Matthew 23:5-7 5 “Everything they do is done for people to see. They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long; 6 they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues 7 they love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces (Starbucks, or by the local City Hall councillors) and to be called ‘Rabbi’ (or ‘pastor’ so and so) by others.

“So saddened this morning to hear that a member of our church family is suffering the consequences of some very poor choices.…” Stephen Smith – typical cult(ure) speak of steeped members showcasing as committed loyalists

A Mere Snapshot..

Despite the fact that there still remains a long list of unanswered questions in my years of involvement within this particular “non-profit” church organization Crossway Church (defunct Oct 2018) and its recently dispersed and scattered clergy/ followers now replenishing with fresh new blood often flowing from other “bodies” of Christ primarily (a fiercely competitive business for sure trying to outdo to retain diminishing clientele), l happened to be looking at old blog comments and emails I chose not to post at the time. And I couldn’t help but chuckle and SMH in disbelief at the world of religious addiction I once feared and participated in and exemplified in these typical hive mind threats and vacuous statements imaged below and the associated smug self aggrandizing social media posts- by the smug & well known (only within their collective hive groups) reputed Stephen Smith.

Statements that are very commonly used the higher your persona moves up the “religious” ladder of “respectable church life” and status. Typical examples of what a “pristine” church member and associated “enviable” inner circle reputation looks like lurking below the surface and behind the scenes where the real “gospel” is unmasked for what it is, a fundamentalist mental unhealth concern much like leaders they follow and pine after, desperate for prominence and influence within the group cult(ure) of abuse and manipulation. Unable to break free from their (false) gospel spell possibly out of fear and insecurity or the preached perception of deep loneliness and “god’s” disapproval or even a perverse belief of already having attained spiritual freedom while ironically and inextricably bound within such debilitating isolationist tribes of disguised obligations masquerading as angels of light. Validated amongst their hearers almost simply for the sole reason of referencing “Jesus” and the slight of hand terminology of “sound doctrine” as often as possible to their listeners, rather than the “testimony” of a life lived out in accordance to their own preaching and expectations.

Unwilling to discuss anything!!? Seriously? Yet quite willing and obviously pleased to participate publicly on record in the subtle passive aggressive “casual observation”- a minimizing narrative with liberally self applied grace like many evangelicals & their “leaders”- bullying of a mother of 4 facing a mockery of a “process” with a so called excommunication turned “church discipline” process meant to humiliate, silence (anyone else), ostracize and “serve” as a lesson to all. As “elders” and scoffers (men like you Stephen) look on and post in satisfaction in this 15th century form of oppressive misogynistic predatory “gospel centered” humiliation headed by the mentioned pastor and fellow immigrant namesake David Smith of the now David Smith Homes realty. Actions disguised and portrayed within this cult hive-mind groupspeak as “loving” “care”. **Update** The attempts to which these leaders (and complicit, supportive crony congregants) went to suppress her concerns and serious allegations on several issues causing significant harm to not only her but her family and several others a long time before the current reckoning of the #metoo and #churchtoo unveiling, is truly revealing of both the convenient wilful ignorance and arrogance of some pastors who don’t subscribe to psychological realities and actively “preach and teach” against such views.** All this while leaders/directors at the time behind this kangaroo court “church discipline” process (commonly practiced in toxic so called “church family” life) just previous colluded to take “legal” nondisclosure positions regarding coups, immigration status concerns and financials including several years of parishioners “sacrificial” contributions (some as I’ve been informed regrettably to the tune of $50K over a short period) exercising and exchanging that which is morally and biblically lawful (transparency) with the possible technicality of what is “legal” and expedient using equally corrupt internal phat cat “legal counsel”. Legal counsel who in the end betrayed his own “counsel” and leader, hoping no one would call them on it. Then proceeding to weave, spin and preach their way out using the darkening blindfolds or guided manipulations of having “charitable judgements” (towards themselves as the perpetrators much like CJ Mahaney taught), the “doctrine” of grace toward their actions (well timed), then mandated forgiveness as a sign of “christian maturity” and followed or sprinkled with heavy doses of their go to favorite warnings of “the sinfulness of slander and gossip” to listening ears and eager minds, effectively as a doctrinal package fulfilling “the cone of silence”. They knew exactly what they were doing “as they were led by the – so called – ‘spirit’ “. Yet here we are at that time indirectly extolling the virtues of these same (self proclaiming saints) religious leaders (through this “casual observation”) who are proceeding with the humiliating congregational address of an excommunication turned “church discipline” of a mother of 4 in need of support, care and most importantly a voice whether they or others appreciated or believed what she was desperately trying to say or not. While inner circle “faithful” supporters such as the typical Stephen Smith ‘s of christendom do what they do best, get behind the “gospel” siege narrative and make clear their “support” and position with multiple probing, pulse check reconnaissance “coffee meetings”, irrelevant of how corrupt, low, toxic or void of logic and stakeholder consultation that is being emitted from the large piles of “dung” (as your leader David J R Smith spun it) aka bullshit being dropped along this wide “gospel” path leading to ongoing delusion that Jesus departed from long before, as we fool ourselves “worshipping in His presence”.

No shame, and likely knowing how church hierarchy operates, no “repentance” in sight ever to offer her fragile or desperate condition (or anyone else) now successfully muted through threats of embarrassment followed through. Simply exacerbating her challenges (and so many before her both known and well concealed) as participants at the back of the crowd often claiming to be “innocent bystanders” much like the dispersed crowds in Jesus’ day who just previous wanted Him crucified.

This is merely one church amidst thousands and it’s been the same story for centuries including the 3 churches I and my family attended over almost 30 years. Frankly growing numbers of the so called Dones seem to have had enough of the false Jesus desperately being erected within many of these whitewashed fundamentalist ivory towers of thought and Big Eva publishing sausage factories filled with the literal man made churning pillars of smoke & mirrors of “sound doctrine” while behind the scenes construction continues on personal kingdoms of out of touch indulgences, needed livelihoods and hidden liberal graces and license granted themselves, much like an inevitable house of cards but in this case with your (preferably) $100 dollar bill sacrifices at their alters of loyal “committed” “covenant membership” faithfulness. With signed “covenant membership” being a practice one is hard pressed to find demonstrated in the Bible’s we all read but serves convenient legal purposes for keeping the church out of libelist lawsuits and for legal indemnity not to mention maintaining legalistic compulsions to “do your part to give and serve or ‘this church is not for you’ “. And this convoluted circus is the reality and all too often the norm in “church life”, just wait a few short years or maybe even months or accelerate the process by simply beginning to ask probing questions about anything that seems to give off an odour (like the quiet disappearance of the “faithful” or the specific allocation of funds) and watch the dystopian “gospel” unfold right in front of your very own eyes.

As I once again review the post below, the Bible stories of those ready and pleased to hurl stones at a woman, the good Samaritan and those who simply walked around the suffering (targeted) victim as well as Job’s friends encouraging him to curse God and die, not to mention the abject personification often presented in these teaching circles of the prodigal son’s older brother come to mind. In the end leaders involved in this foolhardy endeavor quickly moved on to spread their wares elsewhere where they wouldn’t be known, followed by their “supporters” including their ambitious 12 year old ring leader mentioned in his post also moving on to a whole other career in real estate as funding began to plummet and government regulations seem to have little to no bite or interest in tax exempt “charitie$” and their financial infighting with your “sacrificial” funds, the use of which is never truly known or fully disclosed. It happens everywhere, often and with impunity and they get away with it due to little or no regulatory oversight combined with the separation of church and state as a defilade. Counting on the silence of many who are managed, controlled and in some cases depending on your community notoriety or in-house status, if you choose to leave their evangelical cult(ure) you are accosted to “leave the church well” (in an attempt to dress up a corpse as though there was still vibrant life) or often say nothing because they are too embarrassed of what they discover they’ve been a part of and given so much to for so long. These leaders often knowingly leaving a trail or wake of destruction and abuses of authority behind their “message” paved with a) “oh well ‘there is no perfect church, if you find one don’t attend because you will sully it with your sin’, b) ‘god is gracious and forgives us’ and you too through the cross, now let’s find ‘a way forward’ “, while actual truth is left for dead and nowhere to be found. Undermining and emasculating the love, freedom, power, life, grace and truth of the genuine gospel of Christ in the hearts and minds of thousands if not millions through these hypocrisies of expedient convenience. Yet the reality of His Spirit is greater than these stumbling stones & glory thieves and preserves many who are seeing, observing and slowly waking up to the fact (even while behind the veil, which ironically was literally and figuratively torn open contrary to the experiences within many churches) that the gospel of Christ and His Father ARE NOT the central problem at all, but rather many of these compromised self appointed so “called” leaders of empty pay to play religion that do not represent Him in any way shape or form bear the burden of responsibility while continuing to beat and control followers with the nightstick of “you are the worst of sinners”, “you have nothing to offer but the SIN that necessitated Jesus death” and many more I could easily quote that continue to this day.
Back to the subject.

“So saddened this morning to hear that a member of our church family is suffering the consequences of some very poor choices. Encouraged however by the persistence of David J R Smith and all elders in their extraordinary efforts toward the restoration of one who is resisting help. Grateful for men of patience and compassion who continue to care for us when we mess up.” – Stephen Smith

(now can be found attending here) this morons self aggrandizing “casual observation” Facebook post of a woman in the throws of immense church trauma the morning of the planned excommunication turned “church discipline”, gushing over the “pastor” now turned real estate agent, where many within and outside Crossway walls knew exactly who was being publicly humiliated and “disciplined”. Literally not very far removed from the now well documented deplorable tactics found within the cult of Scientology, the near cult status of Sovereign Grace Churches and several harmful organizational environments similar to these across Christendom. Look it up and see if some of the stories aren’t somewhat similar to this harmful fundamentalist right wing “gospel centered” way of thinking and manipulation along with the practices that produce this kind of shameless unjustifiable public shunning of vulnerable individuals. Truly.

This is the typical hidden pious mindset “courageously” held only while within these “blocked” toxic tribes that would be an embarrassment outside those walls. Hence the seething threats of hate and litigation at my initial reference post and challenge. These mindsets and means of “addressing” people who, in their minds are “in sin” is not normal behaviour (or contextually “Biblical” considering the baggage and blindness within today’$ contemporary church) nor should it ever be accepted or considered as normal behaviour outside (or inside, for that matter) those walls of evangelical fundamentalist false “gospel” indoctrination and religious brainwashing.

… this woman’s “very poor choices” (or anyone who opposes or doesn’t submit to your beloved “leaders”) MUST be addressed publicly because your spiritual “Care Group” subordinates or sphere of influence may not recognize that your highly respected exemplary choices are so much wiser, biblically nuanced and far more biblically informed and acceptable compared to her “choices” and her resulting “consequence”. Having been in these camps and watched what goes on for decades, let’s be clear, for starters every one of YOU (especially and including you Stephen) involved in this particular sordid affair and so many others over the years ought to have been excommunicated and sent packing years ago, and the notion of “help” within these particular environments is near absurd, as if there is any actual qualified “help” in such toxic compromised religious extremism for “when we mess up”. Almost always presuming such general statements as “when we mess up”, as stellar dressed up “humble” admissions (being good “teachable” students), upon “everyone” yet without ever taking personal responsibility for specific ways in which these pastors and cohorts (and many like them) with their held beliefs have trifled with and wreaked havoc in people’s lives and dignity. Yet when such arrogant statements are being challenged it’s nothing but a “perverse little game” to those consuming copious amounts of Kool-Aid, unworthy of discussion to the religious addict. FUBAR. It’s no wonder you and your wife quickly left the scene of the grime even after contributing to the planned multi-member spammed google reviews event as a desperate PR lifeline for Crossway Church and its leadership at the time, escaping & settling for a “local church community” of trusting pedestalic relationships to “serve” in located 30 to 40 kilometers away while literally living in what is essentially the church Bible belt. Needless to say there are a number of probing questions regarding the connections floating out there for such a puzzling move to “follow” after and attend such a distant “local church community” shortly after giving such cronyist glowing reviews of a local church your family attended for “years” just down the road while an asset management investment business partner or associate remained at the church you so “loved”. Once again questions that weren’t given opportunity or never will be answered or known to the “sacrificing” paying stakeholders in this dark world and busines$ of “non-profit”, “gospel centered” religious addiction and “asset management”.

As with any church history cover up, scandal or schism this is only a minuscule tip of the proverbial iceberg of what goes on behind the scenes of “gospel centered pa$$ions”, the rest is rarely open to discovery for good reason within the tribe, with no semblance of anything like an FOI (freedom of information) request ever possible in this industry that relies on secrecy and cover ups to survive. Very subtle well concealed but dangerous neo-calvinist/ “evangelical reformed” guerrilla warfare mindsets and rhetoric to confront and or flee when “observed” or remotely discerned. Especially when children are inculcated into such environments. Believe me having four, they eventually know and can smell the bullshit when it fills the air, and literally express gratitude for removing them from the often strongly mandated toxic religious entertainment youth group segregated Jesus cultures frequently and ignorantly touted as a first solution to teen challenges.

I came to across this recently and found it poignant..

“There is no greater lust, nor none to which its participants are so blind, than that for power, control, and status in the service of God, in which to be right and prove others wrong appears righteous and necessary.” Loren Seibold

It’s almost as though Protestant evangelicalism is more than ripe for a COMPLETE upheaval and modern day reformation because of the very statement quoted above. Meanwhile this month (October 31st as a pious distraction from the “evils” of Halloween) many of these types and all the Johnny come lately new young recruits (aka revolving church door transplants) are entering a heightened state of an addictive euphoric religious high recalling, preaching and “celebrating” 500 years since Luther nailed up his 95 theses, clueless to the fact that – as with weeds- those very same conditions of 21st century indulgences and a lust for power, control and status have taken over their hearts, churches and pulpits rendering their message moot and ineffective, rightfully so. It’s incredibly ironic.

I’m obviously no journalist, but I know MUCH, far too much about religious life within fundamentalist Christian evangelicalism and this George Orwell quote is exactly right. BTW this is an old circulated Facebook image, not the mother in question.

As seen in the exchange I never did remove the pride filled smug Facebook screenshot passed around that I posted. The typical panic of reputation took over this man and he spoke to and or threatened Photobucket to have it removed. I simply left the posted statement as a record.

Well at this point these are the now posted comments and emails sent to my blog that for fear of these types of…….(how should I say this)….. small (minded) people….. at the time I never posted them. #realworldrealfaith.

BTW, the aforementioned Facebook post WAS freely passed around and sent to me from a few sources I guess you/ he hadn’t yet “blocked” from your/ his pristine, spiritually aseptic, anglo upper class and aloof godly life. And knowing that I was talking openly about the “church plant” deception and other more serious matters when your ridiculous public comment was made about an extremely vulnerable individual we all knew who was actively being muzzled, now (at the time) in the clutches of your hailed leadership, people became quite incredulous recognizing your historic silk laden, accented linguistic antics laced with snide sarcasm you were and are known to be quite proud of while behind the praiseworthy venier of “following Christ” as a humble unseen “pillar of the church”. Believe me I’ve seen it all, so am I close?

ADDENDUM

“The drink of power is a heady brew.”

The link below is a transparent wake up and motive intensive discussion.

I would challenge ANY pastor to listen to this to its conclusion without the usual calculated “shields up” defenses of not lining up with what you may call sound doctrine, systematic theology ideology and unfounded false teaching declarations within what is essentially a closed tribal culture making such strange claims notably absurd considering the source.

The only problem to keep in mind is that it won’t win you friends or influence with the regular religious audience who love their proximity to ruling elites or pedestalic celebrity and most of all it may or will effect your bottom line and “your ministry” cash flow, thereby possibly freeing and changing your heart forever to pursue other vocations.

Another upside if one can comprehend the transparent topic of discussion, it will gain the respect of the real world (maybe not a great following, but respect) that we are encouraged to reach when the shameless imploring of sacrificial giving of money for the so called “gospel” and the shunning or humiliation of those that challenge or disagree with you comes to its conclusion and people become more critically important than property or personal profit in an industry all too often given the abused title misnomer status of being a “nonprofit”.

Knowing the people I once knew, know that I was down this road of thought long before I began following this particular and transparent ministry amongst others that are often conveniently labelled as heretics. They couldn’t be more right in their discussion and assessment. I dare anyone in that cloistered, falsely ascetic world to listen in to the end and it’s about as long as your usual morning sermons but far more engaging, intrusive and challenging.

The Seductive Allure of Power

Similar and additional related resources and practice found in other environments with crossover traits. I am very personally familiar with this article and discussion.

6 Early Warning Signs of an Abusive Relationship