SBC's Grant Gaines Explains How He Told His 6-Year Old Daughter All Disney Characters are Going to Hell

Watch the video above of Grant Gaines, son of Steve Gaines, tell the Bellevue Baptist congregation about how he explained to his 6-year old daughter that Disney characters are going to burn in hell.

And to show how ignorant some of these hotshots can be, Grant throws Pocahontas in with the fictional Disney characters and says:

"I don't think there's a time...where Pocahontas at some point in the movie gets down on her knees she repents of her spiritual paganism and turns to Jesus and is saved. It doesn't ever happen. Maybe there is some alternate ending I'm not aware of."

Well, actually, Grant, there WAS an alternate ending. It is called "history". Pocohontas was a character in a popular Disney movie, but that doesn't mean she didn't become a Christian. Grant, unlike Sleeping Beauty, Pocahontas was a figure in history. It is widely believed that at some point she DID convert to Christianity.

Just a few questions for Grant and Watchdog readers:

How can it be a good thing for a fundamentalist father to explain to his 6-year daughter who is into Disney and princess stories, that all of the princesses are going to die and go to hell unless they "repent, accept Jesus, and start fearing the Lord."?  Obviously none of the characters in their respective movies did walk the aisle of a SBC church and pray and accept Jesus, so now a 6-year old has in her mind that her favorite characters are burning in hell??

Do we purposely need to get 6-year olds, in all of their innocence and trust, to focus on the horrors of hell and fire and brimstone, and that their favorite characters are there in eternal torment? Really?

Sadly, I can picture this little girl going to school and when she hears the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears, or the Jungle Book thinking (or saying out loud), "Goldilocks is burning in hell! Mowgli needs to accept Jesus and fear God or he will be where there's weeping and gnashing of teeth."  Sheesh.

And of course poor modern-day Santa is headed  to hell - although St. Nick was a bishop in the 4th century Greek church, but he probably didn't tithe or believe in inerrancy of scripture and probably didn't literally "accept Christ" - so Grant can explain to his kids that even Jolly Old St. Nick is burning right now with the Disney characters.

BAH HUMBUG!!! SBC President Tells Pastors: Your Disobedient Members Have Until 12/31 to Pay the Tithe - No Grace Period!!

Yesterday on Ronnie Floyd's blog, he announced to all Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) Pastors that they must hound their non-tithing members weekly, to let them know Ronnie has set a deadline of December 31, 2014, for them to come into obedience and tithe on their 2014 income.

The IRS's deadline to collect what you owe them for the prior year is April 15. At least they give you 3 1/2 months to account for your 2014 income and then pay your final tax amount. Not so with the SBC. Ronnie Floyd says to the people who owe his SBC churches money: you have until December 31st to pay up. No grace period, your 2014 10% tithe is due at 11:59 pm December 31st, or you will be disobeying Jesus.

I love the graphic that is at the top of Floyd's post yesterday, shown at right. Shows the date of "31" circled - that is the DEADLINE you recalcitrants! And then the man agonizingly praying (knowing he MUST find the $5000 he owes his church or be cursed), then the hand dropping the cold hard cash in the offering plate. What a Christmas message! You have until the 31st to pay up!

Let's examine what Ronnie is telling SBC Pastors to do in his blog post, and what he is telling SBC Pastors to tell their congregations to do. He is the elected president of the Southern Baptist Convention, so he is the big cheese, and we need to carefully look at what his message is:

1. Church members should not give to any other charitable organizations in December, UNTIL they get caught up with their required 10% tithe for all of their 2014 income.

Here is Ronnie's message:

"In the month of December, we are in the final month of giving for the year. Every non-profit ministry in the country will make appeals to the members of your church to support their ministry financially. While these may be good and some are worthy of consideration, the church should receive the #1 priority in the lives of our people." Ronnie Floyd

It's so simple, isn't it? This Christmas season, your priority should be to stuff the coffers of your church with cash, not helping the poor, or caring for an elderly parent, or even being generous to missions to Lottie Moon. When you walk out of the store, think of Ronnie's words before you drop your change in the red buckets. Sorry David Platt, but the IMB should get no funding until these church members square with the church and fork over 10% of their gross income. Church members need to make "the church" the #1 priority in their lives. After all, "The Church is the Reason for the Season". Wonderful.

2. SBC Pastors have an obligation to hound their people this Christmas season that they need to come into line with God's requirement by paying their full 10% on ALL 2014 income by December 31st. 

I wish I were making this up. Ronnie Floyd, SBC President, tells his pastors the following:

"The key question we [pastors] need to ask [church members] repeatedly: As you review and understand clearly ALL of your sources of income in 2014, have you honored God by giving at least the first one-tenth to your local church? If you have not, then insure you do so before December 31 so that you can know you have walked in complete obedience to God in 2014 in relationship to biblical stewardship." Ronnie Floyd

Notice, this is the message pastors need to tell their church members "repeatedly" during the Christmas season: fork it over. During this season, go back NOW, and look at "ALL" your 2014 income and make sure you haven't forgotten to tithe on any of it!

Ronnie goes further, by actually giving the SBC pastors an action plan on what they should do!

Here is Ronnie's action plan:

• Send all members a letter this Christmas season to fork over the tithe. Says Pope Ronnie:

"Write each member a letter and extend the challenge to answer this key question: As you review and understand clearly ALL of your sources of income in 2014, have you honored God by giving at least the first one-tenth to your local church?" Ronnie Floyd

• Hound your members weekly, every time you collect an offering, but do at least thank them for what they've given so far. Dont' want to beat them up TOO bad: 

"Weekly, as you extend the offering, ask them to answer the key question above. Again, thank them for what they have given already." Ronnie Floyd

• He tells them to be generous to missions - but of course, the first 10% goes to the church, not to any other organizations, including the IMB. 

This shows you where Ronnie's heart is this Christmas. Your obedience ultimately in 2014 was not how well you did your job, or served and sacrificed for your spouse and family, or if you were generous to people in your life that needed your help. Your obedience in 2014 is going to be determined - in Ronnie Floyd's warped world - by whether you forked over 10% of "ALL" your 2014 income to your local church. In Ronnie Floyd's mind, if you don't tithe, you probably aren't a Christian, and you most certainly are going to be cursed in 2015. See previous Watchdog posts hyperlinked below, documenting Ronnie's views on the tithe.

Pastors, you elected Ronnie Floyd, but you know he is full of hot air on this. Disregard what he is saying. Just be joyful and each week just simply THANK your church members over and over and over for their generosity in 2014. People do give according to their consciences, and there is absolutely nothing you can say that will change what they give. Your giving will probably decrease if you pull this stunt in your church at Christmas time. Your members are mostly hard working people who sacrifice so much for their families and even if they give a small percentage, it is a sacrifice to them. Be thankful you have members. Don't beat them like Ronnie suggests. 

Remember, pastors, Ronnie Floyd looks to none other than Robert Morris when he gets his theology on giving and tithing. Review this previous Watchdog post that contain videos of how far off the chain Ronnie is when it comes to stewardship and tithing. He abused his church by using Robert Morris' "tithe or be cursed" nonsense. He even told church members they are probably not saved if they don't tithe. Don't believe me he said it? Go here and read it and WATCH it. 

Pastors, if you do decide to follow Ronnie's edict, I would offer one of my own suggestions, and it is a musical suggestion. Nothing gets the message of Christmas through to the people in the pews like song. So I offer up a new hymn to to place in your Christmas hymn rotation this month. It is called "First Tithe", sung to the same tune as "First Noel":

"First Tithe" - by the FBC Jax Watchdog

The whole tithe the angel did say

Was for all the poor members in pews as they lay:

In pews where they tightly clutch their gold

On a snowy winter's night that was so cold.

Tithe-Tithe, Tithe-Tithe, and be overjoyed

Says from on high, Ronnie Floyd.

They looked up and saw a Man

In the pulpit telling of his plan 

You all must pay what you owe,

Drop your full 10% as it passes your row.

Tithe-Tithe, Tithe-Tithe, and be not reticent

Says our beloved Mr. President.

And by the light of that same star

Three "Men of God" came from seminary far;

To seek for the tithe was their intent,

And to follow the money wherever it went.

Tithe-Tithe, Tithe-Tithe, be not greedy,

Says the seminarian, Mr. Ronnie.

The tithers every-one, rushed up with glee,

Fell reverently at the front upon their knee,

They came not with spices like cinammon, 

But brought tens, twenties, even a Benjamin.

Tithe-Tithe, Tithe-Tithe, to the SBC.

We're so glad we elected, Ronnie.

Then let us all with one accord

Sing praises to Pope Ronnie Floyd,

That hath made coffers full, as he had sought,

And with his beatings the pastor has bought.

Tithe-Tithe, Tithe-Tithe, and be overjoyed

Says from on high, Ronnie Floyd.

Texas Pastor Arrested for Not Reporting Allegations of Sexual Molestation at Church

"It's a crime if you don't report child abuse...it goes on more than people realize.....and if anyone is aware of child abuse that has taken place they need to report it immediately to police." Steve LeSueur, Odessa Police Department

-------------------------------

Two Texas pastors (husband and wife) have been arrested for failure to report allegations of child abuse at their church, Life Church in Odessa, at the hands of their youth minister, Angel De Los Santos. The story was reported by NewsWest9 here, and you can watch the news piece that aired last night.

The two ministers, Donald and Gina Haislett, became aware last year that De Los Santos was sexually assaulting underage girls from the church, yet they did not report it to the police within 48 hours as required in Texas.

Let that sink in for a second. A reverend, a pastor, a man who supposedly speaks for God, decided NOT to report to police that one of their own ministers was SEXUALLY ASSAULTING girls from their church.

Instead of reporting to police, the Hasiletts decided to do their own investigation - you know, keep it in-house, away from the police, away from the media, and away from the unsuspecting sheep they claim to love.

Not only did the Haisletts decide to do their own investigation, court documents indicate Gina Haislett sent a text message to the wife of the abuser saying she "should not volunteer any information" when questioned by the police.

This is a sad story of course, involving a youth minister sexually abusing girls at his church, made worse by the "man of God" who did not immediately report it to the police. Sadder still are the many instances where abuse is unreported and ministers who sought to keep the abuse hidden from public view are NOT arrested for failure to report, leaving more children in churches vulnerable to abuse. I have chronicled several of these cases here in Jacksonville, and won't rehash them here.

In Texas law, any person who becomes aware of allegations of abuse must report within 48 hours, and in Texas this requirement specifically applies to clergy:

"...The requirement to report under this section applies without exception to an individual whose personal communications may otherwise be privileged, including an attorney, a member of the clergy, a medical practitioner...."

But here is the bad news: the Haisletts are facing only a Class A misdemeanor for failure to report. Maybe Gina will be charged with trying to obstruct justice.

In the wake of the Jerry Sandusky/Penn State scandal, the state of Florida passed much tougher abuse reporting requirements, which makes failure to report suspected child abuse a first degree felony in the state of Florida.

Why do pastors fail to report abuse in their churches? A lot of reasons. They don't want to hurt business. They don't want to scare away people they need to fund their 501(c)3. But it is more than that. It is no secret that most pastors view themselves as called directly by God himself  - working directly FOR God and on God's behalf - to proclaim the message of salvation to get souls into heaven and out of hell. If one views their mission as that important - keeping people out of hell - then you can see why a pastor might choose to decide to keep allegations quiet for the greater "good" - rescuing people from eternal damnation.

I find it slightly amusing that if you go to the Haislett's church's website, and click on "About Us" to get more information about the church, the only thing you see on the "About us" page is a full length picture of the Haisletts and absolutely nothing else. Maybe the church was all about the Haisletts, and that is why they didn't report.

--------------------------------

H/T: "People Against Prestonwood's Silence on Allegations of Sexual Abuse" Facebook Account

David Hughes to Teach Pastors on Topic "Transitioning Without Body Bags"

The Watchdog does like to report some positive news every now and then, so I am happy to announce to church members in Florida that David Hughes, pastor of Church By the Glades will be teaching pastors in December on the topic "Transitioning [a Church] Without Body Bags".

It is not surprising that David Hughes - who described disgruntled, exiting church members as excrement leaving the church's "back door" - is connected to Ed Young. David is speaking December 11 at Ed Young's "C3 Global Round Table" in Orlando, Florida. 

And David's topic is how to transition a dysfunctional church "while retaining and honoring the existing members/staff."  And take notice also: John Cross is speaking. Remember John Cross - the one who gave the most embarrassing defense of Ed Young to Ed's church members right after the jet scandal in 2010? Well, ole John will be teaching Florida pastors at the round table as well.

Maybe David will share his mouth/anus metaphor with other pastors, so they too can view their disgruntled church members as human excrement. That might be one of the keys to help pastors "transition" (whatever that means) their church. Will be very interesting to hear what metaphor goes with the "body bags" in David's portion of the event.

SBC Pastor, David Hughes, Refers to Ex-Church Members as Pieces of Human Excrement

In the sermon excerpt below from David Hughes, pastor of "Church by the Glades" in Coral Springs, Florida, David tells his church members about the church's "back door".  And since the New Testament uses the body/church metaphor, David thought it a good idea to extend the metaphor to churches having a mouth and an anus (the back door) like the human body. And the church members who are not happy, and who ultimately leave the church, like human excrement, they are excreted out the "back door", or the anus, of the church.

Yes, his ex-church members are like human excrement, pooped out as harmful waste from the church's anus. What a wholesome picture, and sound biblical analysis from this "man of God". Maybe if David is looking for the anus of the church, he should look in the mirror.

I first learned about this from Chris Rosebrough's 11/18/14 podcast, and from the Pulpit and Pen blog here.

David thinks he's being cute and hip and cool by referring to a dose of Ex-lax to purge the excrement members out of the anus of the church - but I hope some of David's church members see the manipulation and indeed head out the back door.

And as you see in the video, he tells the remaining church members to not be upset that some members leave, because their exit is proof that they didn't need them in their lives anyways. Pure manipulation.

And more on David Hughes to come - as we cover some of his nutty tithing teachings from his October series on money and tithing.

Happy Thanksgiving to all the Watchdog readers, as we move into our 8th year - or 56th in Watchdog years.