Sunday night, August 5, 2007 Dr. Gaines preached a sermon entitled "How to Die for Jesus." The sermon is based on Acts 6:8-7:60. The first half of the sermon was Dr. Gaines' most open attack, so far, on those with whom he disagrees. The second half of the sermon was pretty good.
Dr. Gaines' opening topic was the Tactics of Persecutors. He made the following points: 1. Persecutors love to argue. 2. Persecutors like to operate in secret. 3. Persecutors tell lies. 4. Persecutors stir up trouble. 5. Persecutors try to intimidate.
Without openly telling us, Dr. Gaines makes a comparison between the Jews who opposed the message of Christ (Sanhedrin, Libertines, and others) and Stephen. Stephen was the defender of Christ and the Cross. In Dr. Gaines' comparison, Stephen represents Dr. Gaines and Dr. Gaines' supporters. The Jews, who oppose Christ (Sanhedrin, Libertines, and others) represent those who do not agree with Dr. Gaines. Is this comparison accurate? Not really. Let's look at the opposers.
Those who opposed Stephen were not saved. They wanted the Gospel stopped. They wanted Christianity and Christians destroyed. Those with whom Dr. Gaines disagrees (his opposers) are just as saved as Dr. Gaines. Dr. Gaines' opposers want the Gospel published abroad just as much as Dr. Gaines. They do not want Christians and Christianity destroyed. Dr. Gaines is inaccurate in his comparison of "persecutors." Dr. Gaines takes the enemies of Christ and tries to make us believe they are the equal of Bellevue members with whom Dr. Gaines disagrees. This is wrong.
Let's be honest. Some of those with whom Dr. Gaines disagrees, have let the disagreement become personal. These want Dr. Gaines removed from Bellevue. Are those who want Dr. Gaines removed from Bellevue any different from Dr. Gaines and his supporters? Not really. Since his arrival two years ago, Dr. Gaines and his supporters have been telling us things are going to be done exactly as Dr. Gaines wants, and - "if we do not like it - leave." For two years, Dr. Gaines and his supporters have been trying to remove people from Bellevue. He has succeeded to a large degree. Just look at the decrease in attendance, the lack of SS teachers, nursery workers, lack of coaches, and other areas which were once flourishing activities in our church. In this respect, Dr. Gaines is just like those with whom he disagrees. In fact, Dr. Gaines is the one who first removed people. Dr. Gaines and his supporters started removing church members shortly after he arrived. Now, some church members want Dr. Gaines removed. Who is persecuting whom?
Another area in which Dr. Gaines' comparison is not accurate is in the area of authority. The Sanhedrin (opposers of Christ) had the authority to declare guilt or innocence. They had the power to punish those they declared guilty. In Bellevue, who has the authority? It is Dr. Gaines and his supporters. These are the majority of the deacons. Dr. Gaines' supporters hold almost every position on all the powerful church committees. They have the power to remove those with whom they disagree. These men and women, along with Dr. Gaines, determine guilt or innocence in Bellevue. These have the power to determine punishment and to enforce that punishment on Bellevue members. In contrast, Stephen had no authority, no power, no means to prevent retribution from those who disagreed with him.
Dr. Gaines is not Stephen. Dr. Gaines is not defenseless. Dr. Gaines holds the power. Dr. Gaines has authority. Dr. Gaines can bring retribution on those with whom he disagrees. Dr. Gaines can get even. If anything, the comparison between Dr. Gaines and the Sanhedrin is much more accurate than his comparison to Stephen. Those with whom Dr. Gaines disagrees compare much more favorably to Stephen than Dr. Gaines does. Once again, Dr. Gaines has created an inaccurate comparison to achieve his goal of silencing and removing those with whom he disagrees. Once again, Dr. Gaines has created a one-sided inaccurate situation from which to attack.
Please obey Acts 11:17 (Note: by Web Site. Admin. The author may have meant Acts 17:11) and get the CD of this sermon. Please compare for yourselves. Get the CD of Dr. Gaines' "unity" sermon, evening service February 25, 2007, and compare the sermon to the "unity" letter.
Point 1, Persecutors love to argue
In covering this point, Dr. Gaines said the following, "... love to argue, not convince, just fuss and fight. I just don't like to fuss and fight. People who are persecuting Christians love to argue... spiritual activity breeds spiritual activity. By that I mean, when God is moving, the devil starts to counter."
Once again, Dr. Gaines equates his desires and his positions with God's. Dr. Gaines compares his presence at Bellevue with the moving of God, "God is moving." In the some breath, Dr. Gaines says those who oppose him are the devil's helpers.
By Dr. Gaines' definition, anyone with whom Dr. Gaines disagrees is a persecutor if they vocalize their side of the disagreement. According to Dr. Gaines, those people are persecutors just like the Sanhedrin who disagreed with Stephen. We have already seen the comparisons made by Dr. Gaines to Stephen and the Sanhedrin is faulty. Once again, Dr. Gaines makes all inclusive statements which are not true. All those with whom Dr. Gaines disagrees do not love to argue. Most of them do not want to "just fuss and fight." Instead, they are trying to "convince." They are trying to convince Dr. Gaines and his supporters that everything Dr. Gaines desires, everything he says, and everything he does is not right and is not Biblical. This letter is one more attempt to convince, no matter what anyone says.
Dr. Gaines says, "I just don't like to fuss and fight." If this were really true, why doesn't Dr. Gaines deal with the truth presented to him rather than continually attacking those who point out his mistakes? Why does he not change rather than attempting to silence those he opposes through sermons like this one, through his "unity" sermon, and many other sermons and talks?
Dr. Gaines said, "... when God is moving, the devil starts to counter." Once again, Dr. Gaines equates what he does with God. Once again, he equates any objection and serious Biblical review of what he says or does with the devil. Is opposing any preacher always the devil in action? The answer is obvious, No. In Gal 2: 11-14, Paul confronting Peter was God in action. Paul was not influenced by the devil. Moses confronting the High Priest, Aaron, about the golden calf was God in action. Moses was not directed by the devil. Paul confronting the Corinthian leaders and members (II Cor 13:2, "... if I come again, I will not spare... ") was God in action - not the devil. Do Gal 6:1 and Mat 18:15-17 apply to church leaders or only to ordinary church members? Obviously, they apply to pastors and other church leaders as well as to the rest of us. For the record, we are not calling Dr. Gaines a false teacher. We are showing that God says we are to confront church leaders when they are wrong.
We are showing that Dr. Gaines over states himself when he equates what he desires and what he does with God's desires and God's actions.
In Titus 1:10-13 God tells us, "For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake. One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are always liars, evil beasts, slow bellies. This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith."
These that "must be stopped" and those that are to be "rebuked sharply" are in the church. They are teaching wrong things for money. They are part of the church staff, the pastors. God says we must oppose them. We must stop them. Is opposing a preacher always the devil in action? We have just read in Titus that God says, No. Again, we are not equating Dr. Gaines with those mentioned in verses 10-13. We are looking at what Dr. Gaines preaches and comparing his preaching to a balanced reading of the Bible.
We are trying to convince from chapter and verse that pastors need to be confronted at times. Pastors are men just like us. They are sinners, just like us. They are not infallible, nor do they do the right thing every time. We are demonstrating that disagreeing with Dr. Gaines is not the devil in action.
Point 2, Persecutors like to operate in secret
Dr. Gaines says, "You know one of the dangerous things about the internet is you can say anything you want to about anyone and never sign your name." Once again, Dr. Gaines is half-right. When used wrongly, not having to sign your name is a danger. When used correctly, not signing your name is a blessing. When used to spread lies and for character assassination, not signing your name is wrong. When used to spread the truth, not signing your name is a means of avoiding retaliation and persecution. How many business and political “whistle blowers” who have told the truth and signed their names lost their jobs? How many have lost their life? How many Bellevue members have lost their position, lost their influence, and even lost their membership for telling the truth and letting their identity be known? Not signing your name is not always wrong, even though Dr. Gaines said it is. More on this later.
Dr. Gaines goes on to say, "That's a cowards way of doing things." (No audience response.) "I said that's a coward's way of doing things." (Audience claps and Dr. Gaines laughs.) "Sure it is. They operate in secret." Once again, notice Dr. Gaines' all-inclusive statements. Is everyone who puts something on the internet and does not sign their name a coward? No, they are not always a coward as labeled by Dr. Gaines.
Dr. Gaines has assigned staff members to monitor what is said on the internet. We do not know who these staff members are. Have these staff members ever emailed or posted a response to any comment on the internet? If they did not sign their name, their boss says they are cowards.
Dr. Gaines supporters have and are defending him on the internet. When they do not sign their names, according to Dr. Gaines, his supporters are cowards.
Dr. Gaines calls everyone, friend and foe alike, a coward if they put something on the internet without revealing their name.
Dr. Gaines goes on to say, "Dear friend, when you are full of the Holy Spirit. You know the Bible says we are the light of the world and light doesn't have anything to do with darkness and secrecy, clandestine meetings, pseudonyms (that means false names, pretentious names)." In order to label those with whom Dr. Gaines disagrees, he once again, labels friend and foe alike and does not handle Scripture correctly. Dr. Gaines says,," when you are full of the Holy Spirit...", you have nothing “to do with darkness, and secrecy, clandestine meetings, pseudonyms..." This sounds very much like his statement in his unity sermon, "Spirit filled people would not cause disunity. Spirit filled people could not cause disunity. Spirit filled people don't cause disunity". February 25, 2007.
Can Spirit filled people engage in secrecy? According to Numbers 13:1-16 and Joshua 2:1, yes Spirit filled people can engage in secrecy. In Numbers 13:2-3, God commanded Moses to send spies into Canaan. Joshua sent spies to evaluate the defenses of Jericho. Spying is about as secretive as you can get. Are we correct in believing spies use pseudonyms and hold clandestine meetings? In I Samuel 19:1-3, 7 and Chapter 20, David and Jonathan held clandestine meetings and engaged in secretive activities. In Joshua 8:18-19, Joshua laid an ambush for Ai, and with God's help, defeated the city.
Was Joshua a coward for using secrecy? According to Dr. Gaines, yes. Was Joshua "Spirit filled" when he used the secrecy of ambush? According to Dr. Gaines, Spirit filled people do not use secrecy. Or, is secrecy OK everywhere but on the internet? Does Dr. Gaines hold meetings that no one knows about except those in attendance? Is this secrecy? Are these clandestine meetings?
In John 7:10, Christ himself acted in secrecy. In vs 13 ordinary people did not speak "openly for fear of the Jews." Due to the very real retribution and persecution from the religious leaders, people talked in secrecy and kept their identity hidden. Just like the present situation at Bellevue. In John 11:54, Christ refused to "openly walk among the Jews." Christ became secretive with his whereabouts and his actions. Why? Verse 53, "...they (the religious leaders) took counsel... to put Him to death." Was Christ a coward? According to Dr. Gaines, yes. John 19:38, "Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews... " Was this Joseph a coward? According to Dr. Gaines, yes. However, if Joseph of Arimathea had openly identified himself with Christ before this time, he would have lost his position on the council, lost his influence, and, possibly, lost his ability to provide the tomb needed by Christ in order to fulfill the prophecy of Isaiah 53:9, "And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death... " Mark 15:43 says Joseph of Arimathea "went in boldly unto Pilate, and craved the body of Jesus." God calling Joseph of Arimathea bold contradicts Dr. Gaines' evaluation of Joseph as a coward. Joseph af Arimathea acted in secrecy until the time was right to reveal his true allegiance. For the first 300 years after Christ, the church met secretly-as do present day Christians in China, the Middle East, and elsewhere. Their church services were clandestine meetings for fear of being arrested and fed to the lions. They used pseudonyms to hide their true identity for fear of being burned at the stake. Were these Christians cowards? Dr. Gaines wants us to believe they were. These Christians did everything Dr. Gaines says a coward does. Why? Because they did not want to experience the retribution of the Jewish religious leaders and persecution by the Roman political leaders. They did not want Saul (later Paul) to find them. Were these people cowards? No! When their identities were known and they were arrested, these Christians went to their death in the Coliseum and other places rather than renounce their faith. These Christians were not cowards when they met in secrecy, used pseudonyms, held clandestine meetings, and did not sign their names. Dr. Gaines does not appear to know history. Or, he chooses not to let history influence his sermons.
In the years before the Declaration of Independence and the American Revolution, many people published things anonymously. The most famous of these publications is the Federalist Papers. These articles, published under the pseudonym "Publius", helped create and maintain the discussion of ideas, the wrongs committed by the English government and the wrongs committed by its army stationed in America. These articles helped the average American understand the truth and the issues facing our country. These articles took the discussion of freedom from personal preference to a discussion of the facts - the truth about those in power. The Federalist Papers were a major cause for declaring our independence from England. Were the men who wrote these articles cowards? According to Dr. Gaines, yes. However, history proves that John Jay, James Madison, and Alexander Hamilton were not cowards, but heroes. Many many more wrote unsigned articles, pamphlets, and books exposing the wrongs inflicted on our country by those ruling England at that time. Each was courageous. For if and when their identities became known, they experienced severe retaliation. Some lost their houses and lands. Some lost their businesses. Some lost their lives. As in pre-revolutionary days, today, big business, government agencies, the mainstream press, and church pastors want to control what people see, read, and hear. In order to prevent retaliation and retribution, publishing information and truth opposed by government, controlling pastors, big business, etc. requires secrecy, pseudonyms, clandestine meetings, unsigned publications. These are not cowards. But, those in control will try to shame those with whom they disagree into revealing their names. Then the retaliation begins.
What about those policemen and policewomen who pose as young boys and girls on the internet? Are they cowards? They use pseudonyms, set up clandestine meetings, and then arrest child molesters before they can molest your child or mine. Are they cowards? According to Dr. Gaines, yes. Are these policemen and women Spirit filled? According to Dr. Gaines, no. We do not know the spiritual condition of everyone of these policemen and women. Some are saved. Some are not. The saved are Spirit filled and they operate in secrecy with pseudonyms to keep our children safe. At times, secrecy is necessary and is Spirit filled.
A favorite tactic of those being hurt by the truth is to "bait" the anonymous author or speaker into revealing his or her identity and then suing the person in court. These lawsuits are called Strategic Litigation Against Public Participation (SLAPP). Notice the name again. The real intent has nothing to do with right or wrong, truth or lies. The purpose of the lawsuit is to silence those telling the truth. The lawsuit is usually lost by the business, the government agency, the church. This they expect. But, the person telling the truth is financially ruined defending themselves in court. The shame and ridicule heaped on the wives, husbands, and children is almost unbearable. The character assassination is relentless. The price paid is much too high for many people. So, those who know the truth keep quiet and sin abounds. Did the leaders of the retaking-our-convention movement within the Southern Baptist Convention do everything out in the open where their opponents would know exactly what they were doing, when they were going to do it, etc.? If not, according to Dr. Gaines, those leaders were cowards. Dr. Gaines, will you tell us the details of every meeting you schedule - including names? Will you give us the minutes of these meetings? If not, are you being secretive? Are you holding clandestine meetings? Dr. Gaines, will you live this sermon and demonstrate your "Spirit filledness" by being "the light of the world and light doesn't have anything to do with darkness, and secrecy, and clandestine meetings, pseudonyms…"?
Point three - Persecutors tell lies
This is generally true. But are people who tell the truth persecutors? If you do not like the truth, if you do not want to know the truth, then people who tell the truth are persecutors to you. This is what got Stephen in trouble. Stephen told the truth and the religious leaders/ (pastors) did not want to hear it. They did not want others to learn the truth and to start questioning their leadership. If you do not want to deal with the truth and change, then truth tellers are persecutors. To the Pharisees, Sadducees, scribes, and Sanhedrin, Christ was a persecutor. He consistently exposed their hidden agenda of wanting unquestioning loyalty (obedience). He consistently exposed their goal of maintaining their position and power. Christ consistently exposed their goal of lording it over the Jewish nation (their congregation). But, did Christ tell lies? Of course not! Yet, He was arrested and killed by those who did not want the truth. Dr. Gaines is attacking those who are telling him the truth. From the pulpit, he is calling them persecutors, unsaved, not Spirit filled. He is calling them cowards. Do persecutors tell lies? It just depends on which side of the truth you are on. It depends on what you want to do with the truth: accept it, obey it, and change. Or, reject it, hide it, attack it, and try to destroy the messenger as well as the message.
Point four - Persecutors stir up trouble
Dr. Gaines emphatically said, "I've always said, you are either a peacemaker in a church or you are a troublemaker; there is no middle ground." Let's take this at face value. Before Dr. Gaines arrived at Bellevue two years ago, Bellevue was at peace. We were in agreement. We got along. We were everything Dr. Gaines wants. We were Spirit filled. We were saved. We were not cowards. We signed our names to everything. We did not use pseudonyms. We did not hold clandestine meetings. Then, Dr. Gaines arrived. We have been divided ever since. We have become everything Dr. Gaines preaches against. Who caused the trouble in Bellevue? Who removed the peace? Who brought the conflict? Who created the situation in which truthtellers are afraid to sign their names? Not you. Not me. That leaves only one person - Dr. Gaines. As the writer or writers of the unity letter said, this is not a personal attack on Dr. Gaines and his supporters. This is simply taking what Dr. Gaines preaches at us and examining his words in light of Scripture and common sense. This is taking what Dr. Gaines does and comparing it to what he says. This is taking what Dr. Gaines says and does and evaluating the results. Are the results good or bad? Who was it that said by their fruits you will know them? Fruits in this usage means results. This is written with the intent of convincing (not arguing). Please get the CD and compare Dr. Gaines' sermon with what is written in this letter. The decisions and conclusions are yours to make.
Dr. Gaines also said, "I would not want to stand before the One who bled and died at Calvary for the church, having been one on the earth who stirred up trouble in the Church. I would not want to do that."
Question: Who brought this trouble into Bellevue? Was Bellevue troubled before Dr. Gaines arrived?
Dr. Gaines also said, Persecutors try to intimidate. Some do and they are wrong. In his comparison of Stephen and the Sanhedrin, the Sanhedrin attempted to intimidate Stephen. We have already seen that Dr. Gaines is more closely compared to the Sanhedrin than to Stephen. Dr. Gaines has the control, has the position, has the authority to declare guilt or innocence. Dr. Gaines has the power to inflict punishment. On the other hand, Stephen had nothing with which to intimidate. Stephen was just a common ordinary person brought before these powerful men for telling truth those men did not want to hear. Powerless Stephen was eventually killed by the religious leaders. This is exactly what is going on in Bellevue today. Dr. Gaines and his supporters are in power and in control. The common church member who disagrees with them and who tells the truth publicly is attacked and intimidated. Dr. Gaines intimidates with his power to fire staff and to remove SS teachers, coaches, deacons, whomever. He intimidates by telling us, "If you don't like it, leave." In this sermon, Dr. Gaines tries to compare himself to defenseless Stephen. He tries to compare the Sanhedrin to those with whom he disagrees. The comparison does not work. The comparison is just the opposite. Dr. Gaines is the Sanhedrin. Those who question him are Stephen. Once again, Dr. Gaines is not being accurate.
Dr. Gaines also said, "When they squeeze you, what comes out? You know what came out of him (Stephen)- Bible."
When Dr. Gaines is squeezed, what comes out of him? Intimidation - "if you don't like it, leave." Inaccurate Bible - one-sided sermons like this one, his unity sermon, and sermons like "don't touch the Lord's anointed." When Dr. Gaines is squeezed, what comes out? Loyalty oaths like point 4 of the Responsibility section of the Leadership Covenant which says, "With God as my help, I make a commitment (promise) to support the Senior Pastor, staff, and church leadership." If we sign this statement we are committing our obedience (loyalty means obedience) to Dr. Gaines and his supporters. Why do we have to sign a promise of obedience to our pastor? Christ did not require a loyalty oath of His disciples. Even the apostle Paul, said "Be ye followers of me even as I follow Christ." I Cor 11:1, I Thess 1: 6. Dr. Gaines just says follow me - right or wrong - follow me. Quoting Dr. Gaines, "If you don't like the preacher, tithe anyway. Let God deal with the preacher." We are not to worry if the preacher and church staff are mishandling our tithe. We are just to give, and give, and... if we want to serve at Bellevue, we must now sign a pledge of obedience, not to Christ, but to Dr. Gaines. This is intimidation.
When Dr. Gaines is squeezed, what comes out? It is not pure, totally honest Bible, as when Stephen was squeezed.
We have finished discussing Dr. Gaines' sermon. Please consider the following two things.
One, In his book, Kingdom Authority, Adrian Rogers says the following about pastors. (emphasis ours).
** "No man, including the pastor, is free to pursue his own course within a local church. He is under the authority of the Word of God and the Spirit of God. Beyond that is the reserve authority of the entire body of the church. I find no justification for a pope over the whole church or for any individual church for that matter." p. 176
Dr. Gaines says, "If you don't like what I am doing, leave."
Dr. Gaines says sign my no-qualifications obedience oath or you cannot be a volunteer at Bellevue. The oath Dr. Gaines requires says, "With God as my help, I make a commitment (promise) to support the Senior Pastor, staff, and church leaders."
** "This truth ought to make it clear that the pastor is not a boss or a dictator. God's sheep are not to be driven or herded but led by a loving shepherd." p177
Dr. Gaines says- "If you don't like what I am doing, leave."
** "The pastor, indeed, is to have a place of strong leadership, but he is not to be without accountability. The pastor and other church leaders still must submit to the reserve authority of the whole body because Jesus is the head of the body." p186
Dr. Gaines says sign my oath in the Leadership Covenant or you cannot serve at Bellevue. Signing this means total obedience to Dr. Gaines, which removes him from accountability. How can you hold him accountable if you have promised to obey him no matter what? Without qualifications to this oath, total obedience is what we are signing.
** "The bottom line is this: a pastor is accountable to the congregation in which he serves. While the pastor is to lead, he is not a law unto himself. There is always the reserve authority of the entire body. The head cannot go where the body refuses to carry it." p186
Dr. Gaines says, "If you don't like what I am doing, leave." If you leave, then only those who blindly follow are left. Dr. Gaines then gets what he wants - no accountability. He becomes a law unto himself - and the body goes wherever Dr. Gaines tells it to go.
** "Woe be to any pastor who has such sense of his self-importance that he becomes authoritarian and fails to listen and to learn. Such an attitude shows immaturity and fear on his part." p187
Dr. Gaines' sermons and actions say he is immature and fearful. Dr. Gaines tells us, "If you don't like what I am doing, leave" and "sign my obedience oath or you cannot be a volunteer at Bellevue."
** "The true leader does not call honest questions and discussion 'sowing discord’.” p.187
Dr. Gaines does this often and loudly, especially from the pulpit, where he cannot be questioned.
** "The domineering leader has not learned to trust the Holy Spirit. A strong leader leads with honesty and openness. He will be loved and followed all the more." p. 187
Is Dr. Gaines honest? Not when he selectively interprets the Bible to attack those with whom he disagrees. Not when he applies Scripture incorrectly as evidenced in this "internet" sermon of Sunday night, August 5, 2007 and his "unity" sermon of Sunday evening, February 25, 2007.
Is Dr. Gaines open with us?
Two, the comment below come to our attention last winter. The information was verified by Bellevue staff members.
BBC lady staff members, do you remember your first staff meeting with Dr. Gaines? Didn't he make crystal clear what would be appropriate clothing while working at Bellevue? Didn't he say something like... "If it's too low, too short, or too tight you will be sent home to change, and if again, on another occasion your clothing is determined to be either too low, or too short, or too tight, you would be fired? Is this not close to fact? Readers, can you see where some of us are having a very difficult time with Dr. Gaines' judgment? Fired for improper dress and suspended for child molestation? This is the dilemma discerning individuals struggle with day in and day out with Dr. Gaines' integrity.”
For those that do not know, in 2006 Dr. Gaines allowed a Bellevue staff minister to remain on staff for six months or so after the staff member confessed to Dr. Gaines, and others, that the staff member had molested one of his own children. When forced to take action by the molested child and public opinion, Dr. Gaines suspended the staff member while a church investigation was conducted. The investigation determined the staff member's confession was true, and Dr. Gaines fired the person. As the above comment asks, how can anyone fire someone for clothing too low, too high, or too tight and then allow a confessed child molester to remain on staff and only suspend the molester when public pressure becomes too great? What does this say about the decision making ability of Dr. Gaines? What does this say about his knowledge of right and wrong? What does this say about his ability to discern the less important from the important, and the important from the very important?
We are sure Dr. Gaines considers us his personal persecutors and Satan's helpers. But, he is wrong. We wish him no personal harm. This is not personal. This is not about preferences. This is about God's qualifications for church leadership. This is about I Timothy 3:1-12 and Titus 1:6-9 and whether Bellevue's leadership fits God's qualifications. Please read these verses and apply the specific God-required character traits and God-required actions to our present church leadership: both staff and lay leadership. Those that do not meet God's requirements need to either change or be changed.
** Kingdom Authority p.176 "I (the pastor) serve at the pleasure of my congregation. The only leadership I have is what they allow me to have. They may dismiss me whenever they choose." (Author’s emphasis)
We have revealed the truth by examining God's Word carefully and applying it to what we see and hear in Bellevue's leadership. We know some will attack the messenger rather than deal honestly with the message. Like the authors of the Federalist Papers, we are protecting ourselves from those who would persecute us by seeking revenge and seeking our hurt. Being secretive is not our choice.
For more information on the role of a pastor, go to the following web sites.
Preacher Rule According to the Scriptures by T. Williamson:
http://www.baptistpillar.com/bd0473.htm
Church Membership Covenants by Paul Proctor:
http://www.newswithviews.com/PaulProctor/proctor3.htm
Where are the Elders Who Guard the Flock? by Bob DeWaay:
http://www.christianworldviewnetwork.com/print.php?&ArticleID=1483
Also read Is That You, Lord? by Gary Gilley.