C.J.’s Flight from Covenant Life
Saturday, August 13, 2011 at 5:22PM For the last 15 years many people on many occasions have brought serious charges against C.J. with little or no success. I am far from the only witness against him. The SGM Board and the CLC pastors should have formally rebuked and disciplined C.J. a long time ago in obedience to 1 Timothy 5:19-21. Fear and favoritism won out instead.
But in recent months the CLC pastors have begun to take C.J.’s sins more seriously (unlike Harvey and the SGM Board). That is with the exception of Mike Bradshaw and Brian Chesemore, two of C.J.’s sons-in-law. Well, things have gotten a little too hot in the Covenant Life kitchen. So it’s time for a new church and a new pastor. That’s right, instead of the many pastors who know the real C.J. far better than Mark Dever, he will have one pastor who adores him and a church that won’t ask him hard questions. So instead of getting his goose cooked, it’s time to fly to the Covenant Life coup and take off for Capitol Hill Baptist Church.
On Wednesday, Joshua wrote the CLC members and said that “C.J. and the Sovereign Grace Board have let us know that they think it is best for C.J. and Carolyn to attend Capitol Hill Baptist Church during his leave of absence.” Let them know? Are you serious? Do you mean C.J. and the SGM Board simply informed the CLC pastors of this decision?
This needs to be looked into. Did C.J. make a decision to leave CLC without getting any counsel from his pastors? If so, this is another example of his independence and the double standard he so often operates by. You don’t just go to people for “counsel” (i.e. the SGM Board) you know will support your decision.
What bothers me the most is C.J. statement on his blog today that says, “During my leave of absence I will be attending Capitol Hill Baptist Church where Mark Dever is the senior pastor. After seeking counsel about this decision, I’ve concluded that this is the best place for Carolyn and me to receive care and counsel, to examine my life and leadership, and to consider my future during this season of reflection.”
What does “after seeking counsel about this decision” mean? Whose counsel did he seek? It doesn’t appear to include any of his duly appointed pastors! If that is true, he should be reproved and so should the SGM Board. If they operated without involving the CLC pastors they have violated everything they have taught about the autonomy of the local church and the primacy of pastoral care.
So why is C.J. leaving? For the same reasons as Mike and Brian? Seems like it. Joshua wrote on Wednesday, “C.J. has also expressed concerns and points of disagreement with how we have been leading during this season. He’s communicated a desire to work through these issues with us in the coming months with the help of mediators from Ambassadors of Reconciliation. We are all eager to do this and have told C.J. we’re ready to meet as soon as he’s ready.” Sure sounds like C.J. is in lock step with Mike and Brian. You got it, the Mahaney clan is out of here! Goodbye Covenant Life Church and I think that means for good. Do you think C.J. can support the vision and direction of CLC under Joshua when Mike and Brian cannot in their consciences? Hate to say it but the answer is no unless Joshua conforms to C.J. That is the real issue!
So is C.J. leaving because he disagrees with the pastors? Is he leaving because he feels shamed or mistreated by them? Is he leaving because he finds them inept or unable to pastor him? Is he leaving because he doesn’t trust them? All of these sinful reactions are familiar patterns in C.J.’s life. Or, from the Lord’s perspective, is he leaving because he doesn’t want their pastoral input, he is offended, and Joshua and the pastors are building a church contrary to his wishes?
So, C.J. and Carolyn have packed their bags and taken off to greener pastures where C.J. can “receive care and counsel,” “examine [his] life and leadership,” and “consider [his] future.” Wow, who needs the CLC pastors to do any of that! And who could get away with this but C.J.? Men throughout the history of the movement have sat tight during similar circumstances.
C.J. wrote today, “Some of you have asked where I will be attending church during my leave. That’s a good question, as it’s not uncommon for pastors to take a leave in a church that is away from their home congregations, and this seems wise.” This is a case of SGM spin. It is partly true but mostly false. It is true that pastors outside of SGM may attend another church while undergoing evaluation but that has never been true for us. It has never been the case in the history of Sovereign Grace Ministries. No pastor has been granted “asylum” or refuge in other church or been transferred to someone’s pastoral care outside of SGM. Of course, the SGM Board thinks this is best. But do the CLC pastors think this is best?
Here is what Joshua said on Wednesday. “We’re torn over this decision. We understand C.J. wanting to attend where he feels he can best be cared for and best serve his family, but we also have reasons why we think it would be good for him to stay at Covenant Life.” Did the SGM Board and C.J. pursue input from the CLC pastors before making the decision to have C.J. and Carolyn pull out of CLC? It doesn’t sound like it.
Talk about contrary to SGM polity. Since when can the Board pull rank over the local church and C.J.’s pastors and determine church membership and pastoral care without their input? Never! The support of the SGM Board in C.J.’s decision is secondary. They are not C.J.’s pastors! C.J. is a not a member of Dave Harvey’s Covenant Fellowship Church! He’s a member of Covenant Life Church. That’s doctrinal hypocrisy. I’m afraid the happiest place on earth is now the last place on earth you’ll find C.J. and Carolyn.
Reader Comments (34)
To Donald:
Dave's Blogs are all still posted.....you may not have scrolled down far enough. They have since posted other non- related blogs. Let's be careful not to be too quick to judge.
This thread makes me sad. If C.J. is in sin, it is a sad thing. To flaunt, speculate, and mock sounds more like the work of a pharisee throwing stones than a christian friend seeking reconciliation.
Just a thought for everyone's consideration.
Mark.
Thanks Justan and Janna. I see the posts are still there. It would have been incomprehensible to me that Mr. Harvey's posts disappeared...hence the questions. It appears Mr. Harvey's posts were pushed downwards with new postings on the mainpage, although they've retained older posts and CJ's recent post (speaking engagement in the Caribbean island) on the mainpage. Again, thanks. "Just the facts, Ma'am." SGT Joe Friday, Dragnet.
Oh, Brent. I love both you and C.J., as well as Dave and the others. PLEASE remember the good that these men have brought to your life in the past. PLEASE remember the love you once had for one another. And PLEASE remember the uniting power of the Gospel! I know I cannot possibly understand the pain that has befallen you entirely, but please don't tear apart the Bride of Christ while seeking resolution to the problems. And I truly hope you can all find resolution, and that God would be glorified!
[Wittycat - if I didn't care about these men I would not be speaking out. I do love them and I have benefitted from SGM. I believe the Lord has brought a "sword, not peace" for a season in order to bring SGM to repentance. As so often is the case in the prophetic literature there must be a tearing down before there can be a building up. For 11 years I appealed in private. The Lord has made it public because of their resistance to his discipline. Brent]
Hello Donald:
As someone who once attended graphic design school, I feel comfortable saying that the site in question is a mess, so I wouldn't feel badly about asking for help finding things.
Best,
Janna
Satan must be rejoicing in all this discord. Certainly anyone who thinks God is being glorified in all this should have his/her head examined.
[Kendall - I've got an appointment next week with a specialist. Thanks for your insight. But seriously, I begged to differ. What you view as dischord, I view as discipline. It is an expression of God's love. Brent]
Janna,
That's interesting that you are concerned about stalking, since you posted in a comment on SGMSurvivors that you wanted CJ's and other church leaders' addresses so that you could go to their houses to confront them. Safety works both ways, both for the blog commenters and the SGM staff.
Brent,
CLC has been great at creating their definition of what a particular word may or may not mean. One that I have been hearing is that your documents constitute "slander". Can you give everyone your thoughts on why this is/is not slander? If it isn't slander, what is it in your opinion? Thank you.
This thread makes me sad. If C.J. is in sin and leading others astray, we should mourn. To mock, flaunt, or speculate about the sins of a believer seems more like the work of a pharisee throwing stones than a christian brother seeking reconciliation.
I think you need to ask yourself whether it shows integrity to screen posts asking honest questions about the motivations of those posting on this site and making observations about lack of christian charity and love, and presence of anger and slanderous speculation.
Brent, if you yourself are reading this, please address those who are following you. It is clearly uncharitable to mock FELLOW BELIEVERS for sin, or flaunt their sin before others. If one part of the body suffers, we all suffer, right? If you really desire C.J.'s repentance, why don't you lead your e-congregation in a right understanding of the Lord's discipline?
Let me get this straight. CJ and his wife leave their home church to seek guidance at a church where they are not members? I wonder what the response would have been if my wife and I had decided to do the same when our marriage was crumbling, and we were in need of counsel and care?
@Anonymous Someone: Thanks for Leaving Out Part of My Message and Failing to Note That You Can Only Respond to My Post Because I Posted Under My Real Name Unlike Yourself
ROFL Thanks, I haven't laughed so hard in two days.
Thanks for the feedback. I noticed you left out the the context of my post in which bloggers were being called ungodly for not approaching preachers directly with their beefs per Mat. 18's supposed guidelines.
You also left out the part where I said that all I needed were some addresses and the assurance that I wouldn't be be arrested by the secular authorities for practicing this "godly form of correction." Both the part you left out and the context clearly indicate, of course, that I was making a rhetorical point rather than seriously suggesting I had any intention of going to someone's home.
Also, how likely would I be to sign my post with my real name if I really intended to stalk someone?
Nice try. I wouldn't have minded being stalked if the person in question had used their real name as I wouldn't be so less-than-impressed with your attempt at spin if you had used your real name.
Also if you're so concerned about safety, how about worrying about all the kids that have been and likely still are being abused in SGM churches? I do as a fair number of them live within driving distance of my home.
@someone - I decided to take a page out of Brent's book and let the evidence speak for itself. As such here's the exact text and reference for the comment I made that you appear to be responding to above:
This is a segment of Aron Osborne's message about the appropriateness of blogging -
Even where real offenses have occurred, listen, even where real offenses have occurred, I don’t think scripture says that loving thing to do is to broadcast that publicly in blog format to the world. It’s to go to a brother, to go to a sister, to show them their fault in person. And if they will not hear you to bring more. But it’s always to go, individually, in plurality. It’s harmful. It’s not part of the mandate to cover one another in love.
My response
Janna
July 18th, 2011 at 9:05 am
Perhaps the dude above is right. Maybe we should go to the homes of C. J. Mahaney and his son-in-law and say, “how could you.” How could you let little kids be molested, by hiding behind an archaic confidentiality law in V.A., and still claim to be representatives of a loving God?
I’m game…all I need is two addresses and assurances that I won’t be arrested by secular authorities for practicing this biblical form of “correction.”
It’s not my style generally, but I’m reaching the point, after talking with folks who are lucky their didn’t commit suicide, to stand outside a CLC church with a big sign saying, “whatever you do, don’t put your kids in the nursery.”
Reference:
http://www.sgmsurvivors.com/?p=2512&cp=all#comments
I'll let others form their own conclusions about my comments and your response to my comments at this point.
Brent, please allow to me add some clarification to my earlier comment regarding Carolyn Mahaney's complicity. I'm afraid my wording may have been understood to mean I was calling into question whether she has ever made a genuine profession of faith. That was not my intention. This is what I should have written:
What I meant to communicate was that since, to date, there has been no demonstrable display of genuine faith, i.e. faith that is free from hypocrisy, sympathizing with Carolyn Mahaney (as well as CJ) as though she were a victim is misplaced. Yes, she is complicit, which means she has chosen to be involved in the questionable activities of her husband (and, it would seem, other family members). Carolyn, like her husband, has stood before crowds of people, taught others how to live the Christian life, written books - while allowing herself to be emulated as a model of the Christian faith.
Now, in this moment, she has the opportunity of a lifetime to demonstrate whether her esteemed virtues are authentically rooted in Christ, or possibly elsewhere, like in "family values." Do we see evidence of the same types of problems others have witnessed in her husband: self-righteousness, pride, and a primary concern for one's family & reputation? Are we seeing genuine faith in these people or not? I'm not saying there has never been a genuine profession of faith. I'm saying it's important that we see authentic faith now, for surely that is the key quality for determining ones fitness for Christian leadership. Faith, without works, is dead.
So, in lieu of observing a demonstration of faith that is real - not spurious or adulterated - we should not, in my judgment, sympathize for Carolyn Mahaney as though she were an unwilling victim or an innocent by-stander (anymore than we should feel sorry for her husband) unless there is evidence of contrition. Let's not forget she's been there all along, every step of the way.
Thanks
I must admit I don't know what to make of this.
On the one hand, it seems C.J. and Carolyn could very well have a legitimate purpose in wanting to leave CLC for this season--I'm sure their presence there is a distraction to everyone else while all this is going on, and just their presence at the church during this turmoil runs the risk of creating divisive factions among the body. I can also pretty realistically envision that environment being one that hinders C.J. from really dealing with his own soul about all these issues.
On the other hand, it's extremely unsettling that C.J. would take this course of action precisely at a moment when one of the chief charges against him is that he resists accountability and oversight by others.
All this to say, I appreciate that C.J. is (admittedly because of his own sin) caught in a genuine dilemma: if he stays, he runs the risk of his situation creating huge distractions for everyone at CLC (and hindering him at least in some measure from being able to think clearly about all this)...but if he goes elsewhere, it would seem to lend further credence to his demonstrated capacity for evasion and avoidance.
I'm also wondering--as many others here already have--what response my own local SGM church would have if, during a season in which I was undergoing correction, I decided to suddenly relocate to a different church...particularly one outside the SGM umbrella.