Just Who is Acting Like Korah Around Here?, Part 2

This is Part 2 of the Korah series.  In Part 1 we discussed pastoral authority and how the Korah scripture was used to exert imagined pastoral authority over people.   Another pattern I saw when the Korah scripture was used (or abused) is:  what happens when congregants ask questions.   We've touched on this subject before and it will most likely come up again and again because it is a key issue in abusive church situations:  asking church leaders questions.

Can I Ask You a Question?

When I am teaching music to students, I love it when they ask me questions.  It shows they are following along with me, they respect my opinions and experience, and want further information.  They most likely will improve their musicianship by increasing their knowledge base and applying it to their abilities.  People asking questions might be confused, might not understand, or might want to know more info.  It should not be viewed as a threat to ask a question.   It's not a threat to me if someone questions me.  In fact, there have been times I may have overlooked a small detail on sheet music and I appreciate that they are paying close attention to details.  I know that I'm far from perfect and they are well on their way to being fine musicians by noticing these details (even those details that I missed).   This actually excites me because I know they are progressing to a higher level.  It is thrilling for me to play a small part in someone’s life musically.

I think of a pastor as a shepherd who cares for the flock and a teacher.  If a pastor is confident about his teaching and beliefs, one would think he would be comfortable with people asking questions.   I'm convinced that when most people ask questions, they are trying to work out this particular issue in their own mind, not at all trying to create problems.  There are so many issues in the Bible that are open for interpretation.  We look to the shepherd of the church as a teacher of God's Word, one who has studied well, one whom we respect, and hope to find answers so that we can have the same assurances and confidence he has.

We are taught in school:  there is no dumb question.  Why is this seen as a threat for some pastors?  Is it a threat?  What do they think it is a threat to:   their knowledge,   their position,  their authority,   the church,  God’s Word?  Is there something they are trying to hide?  Do they not know the answer to the question?  Are they afraid that the congregant could be right and don't want to be proven wrong?  Are they afraid that the congregant may know more?  Is it wrong for a congregant to have more knowledge than a pastor?  Think about the situation where there is young pastor with congregants who have been Christians longer than the pastor has been alive.  Doesn't it make sense that congregants may have more knowledge/experience?  It is all very puzzling to me.

Why is it that sometimes questions are not answered at all, but instead the focus is turned around and put on the questioner?  Why does the person asking the question sometimes have to endure a barrage of questions of “why” he/she is asking the pastor a question, what their motive is, and is their heart right before the Lord?   Is it a sin to ask a pastor a question?  How is it that when someone asks a question, they are given scripture verses on how they are acting like Korah?   By calling someone out as if they are in the sin of Korah, are they not saying:  “I'm the authority and you have to obey me unquestioningly?

The bottom line and unspoken rule is:  do not question authority.  The cost has been dear for those who have dared to question Chuck O'Neal.  

Thankfully, that false power is no longer over us and we have the freedom to express our thoughts and opinions here.   

I admit - sometimes I let my mind wander:  what would my life be like right now had my questions been answered in a normal fashion as most pastors would?   Then I get back to reality . . . . . and keep blogging :)

Admin note:  This is a 4-part series:

Just Who is Acting Like Korah Around Here?, Part 1
Just Who is Acting Like Korah Around Here?, Part 2
Just Who is Acting Like Korah Around Here?, Part 3
Just Who is Acting Like Korah Around Here, Part 4

Just Who is Acting Like Korah Around Here? Part 1

One recurring theme that continued to resurface in our time at BGBC was the "sin of Korah".  I've heard this used a number of times when congregants asked questions or shared concerns with the pastor.   It was brought up again recently in communication with someone privately and also in the blog’s comment section.    It’s time we paid a visit to Korah!

Why does Chuck refer to people as being a spiritual descendant of Korah, having the sin of Korah, or having Korah-like behavior?  

How can a name that sounds so pretty be so bad?    Let's see!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Korah_Botticelli.jpg

Here are some of the recent blog comments regarding Korah:

KorahApr 16, 2012 11:03 PM

I SEE WAY TOO MUCH KORAH-LIKE BEHAVIOR HERE!!!!! LOL...couldn't help myself!

 In one of my weaker spiritual moments, I posted this response:

Julie AnneApr 16, 2012 11:24 PM

Did you really say Korah? HAHAHAHAHAHA

You are inkorahgible!

incorrigible = habitual, confirmed, hardened, dyed-in-the-wool, incurable, chronic, irredeemable, hopeless, beyond hope; impenitent, unrepentant, unapologetic, unashamed; bad, naughty, terrible.

Isn't the definition of incorrigible interesting when thinking about the story of Korah in the Bible?  

One of the comments referred to blog comments on Chuck O’Neal’s blog in which he warned a passing commenter:

You are in danger of being a spiritual descendant of Korah. I am reminded of a similar conversation Moses once had (no, I don’t think I’m Moses):

Now Korah the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, with Dathan and Abiram the sons of Eliab, and On the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men; 2 and they rose up before Moses with some of the children of Israel, two hundred and fifty leaders of the congregation, representatives of the congregation, men of renown. 3 They gathered together against Moses and Aaron, and said to them, "YOU TAKE TOO MUCH UPON YOURSELVES, FOR ALL THE CONGREGATION IS HOLY, EVERY ONE OF THEM, AND THE LORD IS AMONG THEM. WHY THEN DO YOU EXALT YOURSELVES ABOVE THE ASSEMBLY OF THE LORD?"

Editorial note:  I kept the original form of the above quote intact (all caps) to ensure a true representation of Chuck O'Neal's words.   I assure you the Bible does not have bad netiquette.  Keep in mind, it is common knowledge that all caps is shouting.  He is coming across in an authoritarian fashion. 

2nd editorial note: I find it very interesting that Chuck assumes an authority position and rebukes the commenter in his response.   Who gave him that authority?  He is not even this man's pastor.  The commenter is a mere stranger!    Who does that?! 



Another comment on my blog:

AnonymousApr 16, 2012 11:52 PM

OK...this is tooo weird. What is up with this Korah talk? Beside telling Jason (in the blog post) he was "in danger of being a spiritual descendant of Korah", I have a copy of a letter where he called someone Korah-like, and have heard of him using that term to describe one other family. So is someone Korah-like if they have a different opinion from Chuck O'Neal? Or if they question him? I happen to wholeheartedly agree with Jason's comment so am I now Korah-like?

It sure does sound like Chuck thinks he has the same authority as Moses.....just sayin...

Okay, so just who is Korah and why is Chuck accusing people of being a spiritual descendant of Korah or being Korah-like, or having the sin of Korah? 

Korah was a rebellious Levite who, with a number of other Israelite families, took exception to Moses' leadership in the wilderness, and conspired to overthrow him and usurp his authority. (see Numbers 16)

Read more: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Who_is_korah_in_the_Bible#ixzz1sM7eZM6F

In the above description of Korah, you see a leader and underlings who were trying to usurp Moses' leadership.  Now keep in mind all that we have discussed earlier.  While this leadership/underling setup occurred in the early Church, are pastors to maintain an authority position over congregants in the New Testament?  No, they are not.   Read here:  Pastors as Rulers - What Does the Bible Say? 

It sure sounds to me as if Chuck is saying the commenter is usurping the authority of Chuck’s “counsel”.   Are we in Old Testament times?  I think not.

Phil Harrelson in his very excellent series on spiritual abuse mentions how pastors can use scripture inappropriately in addressing rebellion in a spiritual abusive environment:

In the environment where spiritual abuse predominates there are frequent references in the public setting of preaching and in the private times of counseling that commonly brings up subjects like rebellion, accusations of causing dissension, and other methods of emotional intimidation. He will emphasize his own personal “anointing” and calling in an exclusive manner which serves in a way that dictates more than it serves. Frequently he will state that you cannot touch God’s anointed. He will call to mind biblical references of Korah, Dathan, Abiram, Absalom, and even Judas as a measure of control that heaps on guilt and further empowers the leader.   

to be continued . . . 

Admin note:  This is a 4-part series:

Just Who is Acting Like Korah Around Here?, Part 1
Just Who is Acting Like Korah Around Here?, Part 2
Just Who is Acting Like Korah Around Here?, Part 3
Just Who is Acting Like Korah Around Here, Part 4

Disclaimer on Earlier Post: False Teachers

Earlier today I posted a blog post which I removed.  I was searching Google for "false teachers" and the words on the page rang true to me so I copied, referenced, and used them in the blog post.   Just a while ago an astute reader alerted me that the person who runs the site is a false teacher.  

Whoa, Nellie!  I wasn't expecting that one.   I do not believe any of the quoted post is false.  The original post was deleted, but the original was copied and posted below.   The irony is interesting - false teachers have no problem talking about other false teachers and miss that they may in fact be one!

A false teacher will mix truth with their own spin to satisfy their own sin nature.  This is what I believe we experienced at BGBC.  There was enough truth which lined up with scripture that kept us there.  We all stayed - some for a couple years, some for more than a decade.  We overlooked some of the trivial matters because there was so much truth.  Just as I believe the quotes below to be truthful, a lot of what Chuck preached was truthful.  Truth is truth, regardless of the source.   That is why I will keep the quotes on my blog (but not endorse the rest of the website).

If you read through the following paragraphs and think they do not line up with scripture, send me a note - either at bgbcsurvivors@gmail.com or leave a comment.  

Here is the original post in it's entirety:

I found a few paragraphs on false teachers which rang true to me and wanted to share here.  They come from http://www.thepathoftruth.com  

False teachers mix the holy things of God with their carnal thoughts, creating a false form of godliness. They can’t do otherwise, because they haven’t taken up the cross and submitted themselves to Christ’s righteousness. They are still in their sin nature, living unto themselves, teaching doctrines and commandments of men.

And because false teachers haven’t submitted themselves to Christ’s righteousness, they can’t lead others there. A false teacher is one who may speak truth, yet points his hearers in another direction.

This is the dangerous part about false teachers.  They can lead others on a destructive spiritual path, but perhaps not all:

Though false teachers lead astray, the Biblical truths they teach can lead to Christ those whom God has called and is choosing. The truth quickens those being given the gift of faith. However, faith manifest in the one who receives the truth does not certify as God’s representative the one who speaks some truth. The child of faith who walks in obedience to Christ will soon enough part ways with those who mix truth with error.

I am thankful that some of you who are reading this blog have heard the truth and have parted ways with one who has mixed the truth with error!

“They shall be Mine,” says the Lord of hosts,
“On the day that I make them My jewels.
And I will spare them
As a man spares his own son who serves him.”

 Then you shall again discern
Between the righteous and the wicked,
Between one who serves God
And one who does not serve Him.

Malachi 3:17-18

The Bully Pulpit

"Pulpit", from the eyes of my 9-yr old son

According to Wikipedia.org, a bully pulpit is:  "An older term within the U.S. Government, a bully pulpit is a public office or other position of authority of sufficiently high rank that provides the holder with an opportunity to speak out and be listened to on any matter. The bully pulpit can bring issues to the forefront that were not initially in debate, due to the office's stature and publicity."

The correct definition of bully pulpit does not refer to a pastor abusing authority from the pulpit; however, using the literal meanings of "bully" and "pulpit" seemed appropriate to me when we were there.    Interestingly, I have been in contact with others who also used the bully pulpit expression in the same sense.  

The Bully Pulpit

You commit a sin.  You either get caught or realize the error of your sin.  You initiate a meeting with your pastor to discuss said sin, or perhaps if you are caught, you are called into a meeting with the pastor to discuss the situation.

Let's say everything is worked out in the meeting:  confession, contrition, repentance, forgiveness between all parties, and with God.

You think everything is fine.  You're forgiven.  The slate is clean and it's time to move on.  God's grace is sufficient.  Or perhaps it is not?   This thought is so important:   is God's grace sufficient or is it not?  Tuck that thought away.  It is an important theme in this blog.

Your heart is now clean and you look forward to attending the Wednesday night teaching.  You get to start fresh and want to walk in the light.  This is good.  Yea!

With Bible in your lap and ready to take notes, you ready yourself to hear the teaching.  The pastor starts preaching.  After the first few sentences a dark cloud descends on you.  The teaching is regarding the same sin issue that brought you to the pastor's office.  Your heart starts racing. 

He's talking about you and you know it.  He doesn't name your name, but you recognize certain details.  You feel hurt, ashamed, and betrayed.  This was supposed to be a fresh start. You have difficulty looking up at the pastor as he is teaching.  You do not want your eyes to connect and give the perception to others that this was your sin issue. 

You wonder if anyone else knows of your sin.  You keep your head forward because you don't want to see the eyes of others looking at you.  You feel guilty all over again.  You want to leave and weigh the options of leaving verses staying.  You decide to stay, but leave quickly when people are dismissed so as not to mingle with anyone who might know your story.  You especially don't want to run into the pastor.  This Wednesday service is not what you had hoped it to be.

A week goes by.   You convince yourself to go back - that the pastor is going to move on to a different topic.  You need to move on.  The following Wednesday, you find that the message this week is Part 2, a continuation of last week's teaching.  The wound has been scraped once again.  It bleeds. The same emotions from last week are overwhelming.

What should be healing, has not healed.  It is like a scab that has been scraped off or picked.   It may get infected.  Where there should have been a layer of new skin is now an open wound.  God's grace doesn't feel sufficient.   Does He really offer any grace at all?  It doesn't feel like it.

What thoughts and emotions are going through my mind now?  How does it feel knowing the possibility that my sin has been exposed to others?  Will they still accept me, love me?  Will this open up old wounds in relationships? 

On the flip side, if you are a congregant and hear a sermon like this, it makes you wonder who the pastor is talking about.  You know how this works.  You may have experienced it, too.  You might look around and try to guess who was caught in this sin.  What does this do to the unity of the congregation?   How does this make you feel toward the "sinner"?  Does it draw you closer or further away?  How does this make you feel about meeting with the pastor, knowing your sins very likely will be addressed publicly from the pulpit?  In a church this size, no names need to be mentioned and the sinner will usually be exposed in the form of holy gossip:  we need to pray for sinner "Joe" as he's really struggling.

This environment is hurtful for both the sinner and the congregants who see this played out before them.  There is confusion.  Sometimes this creates an environment where congregants begin to be on the lookout for the sins of others.  These informants feed the pastor news about members in sin.  These informants unknowingly create an unhealthy alliance with the pastor.  They perpetuate this destructive cycle of "sin sniffing":  sinner is confronted, pastor meetings occur, The Bully Pulpit lesson is taught regarding the sin.   Informants are given pseudo grace by the pastor and their own sins may be overlooked.  The emphasis of the church seems to be heavily on sin and repentance, not grace.

This....is.....not....right.  This is a travesty to the meaning of grace, the meaning of church, the meaning of a shepherd.  

Is Your Pastor Acting as Your Holy Spirit?

Someone referred to an article in the comment's section of this post:  You Just Can't Make This Stuff Up, Part 2.   As I read the original article, this paragraph struck me. 

From the article, 'Authoritarianism in The Church" by Steve Martin

Sadly, in too many congregations today, sheep are driven by a man more like a callous meat packer than a loving shepherd. Many modern shepherds don't even like sheep; its just their business. In fact, men are encouraged not to get too close to the sheep or emotionally involved in their lives and problems. So many pastors don't actually like (let alone love) their people. They promote witnessing and world evangelization, they just don't like to be around individual sinners. One need only read of our Lord's loving compassion for the sheep-like sinners of His earthly ministry (Matt. 9:36, 14:14; Mark 1:40-41, 10:21) and recognize how far removed that is from many pastoral examples today. Sacrificial shepherd-love which lays down its life for the sheep has been replaced by loveless sheep management by uncaring sheep ranchers.

There was a big emphasis on evangelism at BGBC.  "Grace Bible Institute" consisted of 2-hr teachings on Sunday afternoons and was devoted to the topic of evangelizing.   Additionally, Friday nights were designated as evangelism nights and small groups would go out and evangelize in neighborhoods, local malls, public areas, etc.  Car washing events were planned in the summer on Saturdays specifically for evangelizing.  The radio ministry, pastor's blog, and Sermon Audio sermons sometimes focused on evangelism.  One cannot miss the evangelism emphasis at this church.  That is all good.  However, if the sheep are hurting and are not being cared for, something has gone awry - the shepherd is out of focus of his primary responsibility - tending the flock.

Some may defend that the pastor did care for his sheep and their problems - that he did have meetings with people who were having issues.  Yes, he did have meetings, but were they done as a loving shepherd would tend wounded sheep?  We've discussed these meetings before - sometimes hours long, Bible verse after Bible verse read outloud, urging the sinner to repent, heavy-handedness, tears, etc.  (This type of control and authoritarianism exerted in meetings can have devastating results on sheep, but we'll touch on that topic later.)

One issue that hasn't been brought up is the congregant's personal files kept by the pastor.  The pastor confirmed with me that he kept files on congregants.  I'm aware that pastors have to deal with many people.  Even professional and licensed counselors maintain personal files on their clients in order to follow progress and help them remember details so they can best help their client.  I get that.  But how were those personal files used?  It is my experience that the personal files were not used in a gracious way for shepherding, but in a berating and authoritarian fashion which takes me back to the yesterday's quote:

3. Unbelief: many office holders do not believe the declarative statements and promises of God in the Scripture. They do not believe that Christ is Lord of His true church and that the gates of hell will not prevail against it. They do not believe that God the Holy Spirit is also Lord of the church, conforming God's people into His image. They do not believe God the Father will exercise His Fatherly love and discipline over the lives of His adopted children. In their unbelief, following hard on the heals of their own prayerlessness, authoritarian shepherds develop the mind-set, "If I don't make them do this, they won't!" or "If I don't make them do this, who will?" They really do not believe that the Holy Spirit will superintend His people and convict them of sin when away from the shepherd. Even as Christian parents must entrust their Christian teens unto the Lord as they drive the car down the driveway or leave for the university, so pastors must learn to trust God the Holy Spirit to work in the lives of His people when they are out from under the watchful gaze of their local under-shepherd. Sadly, such pastors create a "police state mentality" in their congregations where everyone's life is carefully monitored and scrutinized for any deviation, and "sins" are to be reported to the church leadership immediately."

2 Timothy 3:5
...having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!

Galations 5:1
Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.

Galations 5:16-18
I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

Part of the job of the shepherd is to lead the sheep to the true Shepherd and help them to hear His voice.  I did not see that happening.  There was an overemphasis on sin - not only the current sin issue, but old sins as well.  Bringing up old sin issues that have been completely dealt with, repented, forgiven from long ago is not beneficial.  There's no grace and love in that.  (Love keeps no record of wrongs.)  Sheep were beaten down emotionally and spiritually.  It was as though the pastor usurped the authority of God by coercing the flock to heed his voice  - Chuck's voice - instead of the voice of the Holy Spirit.   In this kind of "lording" environment, sheep will have difficulty hearing the Holy Spirit.   It is difficult to hear the gentle prodding of the Holy Spirit over the lectures and never-ending rebuking sessions in the meetings.

We need to ask ourselves if there is an unbalanced focus on sin in our church?  Is there love and grace shown by the pastor?  Does our pastor gently guide us to God or do we primarily hear the pastor's voice?

John 10:27  My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.

From the Mind of a Child

I am a visual person and sometimes drawings help me to understand concepts better.  We have a budding artist on our hands.  He's 9 years old and loves to draw.  From time to time you may see his drawings here.  I wanted you to have a little glimpse of this precious child who loves to exercise his God-given creativity in drawing.  Through his pictures, we are able to see how his 9-yr old brain perceives things.  Sometimes our adult lives can be complicated in many areas and it's nice to take things down to the basics, the plain and simple.  I hope his drawings will take you to the plain and simple and will bless you as they have me. 

At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.  Matthew 18:1-3

You Just Can't Make This Stuff Up, Part 2

Today, I will continue part of the series we started earlier.  In You Just Can't Make This Stuff Up, Part 1, the topic was pink shirts and how Chuck O'Neal spoke against men/boys wearing pink because pink is associated with femininity.  

Today we will be discussing the topic of women wearing dark clothing:  black, brown, gray.  At a ladies retreat, we were told that dark colors were masculine and women should try to avoid those colors.  I must admit, when I first heard it, I looked around the room to see if other people had puzzled looks on their face because the concept was so foreign to me.  

Let me give a little background information.  This was taught at the yearly ladies retreat held at a retreat center.  Any other ladies retreats I have attended in my adult life (and my age tells me I'm no spring chicken),  have been taught by women, not men.  It is called a ladies retreat, right?  Well, Beaverton Grace Bible Church is unique.  We listened to long videos of recorded messages by the pastor - yes, the pastor, a man, taught the primary teachings via videotape at our annual ladies retreats.  I attended to two ladies retreats during my time there.  Both times, we listened to the same videotape and was told it was shown at least the year prior, maybe longer.  So, if my head couldn't grasp the concept the first year, I did have an opportunity the next year to make sure I wasn't hearing things.  I wasn't. 

I  searched high and low for references in the Bible indicating women shouldn't wear dark-colored clothing and couldn't find a thing.  I searched Google to see if there were any websites addressing the issue in the Bible with references.  I found a couple of examples describing the clothing women wore in Bible times.  Although these are not actual Biblical references, they are written by scholars of that historic time period and found that women did wear dark colors during that time period:

The garments worn by Jewish and Christian people of this period were fairly similar to those worn along the whole Mediterranean coast. However, traditional Jewish families still kept the Mosaic Law which forbade mixing wool and linen in the same garment.

Basic clothing was a tunic made from two lengths of woollen material joined at the top, with an opening for the head to pass through. It might have vertical stripes and be dyed red, cream/brown or black. A mantle/cloak made of wool was also worn; this was woven in one single piece of cloth. There was also a woollen or linen head-covering with a band that held it in place. (http://www.bible-archaeology.info/clothes.htm)

 and this:

Most women in biblical times wore simple white clothing, although blue or black homespun was sometimes seen. Wealthy women wore garments of brightly dyed fine linen, often in scarlet or purple, and elaborately decorated with embroidery, jewels, and gold or silver detail (II Sam. 13:18). (http://www.houseandhome.org/clothing-in-biblical-times)

Now here's the thing.  Pastor Chuck O'Neal said that dark colors are not feminine colors.  I'd like to challenge that.  Here are  some pictures and you tell me if these clothes look masculine.

 

http://www.beautifullymodest.com/products/P1159.html

http://prom.about.com/od/formalfashionforgirls/ig/Modest-Prom-Dresses/Bright-Boatneck-Party-Dress.htm

http://www.jenclothing.com/mi-4003-brown-pleats.html

'

http://ep.yimg.com/ca/I/yhst-77635605222520_2203_15769574

Truth be told, if I were to discard all of my gray, black, and brown colored clothing, I'd lose over half of my wardrobe.  

The traditional attire for an accompanist is all black so as not to draw attention to themselves.  The job of an accompanist is to showcase the choir/singer/musician and help them sound their best.  As an accompanist, I would feel very uncomfortable wearing colorful clothing on stage or in front of a church.  I like to hide behind the piano and colorful clothing would only draw attention to myself on a stage, pulpit area, or platform.

http://www.successfulsinging.com/free-singing-guides/info-guides/singing-with-an-accompanist/

One interesting observation - I remember the pastor's wife wearing dark colors.  I always admired her taste in clothing and style.  I can picture her now in my mind wearing an outfit with black and a bright coral top and looking absolutely stunning and certainly feminine.  Maybe he didn't pay attention to what his wife was wearing because she did dress so well.   I can't think of her style as anything but feminine. 

Bottom line is this:  the concept of dark clothes for women as being masculine is a preference of Chuck O'Neal's.  It is not a Biblical concept or guideline. 

Ladies, if you want to wear black, wear it!   I know a husband who loves his woman in black.  Mine!