent people from acknowledging abuse in the first place. Victims are humiliated or cowed into silence, while perpetrators commit crimes with impunity.

It's time to recognize sexual abuse in churches as a grave crime, one that perpetrators inflict consciously and willfully. It's time to recognize that justice and truth are more important than preserving a ministry's reputation. It's time to recognize how abuse thrives in environments tainted by patriarchy, authoritarianism, and a lack of accountability. It's time to stop silencing victims. It's time to stop deflecting attention from accusations and start taking them seriously.

In short, toxic attitudes about abuse have to go.



To read additional commentary, visit the following links.

Spiritual Sounding Board: Kevin Swanson Defends Bill Gothard’s Sexual Harassment Charges While Publicly Trash Talks Blogs  

Chicago Now: Bill Gothard, sexual predator in Oak Brook, still goes uninvestigated by police

Love, Joy, Feminism: Bill Gothard, Sexual Predator

Ramblings of Sheldon: Exposing the IFB: Pastor Bill Gothard and Advanced Training Institute

Chicago Magazine's Exposé of IFB: The Berean Pastors Respond

Chicago Magazine recently published a hard-hitting exposé of the Independent Fundamental Baptist (IFB) church. "Let Us Prey: Big Trouble at First Baptist Church" discusses the inappropriate behavior of Jack Schaap, pastor of First Baptist Church in Hammon, Indiana, which culminated in a scandal surrounding his sexual abuse of a teenage girl. According to CBS Chicago, Schaap pleaded guilty earlier this year to transporting a minor across state lines to engage in sex acts. (Hat tip to the Ramblings of Sheldon)

The abuse scandal should come as little surprise to those familiar with Schaap's unsettling behaviors and attitudes. His utter contempt for females was demonstrated in one sermon dripping with misogyny. Furthermore, the Chicago Magazine article references to Schaap's increasingly brazen behavior, such as his 2010 "Polishing the Shaft" sermon in which he made suggestive gestures with an arrow. (NSFW!)

A man like that has no business in a pulpit. Sadly, Schaap was not alone. Chicago Magazine documents the controlling behaviors, misogyny, and sexual misconduct allegations of other preachers in the IFB church, including that of late IFB leader Jack Hyles (Schaap's father-in-law).

Curious about what one controversial preacher has to say about another? Look no further.

As discussed in a prior post, Sean Harris of Berean Baptist Church in Fayetteville, NC landed in hot water this spring when he told congregants to punch "effeminate" sons. His disturbing comments earned him condemnation from many quarters, including LGBTQ advocates and clergy. Also, Harris has made sexist comments in several Berean podcasts (see here and here). Since the "punching sermon" controversy, I have listened to Berean Baptist Church's podcasts from time to time, and when the Berean pastors voiced their thoughts on Jack Schaap, I had to share them.

On December 20th, Berean Baptist Church pastors Sean Harris, William J. Sturm, and David McManus shared their thoughts on the Chicago Magazine exposé in a podcast entited "Let Us Pray: Big Trouble at First Baptist Church". The three pastors discussed the history and controversies of the IFB church, acknowledging IFB leader Jack Hyles as both an "early megachurch builder" and a deeply flawed man. Regarding Schaap, the three men disapproved of Schaap's behavior and the unhealthy church culture that granted Schaap impunity. David McManus compared the Schaap sexual abuse case to the Catholic church's sexual abuse scandals, noting that both institutions gave excessive spiritual authority to their leaders. At the 26:06 mark of the podcast, the three pastors had this to say.

HARRIS: What is going on in Independent Fundamental Baptist churches across the nation where this type of a culture, Bill, is allowed to occur? How does a guy preach a sermon and for all practical purposes, it looks as though he's masturbating, and nobody says 'that's enough'? Are there no lines in the sand?

STURM: ... This is a cultural issue of, we have one pastor, he's right below Jesus and above the congregation. He need not be questioned, especially if he grips hard a King James version of the Bible, and never mind the fact that his mind might be full of filth because he wears a shirt, a tie, and has a King James Bible and a tapered hair cut, and as long as he has all those things and is dogmatic on all those things, and oh by the way, if he has a bus ministry* ... He must be right with the Lord.

MCMANUS: And have we not just totally subjugated the priesthood of the believer in this idea that we have to elevate a man to a position where I can't be spiritually fed, I can't get in touch with my savior unless he is the one that's preaching? Where else have we seen these sexual sins going on? The Catholic Church, and there's a parallel here. I need that priest in order to intercede for me, in order to pray and to confess and to do these different things, and we've got that molestation sin that's prevalent in the Catholic Church, and I think there's a parallel here. We have elevated a man to the position of, like you said, just below if not close to being equal with Christ.

The Berean pastors' condemnation of Schaap's behavior was spot-on and insightful. However, I found Harris' comments highly ironic. This was, after all, a man who told his congregation to punch "effeminate" sons and crack their limp wrists, all while his audience laughed and said "amen". Did anyone in his audience that Sunday say 'that's enough'?

On the other hand, I wondered if these comments were a sign that Berean Baptist Church is now taking pastoral accountability seriously. The "punching sermon" firestorm might have reminded Berean's leaders that a pastor must be held accountable for his words and actions, and that pastors acting without accountability run the risk of doing harm. Only time will tell if Sean Harris and his colleagues have used the firestorm as an opportunity to evolve.


To listen to Berean Baptist Church's podcasts, visit www[dot]bbcfnc[dot]org/media-audio[dot]php

* Sturm is referencing the strict standards of personal appearance in IFB "Hyles churches", as well as Jack Hyles' bus ministry.

Commentary Tidbits

People for the American Way: Polygamy, Mass Murder, and the End of Capitalism: The Top Ten Religious Right Claims on the Consequences of Marriage Equality

Colorlines: The Missionary Movement to ‘Save’ Black Babies

The Ramblings of Sheldon: Exposing Extremism: Illinois Family Institute

Faith Forward: “Burn it all down” isn’t Christian: A Response to Mark Driscoll

Bilerico Project: Cardinal Dolan to LGBTs: Wash Your Hands Before Entering My Church

The New Civil Rights Movement: Gay Catholic Leaders Weigh In On Use Of NYPD To Bar Gay Catholics From St. Pat’s Cathedral

Alternet: My Big Virginity Mistake

Huffington Post: Gays and the Myth of the Christian Minority

Salon: Is the Catholic Church even trying to make sense on marriage equality?

Right Wing Watch: Religious Right Panelists at Awakening 2013: Gay Rights Activists are Christ-Hating Fascists

Bartholomew's Notes on Religion: Third Wave “Apostle” Calls For Homosexuality to Remain Criminalized in Singapore

RH Reality Check: Bishops Tap Veteran of Islamophobic, Homophobic Legal Shop as Top Flack

Commentary Tidbits

Political Research Associates: Why Did Bob Jones University Terminate Its Sexual Abuse Investigation?

Boz Tchividjian at Religion News Service: A public statement concerning sexual abuse in the church

Ramblings of Sheldon: Michael Farris, HSLDA and Patrick Henry's College's Silencing of Sexual Assualt Victims

Americablog: The sudden eruption of anti-gay legislation nationwide is not a coincidence

Huffington Post: How Is Discrimination a Religious Freedom?

Homeschoolers Anonymous: Like Voldemort to Wizards

The Guardian: Kansas' anti-gay bill: Another attempt to force warped Christianity on others

Huffington Post: Christians Are a Cause of LGBT Oppression So We Have to Be a Part of the Liberation!

RH Reality Check: Why Wendy Davis’ Opponent Is Stumping With Misogynist Ted Nugent

Recovering Grace: Gothard’s Process: Invite, Idealize, Isolate, Transgress, Rewrite

The Transadvocate: Eavesdrop on a right wing anti-trans training camp

Commentary Tidbits

God Discussion: Taking dominion: Champion the Vote unites with Hispanic New Apostolic Reformation movement

The Nation: Mexico's Abortion Wars, American-Style

Wonkette: Christian School that Have Creationist Quiz is Mercifully Euthanized\

Ramblings of Sheldon: The False Illusion of Free Will in Christianity

Good As You: Focus on the Family Director Chastises 'Earthy King' Obama for Basing Civil Law on Something Other Than God

Sarah Over the Moon: Maybe God is a “bitch”

Science League of America: Textbook Battle in Texas

Truth Wins Out: Bradlee Dean’s Radio Program Claims Half Of All Big City Murders Are Committed By Gays

Friendly Atheist: David Barton: If There’s No Prayer at a Public School Graduation, That’s a Promotion of Atheism

Commentary Tidbits

Stuff Fundies Like: The Nice Churches

Ramblings of Sheldon: What Are You Not Interpreting Correctly?

Good As You: Heather Has [A New Book Shunning Her] Two Mommies

Love, Joy, Feminism: Iowa Just Repealed ALL of Its Homeschooling Law

Commentary Tidbits

Washington Post: Five Christian theologies scarier than Halloween

The American Jesus: Christian Haunted Houses Are Evangelism Porn

The Advocate: 7 Scary Stories for a Homophobic Halloween

Political Research Associates: Hell Houses and the Gender Politics of the Religious Right

What Would J.T. Do? Thoughts on the soup kitchen that denied atheist volunteers

Defeating the Dragons: Learning the words: Disorder

Love, Joy, Feminism: Pulling the Victoria’s Secret Dance

Ramblings of Sheldon: Isolating Kids to Shield Them from "The World" Is Not Only Harmful, but Counter Productive

Commentary Tidbits

Alternet: 7 Unhinged Right-Wing Responses to Connecticut Massacre

The Ramblings of Sheldon: Exposing the IFB: Micheal and Debi Pearl

Religion Dispatches: Everything Was Better When We Had God In Our Schools

Vice: I Spoke to the Author of Uganda's Anti-Homosexuality Bill
(Hat tip to Dispatches from the Culture Wars)

Commentary Tidbits

Daily Maverick: Africa’s new colonists: American evangelical Christians

A Deeper Story: Politician Preachers

Ramblings of Sheldon: The Cult of Fetus Worship

Defeating the Dragons: Learning the Words: Love

Yahoo OMG: 19 Kids and Counting's Jessa Duggar "Enters Courtship"   (Hat tip to Earth and All Stars)

Truth Wins Out: All 50 States Should Protect LGBT Youth From ‘Ex-Gay’ Charlatans

The Bilerico Project: As DC Shooting Unfolds, FRC Grabs For Attention

Salon: FRC's Tony Perkins: Being fair to gay soldiers is unfair to straight soldiers!

Commentary Tidbits

Ramblings of Sheldon: If That Is All We Give Them, Then We Have Given Them Nothing

Watch Your Life and Doctrine Closely: Mark Driscoll, James MacDonald, Strange Fire and Leslie Nielsen

The Bilerico Project: Racists, Homophobes, & the GOP All Love Special Rights

Wonkette: Bigots Demand Their First Amendment Right to Ex-Gay You for Your Own Salvation and the First Amendment

Daylight Atheism: American Fundamentalists Applaud Russian Eliminationism

Los Angeles Times: God Loves Uganda looks at missionaries, anti-gay bill