2 Samuel 16:9,11 - "Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over, I pray thee, and take off his head...let him alone, and let him curse; for the Lord hath bidden him."

Matthew 7:15 - “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.

Matthew 24:11 - “…and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people.”

Friday, October 12, 2007

The Real Power

As several anti-Watchdog posters have said recently on this blog, blogging about issues at FBC Jax won't accomplish anything. They say this blogging must stop, because all that it is doing is causing "dissension" in the church. Paige Patterson would say that blogging is a tool of the devil trying to "stop the man of God". One thing I agree with: blogging in and of itself doesn't accomplish much. Fact is it takes someone with power to hold those in power accountable. This blog and the bloggers have no power. Who would expect the Brunsons to listen to some complaining, "recalcitrant" bloggers? But this begs the question: where are those that DO have the power to demand answers to these questions for the many thousands of people who give money to FBC Jax? Where is the media - where is the Florida Times Union (someone other than Jeff Brumley who wrote that Mac "...drives his own pickup truck and picks his teeth with a business card..." in his February 13 puff piece on Brunson). Where is Baptist Press and the Associated Baptist Press? My gosh, where is Folio Weekly?

As the Richard Roberts' scandal at ORU is gaining national attention, its interesting to note that some of the allegations made against the Roberts' are somewhat similar to those that have been discussed here on this blog regarding Mac Brunson and family. One thing is sure about the mess at ORU: until the fired professors filed a lawsuit and the lawsuit was reported on by the press Richard Roberts was not going to address the questions. Certainly no lowly, disgruntled, "recalcitrant" professors, and for sure no lowly demonic "recalcitrant" blogger has the power to cause Richard Roberts to start answering questions. But after the press reported on the allegations, holy cow Richard Roberts couldn't drive his Lexus fast enough to get to chapel service to address the allegations and announce he was launching a full investigation (and of course attack the motives of the professors filing the lawsuit). Gee, why such a change of heart now Richard on providing answers to those who have been asking questions?

Any chance FBC Jax leadership will find a way to provide answers to these questions BEFORE the press starts asking questions and reporting on unrest at FBC Jax? Not a chance. Despite media reporting on the mega church problems on at Bellevue and Two Rivers, despite even lawsuits by church members, information is not forthcoming to answer questions about how money is spent at these churches. Despite Mac and the staff telling us how important it is that WE be willing to accept change, when it comes to openness and accountability to the givers of the money it will always be "business as usual".