More Damage Control on BGBC Website?

 People may be pure in their own eyes,
    but the Lord examines their motives.  Proverbs 16:2

I have been notified of even more updates at the Beaverton Grace Bible Church website which "coincidentally" occurred less than 2 days after the post on Damage Control - How Do I Look - discussing their preoccupation with "image" over important matters.

Do we have more Damage Control going on?   You tell me:

I mentioned the church's summer car washes in the post and how it was used as an evangelical outreach and coincidentally there is a new webpage describing the car wash outreach with a cutesy picture.

I mentioned "Bonnet Brigade" the new club for girls (including a photo showing young girls wearing bonnets working together on projects) - and now the picture has been changed to a young girl sitting behind a sewing machine (wearing no bonnet).    

I mentioned that there had been no new sermons posted in eight months.  A couple new ones were added from (preached seven months ago).  Oops - I just checked the website to double-check my facts again and a new sermon was posted within the time I have been working on this post, this one is dated six months ago.  So a total of three new sermons were added since my post of two days ago.

So . . once again, while they have been busy in an attempt to clean up their public image, doing "damage control", the church and Chuck O'Neal leave a path of destruction among former members:  shunning, broken relationships, fear, emotional trauma, broken families, and so many hurt feelings.   I do not see any effort to reach out and restore relationships while this "damage control" is going on.  As a responsible shepherd, the ball is in his/their court to seek out those who have been hurt.  The website makeover only reveals what he and "those around him" have been doing to busy themselves while avoiding their responsibility of cleaning up their fallout. 

Disclaimer:  the phrase "the church and Chuck O'Neal leave a path of destruction among former members" - - - - this is the type of phrase that has been used in the defamation lawsuit against me.  When I am posting on this blog, I am keenly aware that anything I post might be used against me.  I am not afraid to post this phrase.  It is the truth as I see it.  It is my opinion, but I also have plenty of documentation and witnesses to back it up.  Give the poor (poor meaning "unfortunate", not "penniless") attorneys a break.

One final note regarding the BGBC website specifically directed to the web designer:  once again, I am in an awkward position, but am compelled in the spirit of "do unto others".   A reader informed me of this:  evidently if you click on "Blog" on the home page and then click on any blog post, there is a small icon just to the left of the title which enables anyone to edit the blog.    Some unscrupulous people might take advantage of that situation.  I'm sure none of my readers would stoop to that level.   Chuck's posts speak for himself.  But hopefully the "Webmistress" will take care of that oversight. 
  

Guest Poster: Twisting Scripture to Legitimize Lawsuit

My readers continue to provide excellent dialogue on the topic of the defamation lawsuit and whether the Bible condones lawsuits among Christians.  This one was worth a blog post.   Thank you, Anonymous!  


To new readers:  Chuck O'Neal and Beaverton Grace Bible Church filed a defamation lawsuit against 5 people (3 mothers and 2 young adults) citing "defamatory" phrases taken off of public Google reviews, DexKnows reviews, blog posts/comments.  I am one of the 5 named in the lawsuit. 

AnonymousMay 3, 2012 01:57 PM

From Chuck O'Neal's Feb.25, 2012 Google Review (this is strange in itself, as this is a place to "review" BGBC, but I digress...)

DEFAMATION IS A CRIME: Pastor Chuck O' Neal, his wife, his children, and Beaverton Grace Bible Church as a whole, have suffered JulieAnne's hateful lying slander for well over three years. After seeking counsel from a pastor on staff with Grace Community Church (under Pastor John MacArthur) and reading him several excerpts from JulieAnne's endless defamation, he recommended that we FILE A LAWSUIT in an appeal to Caesar as the Apostle Paul did when falsely accused of crimes against God and the state. The lawsuit has been filed in the Washington County courthouse.

"in an appeal to Caesar as the Apostle Paul did when falsely accused of crimes against God and the state."

This refers to Acts 25:11 but one needs to read the entire chapter to get the context.   I have scoured the text and several commentaries to find any correlation between what Paul was saying and having the right to sue another Christian. Folks...it just isn't there. As is common with Chuck's teachings this is scripture twisting.  Go study this out. The clear teaching on lawsuits is in 1 Corinthians 6, "Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before saints?...Now therefore, it is already an utter failure for you that you go to law against one another. Why do you not rather accept wrong? Why do you not rather let yourselves be cheated?..."

We must carefully check everything that is taught as the Bereans did.

Ephesians 5:11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.

"Often, of course, open rebuke is necessary.  Silent testimony will only go so far.  Failure to speak out against and to practically oppose evil things is a failure to obey God. Believers are to expose them in whatever legitimate, biblical ways are necessary. Love that does not openly expose and oppose sin is not biblical love. Love not only "does not act unbecomingly" itself but it "does not rejoice in unrighteousness" wherever it might be found (1 Cor.13:5-6). Our Lord said, "If your brother sins, go and reprove him in private...If he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you...If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church"(Matt.18:15-17). This is the responsibility of every Christian (1Tim.5:1,20;2 Tim.4:2;Titus1:13;2:15)" MacArthur Ephesians commentary, pg. 212

These steps were followed. Chuck would not listen. This blog is a legitimate way for the truth to be told; darkness brought into the light, if you will.

Lawsuit Update: New Information!!

Earlier, I was notified that Chuck O'Neal/Beaverton Grace Bible Church amended the lawsuit on Friday.   He added one more person to the lawsuit, so in total five people are being sued.  Additionally, in his suit against me, he added a handful of quotes from my blog as "defamation". 

I would like to remind my readers of something very basic that we have already covered.  Pastors do not have the right to tell you who you can or cannot talk to or what you can or cannot say.  Their job is to be your spiritual shepherd and guide you.  They are not to use their authority over you in a domineering fashion. 

Some of you were told to not talk to certain people and to shun them.  That is what we have called the "no-talk rule".  Some of you obeyed that shameful rule for a while and are no longer under that abusive control.  Chuck O'Neal is my former pastor and even if he was currently my pastor, he does not have the right to tell me what I can or cannot say in private, or public, including the internet.  The defamation lawsuit seems to be an attempt to continue that no-talk rule on former church members. 

Chuck O'Neal has now entered civil jurisdiction, not church jurisdiction.  I am no longer a part of his church.

In civil society in America, we have this neat little thing called Free Speech.  It means our speech is protected.  Sometimes Free Speech laws protect even shocking expressions like this:  Westboro Baptist picketing at military funerals, or burning the American flag, or using offensive words, etc.  This quote is from the Washington Post's article on the recent Westboro Baptist case:

The First Amendment protects a fringe church's anti-gay protests at military funerals, a nearly unanimous Supreme Court ruled Wednesday in a powerful opinion that spoke to the nation's tolerance for even hateful public speech.

The court's most liberal and most conservative justices joined in a decision likely to define the term. It writes a new chapter in the court's findings that freedom of speech is so central to the nation that it protects cruel and unpopular protests - even, in this case, at the moment of a family's most profound grief.

It appears that Chuck O'Neal and Beaverton Grace Bible Church do not like some of the words we are freely speaking on the internet.  That's fine.  He doesn't have to like these words just as I don't care for the behavior and words of the Westboro Baptist group.  Because of the lawsuit, we are obligated to let the court decide if our words are defamatory or not.  Good!  We will both have the opportunity to hear what the Court says and it is in their hands now. 

A few months before we left the church, Chuck preached on Romans 13.  It's about submitting to government:

 Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. ² Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. ³ For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. ⁴ For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. ⁵ Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience’ sake. ⁶ For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God’s ministers attending continually to this very thing. ⁷ Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor.

I've copied the links from Chuck O'Neal's sermons on this passage - taken from Beaverton Grace Bible Church website (http://www.beavertongracebible.org).  In these sermons, we might hear how we are to submit to governmental authority.  Let me know if you do listen.  I need to try to have some life outside of this blog, but am interested. 

Chuck O'Neal's sermons on Romans 13 and Submitting to State Authority

Practical Submission to State Authority

Moral Seditionists Submitting to State Authority 

Gospel Seditionists Submitting to State Authority 

 

My attorney recently sent me an additional 25 pages of documentation submitted to the court because of this recent amendment.  If you would like a copy, please send me a note.

10,000 Reasons to Keep Singing

MeaghanMay 3, 2012 08:09 AM

Do as I say, not as I do~screaming off the page~
While he posts sermons that are judgemental and hateful to the lost, it seems he demands blind following fro his herd. I have been hurt so deeply, both spiritually and emotionally by this man and his 'perceptions' over the past 3 1/2 years, as I see it because I didn't succumb to his leadership and left the church. It took a few years to understand what had happened to me and my family. As I have sought the Lord, He shows me that I am to continue in love and good works. Exposing darkness is love and good works. God will direct my path, as He always does and refine my faith if only I will be humble and trust Him.
I still have folks who have left there contact me about the confusion and pain they suffered while attending there-as well as when they left 'elders' showing up unannounced at their homes. This happened to me as well as Julie Anne. It really does make me sad, but I am grateful to be able to love them and encourage them through a very dark time....praising God for His mighty love of His children, I am patiently waiting on my Lord as He has made all things new. When I walk in the truth, there is no need for damage control.
Love you Julie Anne, and thank you for doing this blog, giving the wounded (me for one) a place to understand what I have just lived through and the encouragement to continue to love the saints with grace and truth.

I read this comment from Meaghan this morning while sitting in the dentist chair and wanted to cry.  Meaghan is such an amazing testimony of someone using the pain she has gone through for God's glory and it ties in so beautifully what I had planned to post on today.  (Thank you, Meaghan, for your heartfelt post - it really blessed me!)

If you are reading this blog, you may have suffered spiritual abuse.  I am aware of some who are reading this blog because they are studying spiritual abuse for research and others are following the story because of the lawsuit and are keeping us in prayer.  (What a great comfort that is, thank you!) 

It's easy to dwell on the pain, the hurt, the tragic stories, the losses, the shattered relationships, the years stolen.  Today, can we shift that focus to the positive?   

What has God taught you through this experience?   How have you changed?   How have you been able to use that pain for His glory?  Please, take the time to comment.  Tell us some wonderful goodness that has come out of this experience.    If you don't comment, that's fine - I just want to encourage you to think how Christ has worked in you.  God is victorious through all of the trials.  He will not leave us abandoned.  He is faithful.  Listen to the words of this song on the YouTube video.  Maybe it will help prompt some ideas:

 

 What are some of those 10,000 reasons that your heart can sing?  Yesterday, I was pretty down after hearing more stories of abuse.  I look forward to being encouraged by your words.

"10,000 Reasons (Bless The Lord)"

[Chorus]
Bless the Lord, O my soul
O my soul
Worship His holy name
Sing like never before
O my soul
I'll worship Your holy name

The sun comes up, it's a new day dawning
It's time to sing Your song again
Whatever may pass, and whatever lies before me
Let me be singing when the evening comes

[Chorus]
Bless the Lord, O my soul
O my soul
Worship His holy name
Sing like never before
O my soul
I'll worship Your holy name

You're rich in love, and You're slow to anger
Your name is great, and Your heart is kind
For all Your goodness I will keep on singing
Ten thousand reasons for my heart to find

[Chorus]
Bless the Lord, O my soul
O my soul
Worship His holy name
Sing like never before
O my soul
I'll worship Your holy name

And on that day when my strength is failing
The end draws near and my time has come
Still my soul will sing Your praise unending
Ten thousand years and then forevermore

[Chorus x2]
Bless the Lord, O my soul
O my soul
Worship His holy name
Sing like never before
O my soul
I'll worship Your holy name

Jesus, I'll worship Your holy name
Lord, I'll worship Your holy name

Sing like never before
O my soul
I'll worship Your holy name
Jesus, I'll worship Your holy name
I'll worship Your holy name 

Damage Control - How Do I Look?

I love the interaction on this blog in the comment section.  There are some very insightful people reading this blog and time and again, they help steer the direction of the blog posts as it stirs something in my mind.  (Hint:  if you want me to cover a topic in the blog, leave comments!) 

A reader had this comment regarding the new DexKnows review that was posted and then buried by church members' reviews:

Great comment!  That particular comment reminded me that the BGBC website recently had a new makeover.   It's interesting that they revised their website amidst a civil lawsuit.  It's also intriguing that they are very quick to manipulate reviews forum regarding Beaverton Grace Bible Church.  (By manipulation, I mean they edit their former review - even as slight as a simple word change - which causes their review to go to the top of the reviews in more prominent view.)  The brand new DexReview posted yesterday was shoved down within hours of posting by church members editing their earlier reviews.  Both of those actions on the church website and review sites have to do with creating an image or public perception.  Make a note of that.

Check this out.  Do a quick Google search using the following words in the search field:  Beaverton Grace Bible Church reviews. 

You should see a number of review sites come up:  Google.com, DexKnows, Yelp.com, (wow, I just found a lot more), Kudzo.com, merchantcircle.com, local.yahoo.com, yellowpages.com, businessfinder.oregonlive.com, yellowbot.com, (ok, when I did this a while back, I saw maybe five review sites . . .   there are definitely far more review sites than I was aware of), insiderpages.com, radarfrog.gatehousemedia.com, superpages.com, switchboard.com, judysbook.com, shopinusa.com, yellowpages.aol.com, http://www.b2byellowpages.com, http://west.favecentral.com, http://www.fyple.com - - -

UnREAL!!!  I had no idea there were that many sites.  Not surprising, in the review sites which had actual reviews,  some familiar user names pop up - - user names from current church members recognizeable from the Google and DexKnows popular review sites.  Church members seem to be canvassing the internet for review sites to create the 5-star image for their beloved church.  Note the key word "image" again.

 Let's talk about something else besides those reviews, though. 

While we were at Beaverton Grace Bible Church, it was of utmost importance to get those sermons out on KPDQ radio station and into the homes all over Portland and surrounding areas.  Chuck O'Neal's sermons were posted on Sermon Audio website and the pastor's blog was active and interactive with comments from readers engaging Chuck on the blog.  The church had begun videotaping sermons and uploading them on the internet to get the sermons out into all the world.   I remember thinking how amazing it was that people from all corners of the world would be able to hear Chuck's sermons ("Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations").  If I remember correctly, we heard feedback from Chuck regarding the areas of the world which were accessing the videos/sermons.   They were exciting times.  What's happening now? 

In addition to the sermons and blog posts, videos were made of their evangelism efforts  - at Jehovah's Witness convention, Mormon's temple, etc.   Additionally, videotapes were made of church car washes held a number of times each summer.   Chuck was very proud of his evangelism methods and techniques and wanted to help others - people from all over the world - how to evangelize and share the gospel.  Using modern technology with video and internet enabled Chuck to bring his methods of evangelism and help others to learn his evangelistic tools.  That was an amazing idea and a great use of modern technology in the advance of the gospel.  

Chuck continually gave the congregants feedback on the popularity of his sermons, read the comments people made to the congregation and discussed the conversations he had with complete strangers he came in contact with via the internet who came across his blogs/sermons/videos. 

Along with those evangelism efforts included the church's summer car wash outreach.  People who thought they were getting their car washed for free, "paid" by listening to a free evangelism message. This was another opportunity for church members to have a captive audience and evangelize - to get the message out into all the world - or at least their local neighborhood. 

Where is this evangelism focus now?  For a church whose emphasis is on the whole Bible and nothing but the Bible and a very strong emphasis on evangelism as they note on their website, we have not been seeing that emphasis in action in the past few months and where the rubber meets the road as it had been in the past:  on the internet.   Those of us who attended the church during the exciting internet and radio ministry times can certainly see something amiss and a changed focus despite what the newly revised website claims.

In the new and improved church website, we can read about a new girls' program, "Bonnet Brigade" (including a photo showing young girls wearing bonnets working together on projects) and a new Bible study for young men.  The website definitely seems more family-friendly, not the war-like appearance or theme we saw earlier.    New makeover = image and appearance. 

But why are no more sermons posted (it's been nearly 8 months)?  No more videos?  No more blog posts?  

Is image more important than the gospel message? 

1 Samual 16:7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

Why the need to change the image of the website?  Why the need to be the top 3-5 review posts on review sites?    Is it all about the image?    Could they be in damage control and could they have lost their primary stated focus?   

Damage control definition from Merriam-Webster.com:   measures taken to offset or minimize damage to reputation, credibility, or public image caused by a controversial act, remark, or revelation

I'm seeing inconsistencies - which perfectly underscores the theme I noticed when I was there:  say one thing, do the other and maintain a good image.    Under normal conditions, no one in their right mind would be picking apart a church's website and reviews.  It's trivial and petty.  However, these are not normal circumstances.  It's rare to have a church and pastor sue former congregants and the lawsuit only compels one to take a closer look and see what really is going on.  This blog is serving to highlight what Chuck and the Church are already conveying publicly, and to show the inconsistencies in their message.

I've copied this verse from BGB website on their focus section.  The word "focus" would imply that they are striving to make this the center of attention.  Let's read this important verse:

"and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the word!  Be ready in season and out of season.  Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.  For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn aside their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.  But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry."
2 Timothy 3:15-4:5

Does the focus mentioned here match the actions we see publicly?  What is at the heart of the activity we can see publicly?  What fruit do we see?  The Bible uses the word "fruit" to illustrate the health of the Believer as noted in this verse:

For every tree is known by its own fruit.

For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush. 

A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart  brings forth evil. 

For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. 

Luke 6:44-45

The only fruit I'm seeing publicly is this:  damage control (measures taken to offset or minimize damage to reputation, credibility, or public image caused by a controversial act, remark, or revelation).  

Last-minute additions:

I have to throw this in here.  Blogger has a tool that allows me to see what search phrases people use to find this site.  Here is today's chart of search phrases.  Check out the last line.  I love to laugh!

 

 

PS - Note to the "webmistress" (if it's the same person I think it is) of the BGBC website:  FYI - there's a tech glich with the "blog" section on my Apple computer.  When clicking the "blog" link and then a blog title,  the right side of the blog posts are cut off and covered by the right-side bar.  With the lawsuit, I don't feel comfortable e-mailing, but I always appreciate it when someone tells me something is funky with my blog.  :)

Manipulating Reviews Yet Again

Look how fast the BGBC elves went to work.  It was brought to my attention that a new review up at the DexKnows review site, but it was shoved down so far that you have to click on "See All Reviews" in order to see it.  They appear to be intentionally revising their glowing positive review in order to move theirs up and shove down the negative ones.  They must have a phone chain or something to work that fast.

Doesn't this really show that their primary focus is their image?  If they had nothing to hide, they would leave the reviews stand as is.  Manipulation, much?  

Here is the real "new" review:

Spiritual Abuse by - Child of God 05/01/2012

My family attended this church for several years. Newly walking in the faith when I first came to this church made me very susceptible to the legalistic views presented by pastor chuck o'neal as the very words of God. We were discouraged from having friends who were not attendees, questioned if we missed any sunday services at all, ordered to quit counseling we were attending (with a Biblical counselor!) and yet we were not offered any alternative counseling, and told that any problems (financial, etc) we were experiencing were a direct fallout of not attending every wednesday and additional sermons on sunday (after the church services, from 1-3pm). At the time we had small children and this was not always an option. When we choose to leave, we also were shunned, other congregants were told we were in unrepentant sin, and close friends were forbidden to talk to us or would face church discipline. Very sad. Fortunately, our story isn't as tragic as some others because this did not lead us to question God, only Chuck.

Jezebel

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Jezabel-and-Ahab-Meeting-Elijah-in-Naboth-s-Vineyard.jpg

Two days in a row an Anonymous poster has left a one-word comment:

"Jezebel"

My first response was that I thought it would look better with the French ending:  Jezebelle.    Don't you think it looks better with the extra "le"?  Must be the French in me.

I spoke about the comment to a friend and we were trying to figure out what it meant exactly.

Yesterday, on Facebook, my daughter posted this status:

 After living in Oregon for ten years, I was never given the opportunity to see Crater Lake. I am finally fulfilling that wish today with my daddy:)

I commented on my daughter's status:  "spoiled child".  

I left no emoticons, no "LOL", nothing, just plain 'ol "spoiled child".

Now of course my daughter and I have a long-time relationship.  We have a common understanding with each other.  Spoiled would typically mean indulgent.  She knows very well that she does get opportunities that her siblings do not get because of her traveling volleyball club.  My "spoiled child" comment was partially true - she does have opportunities that her siblings don't have, yet, I'm also expressing it in a way that rejoices with her.  If you read the next line of my post, it said, "have fun, take lots of pics".  It was a fun and warm response.  There were a few people who "liked" my comment because they "get" me.  Some may have been surprised by my comment even in a negative sense.   That's fine.  When they get to know me, they will "get" me and know my heart.

Well, anyway, back to this Jezebel thing.

So my friend and I were wondering if this one-word comment "Jezebel" was coming from someone who speaks like I do (with my daughter above), bluntly, without the computer emoticons and is just teasing me that I'm rocking the boat by maintaining this blog and posting this good information.

or . . . . . .

Could it be that this Anonymous person is really trying to send me a cryptic message?  Could they be from the (insert creepy music here) "other side"?

If so, I'm thrilled!!  Post more.  Bravo, you are talking!  You are going against the unspoken no-talk rule!  Woo-hoo!!

For future reference, if you are joking (and since you are hiding behind "Anonymous" name), if you put a little emoticon, that might help us all to understand you better.

But in the meantime, I'm absolutely fine if you keep posting your "Jezebel" comments.  It lets me know you are reading the blog!  And if you truly are on the "other side", I know it secretly feels good to go behind you-know-whose back and communicate with those who have been "waging war".

We love you.  We have been praying for you.  It's very nice on this side of the fence where the grass is green and we have friends of our choosing and nobody gets to tell us who we can "befriend" and "unfriend".  We hope you will soon experience that freedom.

And if you truly are angry at me and this blog,  I would like to invite you to express yourself more completely.  I will not remove your posts simply because you do not agree with me.  It is important to have open communication.   That opportunity was not given to us at BGBC.   I am sensitive to the fact that there are raw emotions and some people who have left are still afraid for many reasons.  That is the culture which was created in the environment of a spiritually abusive church.  I do, however, have the ability to remove negative posts, but have not removed any as of yet.  I reserve the right to delete posts which might be interpreted as emotionally/spiritually abusive, but would rather address them head on and dialogue.   Doesn't that seem more reasonable?  Let's talk. 

Just think what happens when there is reasonable dialogue:  good communication, misunderstandings are cleared up, relationships restored, no reason to file civil lawsuits!!!    Who'd have thunk it?!