APPLAUSE: Calling on leaders to take responsibility!

Applause for J. Lee Grady's February first column in Charisma Magazine. The article is titled "The Fuzzy-Wuzzy World of Charismatic Morality," and calls to task several of this past year's more notorious Charismatics ... by name no less.

Brother Grady you have my respect for your courage; congratulations to Strang Communications for theirs as well.

A few weeks ago The CRIB lambasted Grady and Charisma for lacking the courage to do the right thing in light of all the embarrassments coming out of Pentecostalism the past few years. This piece, though constrained by space, takes a giant step toward calling a spade a spade.

One aspect that might be too easily ignored is the plethora of followers who trail behind these reefs and continue to support their ministries. I can only guess at their shallow theologies. God help us!

Charismatics, Christianity,
Pentecostals, Religion

MORALITY: Another Christian leader under the microscope of public scrutiny.

Do not be deceived: "Bad company corrupts good morals."

1 Corinthians 15:33

The netwaves continue to wax and wane with the tides of Christian corruption.
I know it won't stop, but I certainly wish it would a least abate.

In a withering report (reprinted by Christianity Today online) The Associated Baptist Press introduces grass roots believers to one Jason Christy ...

When young, charismatic Christian publisher Jason Christy was tapped two years ago to lead the powerful Christian Coalition, the group's leaders praised him for his ability "to inspire and encourage people of faith to action." But Christy's business dealings — both before and after his one-month affiliation with the Coalition — instead have inspired former customers and co-workers to file lawsuits charging Christy with defrauding their Christian businesses.

In their piece, ABP reveals just how close Ralph Reeds' former bosses at Christian Coalition came to making an egregious employment error with Christy ...

Christy, 36, who apparently had no previous public-policy experience, persuaded the Christian Coalition in 2005 to place him in one of the most visible and powerful positions in evangelical life. But before the coalition's leaders officially turned over the reins of their 1.2 million-member national lobbying group, they learned of a trail of legal and financial problems that has followed Christy from coast to coast.

Two young men below; two young men named Jason Christy; both serving someone; which do you admire most?

"Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends."

John 15:13

What I can't fathom ... I can fathom Christy ... is the number of evidently upstanding Evangelical shakers-and-movers, as well as Christian advertisers, who continue to keep company with this man.

In fairness to Christy, I went to his blog, where he responded to these charges, and read his post. Christy's response is a "people who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones" with a lot of "everyone is against me" and "can't we all just get along" pleading.

I'm sorry but those who opt to be leaders likewise opt to be held to a higher standard by default.

After reading the material present by ABP and Christy, I have some questions I think Mr. Cristy should answer:

1. Were the legal actions taken by your critics used by them as an avenue of last resort?
   
2. In other words, did they make reasonable attempts to settle their grievances with you, out of the secular courts? [we are admonished not to use the courts to settle our disputes; therefore they are an avenue of last resort (1 Corinthians 6:1-3)]
   
3. Both CT and ABP suggest they did; are they wrong?
4. In those cases which reached and were concluded in the secular courts; a) how many were there, b) how many were decided for the plaintiff and, how many of these have you satisfied by you according to the judgment handed down?

As a servant and steward of the Lord by your own words, where do you fit into the follow passage?

Let a man regard us in this manner, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. In this case, moreover, it is required of stewards that one be found trustworthy. But to me it is a very small thing that I may be examined by you, or by any human court; in fact, I do not even examine myself. For I am conscious of nothing against myself, yet I am not by this acquitted; but the one who examines me is the Lord.

1 Corinthians 4:1-4

Though it is true it will all be settled on Judgment Day, many more questions than answers survive here ... that's for darn sure!

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Leading Smart
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Arrogance, Bad Religion, Christianity,
Church Report, Cons, Hypocrisy,
Jason Christy, Justice, Leadership, Morals