Disturbing Trends, Domestic Violence and Churches, Failure to Report Crimes, Leaving the Church, No-Talk Rule, Russell Moore, Sexual Abuse/Assault and Churches

Questionning the Morality and Ethics of Samuel James and His Recent Article

Julie Anne

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 Samuel James, ERLC, watchdog blogs, abuse, and the church

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Merriam-Webster defines the following:

Morality

beliefs about what is right behavior and what is wrong behavior

the degree to which something is right and good : the moral goodness or badness of something

Ethics

rules of behavior based on ideas about what is morally good and bad

It’s important to take note of the meanings above when reading this article.

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https://twitter.com/samueljamesblog/status/596766978725060608

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Samuel James is Communications Specialist at The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC) and works directly for Russell Moore, who is President of the group.

Samuel James’ most recent blog article, What Not to Do When a Fellow Christian Embarrasses The Rest of Us, left quite a few people disturbed.

I tweeted about this particular article on Friday:

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I will be covering points 6 through 9 in this article. You can read the rest at his site.

At first, I was struck that this was yet another person giving the warning about “watchdog blogs:”

7) Don’t start a “watchdog blog.” Seriously, don’t ever.  

We’ve seen that before.

And then I discovered that Samuel James had preemptively blocked me on Twitter. We’ve also been seeing more and more of this pattern on Twitter. Mr. James then went on to block several others who were either bloggers or others who questioned him about his article:

Samuel James, ERLC Screen Shot 2015-05-12 at 7.29.17 AM

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So, what we have here is, “I get to say what I want to say and you don’t get to respond back.”

That’s just rude. It’s also the pattern we see in abusive authority figures:  the no-talk rule. The no-talk rule prevents others from raising the alarm of abuse because any kind of negative talk is shoved under the carpet. If you can’t talk about the problem, then no one else will know about it. The dark secret stays contained and abuse continues.

But all of the above is trivial compared to what follows. I wonder about Mr. James and what he thinks about morality and ethics after reading the next paragraph, and I shudder to think about the group he represents (ERLC) if they believe as he does. This next paragraph is a doozy:

6) Don’t ever, ever, ever, EVER even passively, suggestively, or indirectly legitimize or rationalize bitterness and suspicion towards the church. If someone says to you, “This is why I don’t go to church,” they might think they’re telling the truth, but they’re not. They don’t love the church because they don’t love Jesus. Saying, “Yes, you have a point, church can be so frustrating” feels like empathy, but it’s not. It’s self-preserveration at the cost of slandering Christ’s body.

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Mark Lawrence’s response to Mr. James on Twitter is very important:

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https://twitter.com/RevElmerFudd/status/597338987032883200

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G.R.A.C.E. (Godly Response to Abuse in the Christian Environment) also left a response to the article on their Facebook page:

These types of posts written by church “leaders” are so damaging and hurtful for many reasons. Pious demands for silence are inconsistent with light, truth and love.

And finally, the last two comments:

8) Don’t read the comments.

Note:  Samuel James closed the comments on his own blog article.

9) Don’t leave a comment.

Note: Samuel James closed the comments on his own blog article.

Now, let’s take a look at ERLC’s first three ministry statements:

MISSION

The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission exists to assist the churches by helping them understand the moral demands of the gospel, apply Christian principles to moral and social problems and questions of public policy, and to promote religious liberty in cooperation with the churches and other Southern Baptist entities.

MINISTRIES

1. ASSIST CHURCHES IN APPLYING THE MORAL AND ETHICAL TEACHINGS OF THE BIBLE TO THE CHRISTIAN LIFE.

Provide research, information resources, consultation, and counsel to denominational entities, churches and individuals with regard to the application of Christian principles in everyday living and the nation’s public life.

2. ASSIST CHURCHES THROUGH THE COMMUNICATION AND ADVOCACY OF MORAL AND ETHICAL CONCERNS IN THE PUBLIC ARENA.

Represent Southern Baptists in communicating the ethical positions of the Southern Baptist Convention to the public and to public officials.

3. ASSIST CHURCHES IN THEIR MORAL WITNESS IN LOCAL COMMUNITIES.

Provide information resources that inform and equip churches for active moral witness in their communities.

Mr. James’s statements are inappropriate and distasteful, especially to those who have been harmed by the church. The issues that many bloggers discuss are of moral and ethical concerns: how sex abuse cases are handled in the church, how pastors use their position of authority as a spiritual weapon, how the church handles cases of domestic violence, how the church takes care of the oppressed.

I wish Mr. James could read just a week’s worth of my e-mails and get a reality check to what many are experiencing. I also question what kind of ethics and morality is going on at ERLC that Mr. James could produce such a piece.

Since, Mr. James does not allow comments, blocks people on Twitter who engage him (and even people who don’t), he leaves me no choice but to blog about it. And now you may have the opportunity to share your thoughts, too.

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143 thoughts on “Questionning the Morality and Ethics of Samuel James and His Recent Article”

  1. His arrogance calls into question his qualification for serving a body devoted to ethics and providing ethical guidance to others. The first thing someone working in that field needs is the ability to listen well to everyone.

    Liked by 7 people

  2. No kidding, Tim. The guy is so young, too. I’m just shocked that this young guy thinks he’s in a position to tell people what to do as if he’s an authority figure.

    Liked by 5 people

  3. Saying “They don’t love our church because they don’t love Jesus!” is like saying “They don’t love Justin Bieber because they hate music!” (–My tweet yesterday)

    Liked by 4 people

  5. This is so typical. Never, ever, ever say anything negative about the church. Never question an action or decision. When they abuse you, sit back and let them, and, not only that, you’d better enjoy it (Count it all joy, my friend, when we treat you like scum – we are doing this because we can and God isn’t stopping us so it must be His will.) And then justify kicking people out because they are Jezebels and apostates and all manner of bad people because they were brave enough to tell, question, blow a whistle or bark like a watch dog. I’m sorry. I usually refrain from descending into name calling, but this guy is just an idiot a**hole.

    Liked by 2 people

  6. Hmmm?

    Samuel says…
    “If someone says to you,
    “This is why I don’t go to church,”
    they might think they’re telling the truth,
    but they’re not.
    They don’t love the church because they don’t love Jesus.”

    Donations must be down… 😉

    Liked by 3 people

  7. No, we don’t hate Jesus. We hate scumbag abusers who rape the souls and sometimes the bodies of others and do it in Jesus’ name, fully protected by the sycophants, enablers and yellow-bellied cowards who surround them.

    Liked by 3 people

  8. So why exactly is this commission necessary? The local church is not capable of deciding what is moral and ethical? If they aren’t, it’s time to disband. This man’s another I know everything-you know nothing quack who doesn’t want to be called out on his own behavior. JA you keep on woofin’. Somebody’s gotta protect the sheep.

    Liked by 6 people

  11. First thoughts on reading Boz T’s tweet (reacting to the statement that it’s slandering to Christ’s body for those abused in a church to feel bitter or suspicious about the church):

    I’m coming to the conclusion that the abusing church may very well not be Christ’s body. So it wouldn’t be slandering to Christ’s body after all.

    Liked by 7 people

  12. Pingback: » Questionning the Morality and Ethics of Samuel James and His Recent Article

  13. Hmmm?

    Samuel says…
    “It’s self-preservation at the cost of slandering Christ’s body.”

    Well, bless sammys heart. He’ims gots the first parts correct…
    But, the second part NOT so much…

    I love the Body of Christ… Youse guys… And “watchdog blogs.” 🙂

    I never left The Body of Christ, The Church…
    Where Jesus is the head…

    I left the 501 (c) 3, Non-Profit, Tax $ Deductible, Religious $ Corporation,
    That the IRS calls church.

    For “self-preservation.” 😉

    All that “Submitting to God Ordained Authority” – Oy Vey!!! 😦
    Over and over – Just – Pay – Pray – Stay – and – Obey
    Because Jesus wants it that way…

    Was killing me…

    And killing my love for Jesus…

    Liked by 3 people

  14. Like I tell my students, if the early church was doing everything right, we wouldn’t have much of our New Testament. There’s critique of the church all the way from beginning to the end: from how the Gospels highlight the bad questions of the disciples, to Paul’s critique of Peter, the Judaizers and others, to his critique of the Corinthian church’s practice of Communion, to the letters to the churches in Revelation.

    I suppose James is Roman Catholic, because his list rules out Luther and the Reformers. Indeed critique is in the name of the branch of the church: Protest-ant.

    Lots of people hating Jesus out there, especially those Baptists and their long standing critiques of church life and practices that led to splitting off.

    Liked by 2 people

  15. My experience with the SBC was that they pretty much equate organized church with the Body of Christ. The result was that organized church (and only Southern Baptist Churches counted) became an idol. False idols are indefensible, but for that very reason they must be shielded from criticism.

    While the congregants were generally appalled, and remain my friends, the “pastor” of my small-town Southern Baptist church basically made it clear several years ago that I was no longer welcome to participate in their Sunday School, which I had been visiting on the invitation of the other participants. Funny thing is, I’ve been waiting for them to remove me from their membership role since about the late 80’s. Not sure why they won’t do it. Maybe they would consider that tantamount to an ejection from the Body of Christ, and they prefer not to take any action that would condemn me to eternal conscious torment. Maybe not, but that would seem to be the logic of their ecclesiology.

    Liked by 2 people

  16. Wow. It just struck me. “Religious Liberty Commission”. Liberty for whom? The captives? No, it appears that liberty is only for abusers.

    Liked by 1 person

  18. “Don’t read the comments.”
    “Don’t leave a comment.”

    And probably, though I haven’t gone to read his original blog post, “Don’t read a watchdog blog.”

    Because, if we remain in blissful ignorance, if we speak no evil of the church, then all the bad will *poof* magically disappear from the church. There was no abuse, there is no abuse, there will be no abuse! As a matter of fact, it is impossible for there to be any abuse, just so long as we refuse even to name such evil.

    Because, like, the church has this magic power to repel evil in all circumstances. And there is no such thing as a false shepherd or a hireling. Because the Bible doesn’t say anything about false shepherds or hirelings (really?), just that you should honor and obey your elders because they have such a hard job to do. It is the job of the sheep to make the shepherd’s job easier, lighter, more joyful. The Bible says so.

    Sola Scriptura.

    Like

  19. What does “moral demands of the gospel” mean, anyway? I thought the gospel was good news, that Jesus’ yoke is easy and his burden is light. “Moral demands of the gospel” sounds like a heavy burden, one to stagger under.

    Liked by 2 people

  20. “I wish Mr. James could read just a week’s worth of my e-mails and get a reality check to what many are experiencing.”
    Julie Anne, he won’t do that. He might learn something. And from a women, no less. He has that mentality of “I’ve made up my mind. Don’ confuse me with the facts.”

    Liked by 2 people

  21. Hmmm? – Go To Church???

    Samuel says…
    “If someone says to you,
    “This is why I don’t go to church,”
    they might think they’re telling the truth,
    but they’re not.”

    Well – “This is why I don’t go to church,” NO More, NO More…

    Because – It’s NOT biblical to – Go To Church… (Wow – Can I say that?)

    Hmmm? Samuel? Am I “telling the truth?”

    Now I cudda missed it – BUT…
    In the Bible, I can NOT find one of His Disciples who would “Go To Church.”

    What did His Disciples know about The Ekklesia 2000 years ago???
    That those who call an IRS Corporation The Ekklesia miss today???
    Should one of His Disciples call an IRS Corporation – The Ekklesia???

    Now I cudda missed it – BUT…
    In the Bible, I can NOT find anyone who would…
    1 – Go to Church. 2 – Join a Church. 3 – Tithe to a Church. 4 – Give silver, gold or money to a Church. 5 – Build Buildings with crosses called Church. 6 – Apply for Church membership. 6a – Apply for Formal Church membership. 6b – Call excommunication, shunning, Church Discipline. 7- Call it MY Church: by a pastor. Nope, His Ekklesia, the body of Christ, belongs to Jesus. 8 – Call it My Church: by sheepies. 9 – Call it Your Church. 10 – Call it Our Church. 11 – Talk about Church Leaders. 12 – Talk about Church Growth. 13 – Talk about Church Planting. 14 – Talk about Church clean up Day. 15 – Talk about Local Church.

    These are all things taught to WE, His Sheep, His Disciples, by…
    The 501 (c) 3, Non-Profit, Tax $ Deductible, Religious $ Corporation,
    That the IRS calls church.

    Did Jesus shed His Blood for…
    An IRS Corporation? An Institution? An Organization? A Denomination?

    NO – Jesus shed His Blood for WE, His Body, His Ekklesia, His Church…

    Liked by 2 people

  22. Preemptive victim shaming going on in the article, for whatever faulty motives. It’s like warning people ahead of time, “If your kids are abused by our youth pastor, don’t you ever report the abuse to anyone outside of this church’s leadership. Ever.” He seems like another young guy trying to short-cut himself to influence, without going through the long years of preparation and softening required. Hopefully, he’ll learn from this moral failure on his part.

    Liked by 7 people

  24. Kathrinegluvna,

    It was purely a hypothetical thought about sharing emails (they are private). He’s already demonstrated that he has no capacity to hear someone’s concerns. Let’s hope and pray he stays out of the pastorate.

    Liked by 1 person

  26. S. James says, “If someone says to you, “This is why I don’t go to church,” they might think they’re telling the truth, but they’re not. They don’t love the church because they don’t love Jesus.”

    I think it’s over a A Cry for Justice I picked up on the idea that one of the marks of an abuser is that they try to tell their target what the target thinks.

    Liked by 6 people

  27. Don’t ever, ever, ever, EVER even passively, suggestively, or indirectly legitimize or rationalize bitterness and suspicion towards the church.

    Yay!! Finally!! He just called us bitter! 😀

    Granted, he did it passively, suggestively, and indirectly, but in this case I think that gives him extra points. 🙂

    Liked by 2 people

  28. Maybe, but I suspect he isn’t responding because he’s not mature enough nor confident enough in his position to engage. I hold his employer responsible for the embarrassing post.

    Liked by 3 people

  30. I can’t stop laughing at the notion of a self-proclaimed communication specialist posting “don’t read comments” and “don’t post comment”. That’s non-communication and has the odor of a lawyer trying to protect his corporate client.

    Liked by 7 people

  31. I think it’s over a A Cry for Justice I picked up on the idea that one of the marks of an abuser is that they try to tell their target what the target thinks.

    You know, reading through this all I could think was Minitrue from 1984.

    And really, the more I am exposed to these guys the more Orwellian they seem to be.

    Liked by 3 people

  32. @Refugee:

    Because, if we remain in blissful ignorance, if we speak no evil of the church, then all the bad will *poof* magically disappear from the church. There was no abuse, there is no abuse, there will be no abuse! As a matter of fact, it is impossible for there to be any abuse, just so long as we refuse even to name such evil.

    The Party Can Do No Wrong.
    Ees Party Line, Comrades.

    Like

  33. @Barnabas:

    I think it’s over a A Cry for Justice I picked up on the idea that one of the marks of an abuser is that they try to tell their target what the target thinks.

    You know, reading through this all I could think was Minitrue from 1984.

    And minitrue requires miniluv with thinkpol and room 101 to make sure the proles think properly.

    Liked by 1 person

  34. There seems to be a putrid odor emanating from Louisville.

    “[For people] to refuse a hearing to an opinion, because they are sure that it is false, is to assume that their certainty is the same thing as absolute certainty. All silencing of discussion is an assumption of infallibility.”
    ― John Stuart Mill, On Liberty

    “But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned.” (Galatians 2:11 ESV)

    “Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.”
    (Ephesians 5:11 ESV)

    “Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.” (Proverbs 27:17 ESV)

    Liked by 6 people

  35. @refugee

    “Because, if we remain in blissful ignorance, if we speak no evil of the church, then all the bad will *poof* magically disappear from the church. There was no abuse, there is no abuse, there will be no abuse! As a matter of fact, it is impossible for there to be any abuse, just so long as we refuse even to name such evil.”

    These aren’t the droids you’re looking for. 🙂

    Like

  36. Mark Lawrence’s tweet REALLY pointed out how ridiculous Jame’s faulty reasoning (if you can call it that) is. Of COURSE James has to stop comments. His POV is indefensible.

    Liked by 3 people

  38. Ken Garrett said:
    “Preemptive victim shaming”

    I really like that phrase. That is so concise. That is it in a nut shell.

    “Preemptive victim shaming” is the genre of many types of essays and blog posts I’ve seen the last few years from these church spokespersons, or Christian magazines, who shame Christians for leaving church, for publicly airing church dirty laundry, for pointing out how so many churches are hurting or failing people.

    It seems about once a month, some blog or online magazine, such as Relevant, Desiring God, T4G or whatever, will publish an article telling Christians,

    “Shame on you for speaking ill of the church. The church is Jesus’ bride, so stop insulting the bride. I don’t care if you’ve been hurt by church people or not, shut up about it.”

    -That right there is the gist of like 99% of blog posts by talking head Christians who represent denominations or para-church groups directed at the “nones” or to other disaffected, wounded people.

    Liked by 1 person

  39. I just left another tweet in response to his “advice”. Too bad he won’t see it since he blocked me:

    Liked by 4 people

  41. When I was a newbie believer, I got wrapped up in the Word of Faith (WoF) crowd. It took me a long while to disentangle myself completely from that group. The last straw for me was a new members class I attended at a church I almost joined in North Carolina. The task of the congregation, we were taught was to support the vision given to the pastor. We were not to talk negatively about the pastor or the church in general. If we were out at supper after church service and heard another member slandering the church (read: the pastor), we were to admonish them not to; our ministry was to make the pastor and the church look good.

    The basis for this teaching was “touch not God’s anointed”. There were grave consequences for doing so. This boiled down to any disagreement or concern you may have about the church or the pastor – which effectively silenced anyone who may oppose what is going on, or who was being injured or abused in anyway. After that session, I almost tripped over my own feet trying to get out of there. I never returned.

    What I find so ironic is that this article could have easily been written by a WoF pastor or ministry. These same conservative evangelicals that would destroy the beliefs of the WoFers as written above are practicing the same things. Different words, same principle, same oppression. And this sad and sorry practice of blocking people that disagree with you is just plain juvenile. Are we in middle school again? Is everyone suddenly 12 years old again?? My heart breaks a thousand times over for lives that are shattered by this abuse. I was broken, but praise God He lifted me out of it. It’s downright infuriating…

    Okay, I’m off my soapbox now…

    Liked by 6 people

  42. This is something I brought up at the other blog a few times, but this is common in other spheres of life, silencing critics.

    It’s not just in churches.

    I was harassed in a full time, 9 to 5 job I had at an office. Other workers knew I was being harassed, but nobody helped me, and I was raised not to defend myself.

    I was also bullied a lot by other kids when I was a kid in school.

    I read many books about work place harassment at this point, and I learned it’s very
    common for work places, schools, etc, to victim-blame victims, or to deny or downplay abuse or harassment.

    Bosses, jobs, teachers, school systems -and of course many churches- would rather ignore, deny, or downplay their faults, injustices, and mistakes, and deny or ignore that there are abusers among them, than to do the right thing and fire, demote, or reprimand the abusers and support the victim.

    There are reasons why people have this tendency, but it’s common among all areas of life. It’s sad that churches are equally as bad in this area, when they should be the first to stand up for victims and point out and fight abuse.

    Liked by 3 people

  43. After having been in a church in which we were silenced, I now look at that as a sign that there truly was something to hide. I will certainly be keeping a closer eye on ERLC and Mr. James.

    Liked by 4 people

  44. Here is the essential problem with Mr. James and those who share this particular set of beliefs: They have collapsed the institutional thing they like to call “church” with the True Church (of course rightly defined as all believers in Jesus). Certainly, to hate the latter is very close to hating Jesus (if you hate all believers in Jesus, that is listing towards hating the One whom they believe in). That makes some sense: hate the bride = hate the groom.

    But Mr. James, in his youth and inexperience and desire to be something big within that institutional thing (and perhaps salve his deep-seated feelings of inferiority?) has listened to some very bad advice on this point, and thinks that the human-made institution is in sum and substance the True Bride. So from that warped paradigm, I understand his point. But of course, it is in fact a warped paradigm and what he believes is substantively untrue, so quite naturally, when operating from a wrong-headed perspective, he ends up attacking many within the True Church who have been abused by those who may not be part of the True Church, but happen to be plugged into the institutional one.

    In short: He’s essentially hating many believers and supporting many unbelievers.

    Liked by 2 people

  45. Additionally, what he says flies completely in the face of the very open, public give-and-take recorded in the New Testament between Jesus and the Disciples (actually, it was all give there, as in Jesus telling them what idiots they were) and between Paul and Barnabas, Paul and Peter, Paul and every group of believers to whom he wrote, Peter and every group of believers to whom he wrote, John and… etc. etc.

    Do these guys ever pick up the Bible except to proof text?

    Liked by 3 people

  46. This kid has no business being on Patheos, an otherwise interesting site. Quoting from their website, “Patheos is the premier online destination to engage in the global dialogue about religion and spirituality…” It won’t remain that way if columnists are allowed to make pronouncements and disengage the comment function. I have no interest in reading anything by someone who can dish it out but not take it, as we used to say in my youth.

    Liked by 4 people

  47. How old is Mr. James? I am shocked his organization has allowed him to post such nonsense under their umbrella. Unfortunately for him, his post will probably cost him many readers. This young man obviously doesn’t have the life experience or empathy to even understand why his post is offensive. Jesus called out the Pharisees and challenged the moneychangers who were obviously sanctioned by the temple priests. Also how is it loving to allow a church leader who is abusive, unfaithful, addicted or many other problems to continue in self-destructive behavior? It is more loving to call out bad behavior early on before it gets out of control and causes more destruction. Also Mr. James, only God knows who sincerely love Him and it is not based on church attendance!

    Liked by 4 people

  48. Marsha said “This kid has no business being on Patheos”. I tagged @Patheos in a tweet asking if they knew one of their writers was stifling discussion. No word back yet.

    Liked by 1 person

  59. So I left his this tweet, JA:

    Like

  61. The primacy of the local church? Umm, no. That sounds like idolatry. Jesus Christ is supposed to be Lord. Sheesh.

    Liked by 1 person

  62. “Sometimes a Christian publicly embarrasses the rest of us.”

    Like Samuel James?

    Like

  63. “There’s a strain in American evangelicalism that turns violent when you say that it’s never right to be bitter against the church.”

    JA, have you seen any “violent” tweets? Nobody here has been violent. James sounds like a drama queen.

    Liked by 3 people

  64. No. If there is any venom, it is against stupidity not the church. Maybe it is not so much venom as pity. Unfortunately many young men like Mr. James will only dig their heels in deeper rather than open their minds to rational discussion and hearts to the suffering around them.

    Liked by 1 person

  65. “I wish Mr. James could read just a week’s worth of my e-mails and get a reality check to what many are experiencing.”

    The sooner people realize that these types do not care about the horrors people have experienced at church, the better off they will be emotionally.

    Liked by 1 person

  66. “How old is Mr. James? ”

    Emotionally or physically? :o)

    Trust me, Russ Moore and Joe Carter are proud of him

    Like

  67. what cracks me up about this is the fact he really believes people will listen to him and obey. by the time someone gets the courage to start a watch blog they are way past listening to self important silly boy-men like him.

    Liked by 4 people

  68. I see he’s trying really really hard to capture people to the angle of interpretation and perspective he wants them to hold, but Samuel is not a very good propagandist, IMO. He rather comes off like a bully than a wise person who should be listened to.

    Liked by 2 people

  69. @lydia00

    “The sooner people realize that these types do not care about the horrors people have experienced at church, the better off they will be emotionally.”

    True. For about the first year after parting ways with our cult, I seriously waited and hoped that someone would wonder what had happened. I hoped someone would call to sort out the problems and reconcile the relationship. I wanted someone to care. After a year passed I finally came to grips with the fact that they didn’t care. That first year was the most difficult emotionally.

    I hope James’ article and responses will help people to see what they can expect if they ever face a conflict within a church in his circle of influence.

    Liked by 3 people

  71. Samuel D. James @samueljamesblog

    If I’ve learned anything the last 48 hours, it’s this: There is real venom–and I mean venom–against the primacy of the local church.

    The “primacy of the local church”?

    I’m not completely sure what that means, but whatever it means to him, I think it’s safe to say that he, like a lot of Christians I’ve seen, make too much out of “the church.”

    And I don’t think guys like this define “church” in a broad sense, as consisting of anyone who accepts Jesus, but as their particular denomination or their favorite local brick and mortar building on the corner that they personally attend.

    Does this guy ever stop to wonder exactly why he’s getting so much heat from people, or why the local church gets so much venom?

    Maybe that cacophony of voices have a good reason or two, very, very good reasons, to be venomous. I really think he needs to ponder that.

    Like

  73. @ Daisy:

    I too was wondering what exactly was meant by “primacy of the local church.”

    I’m also curious which “watchbloggers” are making money from their blogs as he claims. I have a blog that critiques patriocentric theology. So am I a “watchblogger”? If I am, I must have missed something about those ad revenues, because my bank account is not getting any bigger…

    Liked by 1 person

  74. He thinks he is blocking angry sock poppets! Like Tim who blogs and tweets under his own name and is always respectful when he expresses disagreement? This young man who is supposed to be a communications expert cannot tell the difference between debate and anger and he is completely unable to interact with someone who disagrees. It is really kind of sad.

    Liked by 4 people

  75. It’s kind of funny. Wolves in sheep’s clothing– but opinions differ on who are the wolves. How does one decide?

    Well, for a starter, the very first thing they teach you about dealing with a dangerous wild animal is to never, ever, EVER take your eyes off of it. Point number one goes to the “watchdog blogs.”

    The next thing they teach you is to be as big and loud as possible– make it realize that you are dangerous, too. Point number two goes to the “watchdog blogs.”

    Lastly, they teach you to NEVER turn and run, because that triggers the “chase and kill” instinct. Point number three goes to the “watchdog blogs.”

    Traditional churchianity isn’t doing very well, is it?

    Liked by 1 person

  78. Julie Anne said,

    Just when we thought it was bad . . . he has a NEW post.
    _For Whom the Blog Trolls: A Drama_

    I don’t understand why he’s complaining or objecting, since he immediately blocked most everyone on Twitter who disagreed with him, and he doesn’t permit comments on his blog at all?

    Is he portraying every single person who contacted him as being a troll?

    Liked by 1 person

  80. “I am a man, I am a man of authority in the local church, I am man who sees all and speaks all truth-humbly, of course, knowing that I am always right, and that those who disagree with me are either bitter complainers, troublemakers who don’t understand “the local church”, or a woman (meaning that I can totally disregard you because you are subservient to my manhood and are to be silent,ignored and protected by the big bad trolls of the internet)

    Pretty sure this sums up his inner mindset….whatever. This guy deserves to be ignored.

    Liked by 1 person

  81. Thank the Lord that I’m not judged by what a danger to myself and others I was in my teens, what an arrogant buffoon I was in my twenties, and what a delusional, thinking-I’d-figured-it-out-but-not-even-close fool I was in my 30s. I shudder to think of it all. For that matter, I shudder to think of some of the posts I made in my 40s on this very forum (as have others I’m sure). Hopefully the kid has a similar perspective one day when he’s gotten enough gray on that head to start understanding.

    Thankfully, at no point throughout that parade of stupidity did I surround myself with people who thought virtually the same things I thought. There were enough checks and balances to help me grow in Christ. I fear for people like our young benighted blogger, he needs to get clear of the crowd that exalts the primacy of the local church at the expense of the true one.

    Liked by 1 person

  82. You know JA you, Michael and the WW ladies really give me a smile, this one gave me a full on coughing laugh. My cat thinks I am crazy. The way folks don’t just listen to what you say or what others say and just respond but go into full on apologetic handwaving. This guy is so young, nothing wrong with that, but sometimes it is good to listen to others with more experience. Also making either or black and white criteria or most issues, funny most of the lower, mid, top tiered echelon with in the industry don’t seem to take an either-or stance on spiritual abuse.

    Liked by 1 person

  83. Is this not a great reason for the nones and dones? You tell me………..

    There is a book just released called “Church Refugees” by Josh Packard who is a sociologist. He has been studying why those who are called the “Dones” are leaving.
    I think Julie Anne touched on him awhile ago.

    This is the trend Samuel, sorry……why? Because we are tired of it, and nothing can change this. You can call us bitter or whatever…..It does not matter now. We are DONE. We love Jesus, but we do not love the “church” of what it has turned out to be. Sorry, but we are gone and more will follow- get use to it.

    A. Amos Love – totally love your “rants”!

    Liked by 1 person

  85. trust4himonly

    And your rants are pretty great also… 🙂

    “s this not a great reason for the nones and dones? You tell me………..”

    “We are DONE. We love Jesus…”

    Like

  86. trust4himonly

    Yup – Being a “None” was okay.
    “NOT” having any Religious Affiliation.

    Just being a friend of Jesus.

    Then – Being a “Done” was even better.
    “NOT” having anything to do with The Institutional Chuch.
    The 501 c 3, Religious Corporation, the IRS calls church.

    Just being a friend of, and loving, His Body, His Ekklesia, His Church…
    The Called Out Ones, where ever they may be. 🙂

    Just being a sheepie of Jesus. And Following Him. The ONE Shepherd.
    ———-

    Then “ONE” day I asked…
    “But, Jesus, isn’t this what I’m “NOT?”
    “What am I?” “How do I identify myself?”
    “What do you want from me?”
    “How do you want me to see me?”
    ———-

    John 17:20-23 NKJV

    I do not pray for these alone, but also for those
    who will believe in Me through their word;
    that they ALL may be “ONE,”
    as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You;
    that they also may be “ONE” in Us,
    that the world may believe that You sent Me.
    And the glory which You gave Me I have given them,
    that they may be “ONE” just as We are “ONE”:
    I in them, and You in Me; that they may be Made Perfect in “ONE”,
    and that the world may know that You have sent Me,
    and have loved them as You have loved Me.
    ———-

    First A “None.” Then A “Done.” Then being “ONE” with Jesus.

    “None.” “Done.” And now A “ONE.”
    ———-

    We are “ONE.” We love Jesus…
    ———-

    And, what makes you think “ONE” is only a number? 😉

    ———-
    Jer 50:6
    “My people” hath been “lost sheep:”
    **THEIR shepherds** have caused them to *go astray,*

    1 Pet 2:25
    For ye were as *sheep going astray;*
    BUT are now returned to the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.

    {{{{{{ Jesus }}}}}}

    Liked by 1 person

  90. A. Amos Love,

    *Like, Like and Like some more way up there in the comment section as well as your most recent comment.

    Amen! Alleluia! and Happy Dance (Psalm 150!)

    I left the institutional 501c. 3 church system because I love Jesus as my Savior and because He loves His sheep like no religious authority figure within the walled system ever could. In abusive church systems, love, like, dislike, hatred, is totally based on an individual’s submission to leadership figures, whether male or female, for man loves his dominion and desires to be worshiped in place of Christ.

    I am deeply moved by the conversation here. Praise God.

    Liked by 2 people

  91. Julie Anne – That new post is so over the top obnoxious! He’s humble, but heroic (yet still not taking comments and communicating with people). He’s misunderstood and can’t understand why people are responding the way they are.

    He ends with, “He is saddened by the understanding that there are many, many people who allow a website to run their life, and live in a state of constant fury when others don’t do the same.” Yet, up at the top of the post he says that his main point is that Christians should not be bitter toward the church. So, he’s flabbergasted by why people would “run their life” according to what he wrote, yet he’s telling people what they should do – not be bitter toward the church.

    This guy is clueless about why people do not appreciate what he wrote.

    Liked by 2 people

  92. What with all this business about the supposed primacy of the local church, with nobody being allowed to criticize, disagree, or generally speak to outsiders, maybe Mr. James would be more comfortable joining a secret society that attempting to advance the cause of the Southern Baptist Convention. With the exception of his own public pontifications, he certainly expects others to behave as though they had pledged their unquestioning, silent loyalty to the “local church,” as though it were some sort of secret society.

    Like

  93. trust4himonly – Kathie – Katy

    Yup – “The ONES”

    And – It’s “Biblical.” 😉 HeHeHeHe
    That should make Today’s Abusive Religious System happy…

    And – Jesus prayed it. 🙂
    That makes me happy…

    ”that they ALL may be “ONE,”
    “that they may be “ONE” just as We are “ONE”:”

    “that they may be **Made Perfect in “ONE”,**

    Heb 10:14
    For by “ONE” offering
    **he hath perfected for ever**
    them that are sanctified.

    Gotta love that “ONE” offering…

    {{{{{{ Jesus }}}}}}

    The “ONE” Leader – Mat 23:10 NASB

    The “ONE” Shepherd – John 10:16 NASB

    Like

  94. “Just when we thought it was bad . . . he has a NEW post.”

    Ahahahahahahaha! I kept waiting for the part where Russell Moore rides up on his white steed in shining armor to carry the poor “humble hero” to safety from the “venomous” mobs.

    Well, THAT was a tad melodramatic. I will get several chortles today thinking about his new post.

    Like

  95. Remember that phase of our lives (late teens, early 20s) where we knew everything and if anyone disagreed with us, we were still right?

    Boz politiely corercted this guy and he was blown off. I wonder if Boz was blocked.

    Liked by 2 people

  97. Hilarious! That second article is the best example of “humble-brag” I think I have ever read. This man is clueless about himself and the world around him. He must live in a very small bubble.

    Julie-Ann –

    You need to keep a copy of his article in case you ever need an exquisite example of humble-brag!!

    Like

  98. Tim, That is so true. and now all of us that that used to say“Never trust anyone over 30″ are multiplying that number by 2 or are closer to getting there. lol I haven’t thought of that for a while now. I think the kids now still that that way, but perhaps don’t use the slogan.

    Bridget,

    “humble-brag” (like that) I have to wonder if those that put out this type of article aren’t looking to get into the spotlight. What a better way to do it than put out a piece of smelly cheese, get the obvious response, run for cover and use it to forward the career. I would have to ask if the second article weren’t already in the works prior to publishing the first.

    Liked by 2 people

  99. Wow, as a member of the SBC I feel incredibly embarassed by Samuel James. A communications specialist who can’t handle comments, writes about himself in third person as a heroic figure, and rejects the counsel of true experts in the field he is discussing (abuse-Boz)? I hope his bosses at the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission feel just as mortified that he is representing them.

    Liked by 3 people

  101. @L.J.

    “I hope his bosses at the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission feel just as mortified that he is representing them.”

    Well, if they are, they’d better not “use the person’s error as leverage to draw attention to how not like that you are,” or “apologize to the mass, outraged public for the person.” They’d also better not “make excuses or minimize it to make it go away.” (Like any of the big dogs have ever done anything like that. Oh, wait . . .)

    Like

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