“My goal when I began writing in January 2010 was to preserve and strengthen the ministry I loved by articulating the need for ethical reform starting with C.J. From my perspective, the ethical decline of SGM began in earnest when C.J. took control of the disciplinary process I introduced in August 2004 that was designed to help my dear friend finally deal with longtime patterns of serious sin that were adversely affecting the cause of Christ (read Response Regarding Friendship and Doctrine). In order to do this, C.J. had to lie, deceive, abuse and manipulate others. He succeeded. Over the last 8 years, those tactics have continued and become a part of the leadership culture we now see operating in SGM.
Revelation 3:14-22 tells the story of Sovereign Grace Ministries. The response of its leaders to the discipline of the Lord has been one of self-righteousness. They claim to be rich when poor, clothed when naked, and seeing when blind. According to them, only their polity is in need of reform. Yet the polity they now propose is worse in critical respects than the polity they already have. There is no happy future for the leaders, pastors and churches of SGM until they deal with the root issue of pride. In 18 short months, Sovereign Grace has been cast down and brought low by the Sovereign Lord. Only a fool would imagine his discipline not continuing over the next 18 months unless there is widespread remorse by its leaders and pastors.”
-Brent Detwiler “Behold I Stand at the Door and Knock”
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. So you, too, outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.” Matthew 23:27-28
I paid a visit to the Bible Society Centre today. With a few notable exceptions this is a source of good Christian books housed in the lower level of UCCD. I am holding up two of the exceptions, both authored by C.J. Mahaney. I met with Ranjini Ganta, who, along with her husband, Babu,manage the book store. I had written Babu an email about one year ago urging him to discontinue selling Mahaney’s books based on the fact that Mahaney is a blackmailer and has covered up sexual abuse of children in his church. I received no reply.
Today I had a friendly and useful chat with Ranjini. She agrees there are serious issues with selling Mahaney’s books but since she has already spent the money for the books she cannot justify the economics of removing them from the bookstore. I asked her if she would consider not ordering any more in the future. She was definitely open to this, but said she would have to discuss it with others, including pastors. I presume this would be UCCD pastors, so I don’t have much hope of the books being removed. Nevertheless, I have done what I can.
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