Mohler on Moore: Hypocrisy on Display

Audio recording of the above quote:

Mohler also appeared on CNN to speak about the Moore scandal. Below is the audio from an interview of Mohler by Don Lemon of CNN. You can watch the video here.

Will Rogers summarized my feelings on politicians quite well when he said, “About all I can say for the United States Senate is that it opens with a prayer and closes with an investigation.”

This article is not about Roy Moore. I am no fan of his. I believe he did what numerous women have said he did. My opinion is Moore should not be a United States Senator. My opinion is that a majority of those currently holding the office of United States Senators should likewise not be Senators.

This article is about Albert Mohler, a man who, in my opinion, is one of the biggest hypocrites in the Southern Baptist denomination, a denomination rife with hypocritical pastors. (My apologies to the honest men serving with integrity as pastors in the Southern Baptist denomination; I know there are many of you.)

Don Lemon interviews Albert Mohler regarding the charges against Roy Moore.

Most of the time Mohler talks a good game. He was spot on when he wrote about the sexual abuse scandal at Penn State. I also agree with what Mohler said about the Roy Moore scandal. But his words ring empty when we witness how his great moral platitudes go out the window when dealing with C.J. Mahaney.

Mahaney is a close friend of Mohler’s and has donated over $200,000 to Southern Seminary, the institution Mohler is President of. Mahaney’s donations were from his personal account as well as the Sovereign Grace denomination’s account and Covenant Life Church’s account. Mahaney used to be Chairman of Sovereign Grace Ministries and senior pastor at Covenant Life Church.

Mahaney presided over the denomination when a class action lawsuit was filed against the Sovereign Grace denomination, Covenant Life Church, Covenant Life School, Sovereign Grace Church of Fairfax, C.J. Mahaney, Gary Ricucci, David Hinders, Louis Gallo, Frank Ecelbarger, John Loftness, Grant Layman, Lawrence Tomczak, Mark Mullery and Vince Hinders for a conspiracy to cover up the sexual abuse of children.  The lawsuit was dismissed because of Statute of Limitation issues, not on the merit of the charges. In fact several men from the denomination have served or are serving prison sentences for sexual abuse. You can read the actual lawsuit charges here, but be warned – some of the charges are quite graphic.

Albert Mohler voiced strong words of righteous judgment against Penn State and now Roy Moore. For C.J. Mahaney he had no such similar denouncement, rather he has faithfully supported his friend and continued to share the conference stage with him at the Together for the Gospel conferences, even making a tastless joke about what he found on the internet about Mahaney when he was introducing him at the 2016 conference.

It took Mohler less than a week to publicly condemn Roy Moore. He maintained his silence for approximately two years on C.J. Mahaney. When he, along with Mark Dever and Ligon Duncan finally published a statement on the scandal it was factually incorrect and was supportive of Mahaney.

Now read Mohler’s statement on the C.J. Mahaney/Sovereign Grace sexual abuse scandal:

STATEMENT FROM MARK DEVER, LIGON DUNCAN, and ALBERT MOHLER

May 23, 2013

We are friends who have been brought together for the gospel. Over the last several months, we have wanted to speak publicly to the issues that have related to our friend C. J. Mahaney. A Maryland judge’s recent action to dismiss a lawsuit against Sovereign Grace Ministries offers us the first opportunity, and responsibility, to speak to this issue. We could not speak to the issues involved so long as they were raised only in the context of an action in the civil courts. We have never made a public comment with regard to claims and counter-claims in a civil lawsuit, and we will not violate that principle now.

Claims presented in a civil lawsuit seeking financial compensation are beyond the ability of the public to render judgment. Often, such claims are even beyond the ability of a court to deliberate. To comment on such claims is irresponsible, since no one apart from the court and the parties directly involved has any ability to evaluate the claims presented. If the filing of civil litigation against a Christian ministry or leader is in itself reason for separation and a rush to judgment, no ministry or minister is safe from destruction at any time. Furthermore, the effort to try such a case in the court of public opinion prior to any decision rendered by an authorized court is likewise irresponsible.

We have stood beside our friend, C. J. Mahaney, and we can speak to his personal integrity. We can make no judgment as to the truthfulness of the horrifying charges of sexual abuse made against some individuals who have been connected, in some way, to Sovereign Grace Ministries and its churches. Our hearts must go out to anyone, and especially to any child, who suffers abuse at the hand of anyone. In such a case the legal authorities must use the full power of the law to investigate and to prosecute any perpetrator of such crimes. We must take any responsible action to protect the vulnerable, and we must act immediately to inform legal authorities of any charge or claim of sexual abuse, and do so without delay. Our first response must be to call the police, to act to protect the child or young person, and then to proceed to biblical church discipline when the facts demand such a response.

If a Christian leader is accused of any wrongdoing, those to whom he is accountable must investigate the charges and then deal responsibly with the evidence. If a criminal accusation is made, Christians have a fundamental duty to inform law enforcement officials. This does not, however, preclude or mitigate the church’s responsibility for biblical church discipline.

A Christian leader, charged with any credible, serious, and direct wrongdoing, would usually be well advised to step down from public ministry. No such accusation of direct wrongdoing was ever made against C. J. Mahaney. Instead, he was charged with founding a ministry and for teaching doctrines and principles that are held to be true by vast millions of American evangelicals. For this reason, we, along with many others, refused to step away from C. J. in any way. We do not regret that decision. We are profoundly thankful for C. J. as friend, and we are equally thankful for the vast influence for good he has been among so many Gospel-minded people.

Our heart goes out to anyone who has ever suffered abuse of any kind. Our emphatic encouragement would be for anyone who has ever suffered such abuse or knows of anyone made vulnerable to such abuse to contact law enforcement officials without delay. We must then allow the law enforcement agencies and the courts to do their proper work. When criminal charges are filed, the public is then presented with evidence upon which it can draw a responsible judgment. On matters of protecting the vulnerable, Christians know what judgment must be made. We side with the victims.

Our hope and prayer is that Christ’s healing and health will come to all parties involved in this matter and that justice and righteousness will prevail for all. May every true victim of any injustice be vindicated. May every doer of wrong be exposed. And may all of us speak no further than we can responsibly speak.

Those who minister in the name of the Lord Christ bear an inescapable duty to live and to minister in a way that is above reproach. Those who teach, reminds James, will face a stricter judgment. [James 3:1] May everything we do, everything we teach, and all that we are be measured against that standard.

Together for the Gospel,

Mark Dever, Ligon Duncan, Albert Mohler

You can see that Mohler still strongly supports C.J. Mahaney. They will once again be sharing the stage at the T4G conference. The hypocrisy is utterly stunning!

Indeed Dr. Mohler, the world is watching!