I recently saw a Facebook post by Brian Simmons, the author of The Passion Translation, regarding recent and ongoing exposure of  Sexual and or Spiritual abuse in the church. On the surface, the post appears rooted in love and compassion. More than a few members of the ministry in which I currently find myself are praising it.

Simmons cites Paul’s approach to rampant sin in the Church of Corinth along with the letters to the seven churches in Revelation 2 and 3. That approach is

Affirm -Reveal – Invite.

His premise regarding the approach is not inherently false, but it is a false equivalence.

Paul and John are addressing the entire fellowship. Not every participant within these fellowships was guilty or equally guilty of the sins being addressed.

Conversely, the sins being addressed today are exclusively on the part of leadership, which is held to a higher standard than regular congregants. 1 Timothy 3:1-7, James 3:1,1 Thessalonians 5:21-22, and

As for those (Leaders) who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest may stand in fear. In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of the elect angels I charge you to keep these rules without prejudging, doing nothing from partiality. Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, nor take part in the sins of others; keep yourself pure.

1 Timothy 5:20-22

The sins of the leaders being exposed by discernment ministries like Mike Winger are as follows. Lying, sexual abuse, sexual harassment, adultery, indecent exposure, fraud, false prophecy resulting in physical harm, false signs and wonders, false testimony leading to medical harm, turning a blind eye when sin by co-leaders is exposed while frequently ostracizing, maligning, and or silencing whistleblowers with NDAs.

Leaders among whom Brian Simmons is just one are appealing to the emotions of their followers. They petition hearts for grace and mercy upon the predators while at best ignoring their victims.

Deny

Rationalization, Justification, Minimization, and Generalization otherwise known as “criminal thinking errors” are primary tools in denial.

I listened to Kris Vallotton‘s first response to Mike Winger regarding Shawn Boltz. Throughout the video, he employs criminal thinking errors.  Among these Generalization and Minimization seem to be his favorites. He never uses Mike Winger’s or Shawn Boltz’s name. However, the timing and issue at hand are clear. Vallotton rationalizes and minimizes Bethel’s failure to address Boltz’s abuse on the basis that their flock is in 72 countries and therefore hard to Shepard. That so many followers are online makes it harder. He generalized that we don’t always know the background of leaders who fall and implied that Boltz and maybe others were operating out of past trauma. This was a rationalization and justification to build a strawman. 

Attack

Vallotton continues to build a strawman as he attacks. He accuses people like Mike Winger, of exposing sin for revenue-generating “clicks”. For the record, Mike Winger has de-monitized all of his videos exposing sin in leadership. These videos are five or six hours long. Having produced videos myself, the sheer volume of labour involved in this is beyond comprehension. That said, Mike Winger’s motivation is not the issue. Niether are the tone and approach mentioned by Brian Simmons. The issue is the indictment of the named leaders in the context of those they have harmed. The allegations are true or they are not. In the meantime, any other question or supposition is a deflection and diversion from the real issue.

The attack is furthered with gaslighting. The victims are accused of being offended and reminded that forgiveness is a mandate. This is true but in this context, it is another strawman. That we must have mercy and forgive does not negate “doing justly”  when a perpetrator is not held accountable and does not repent. Mathew 18:6

Finally, victims are accused of being divisive if they share their experiences with people in their communities and the public at large.

Reverse Victim / Offender

Once the victim is in fear of being in the sins of offense and divisiveness they become the offender. It’s a bit like telling a rape victim that she wouldn’t have been raped if her skirt weren’t so short.

In both cases, Simmons and Vallotton have people responding with compassion for the predators while all but ignoring the fact that the sins of men like Mike Bickle, and Shawn Boltz were known to leadership for decades and were swept under the rug. Bill Johnson knew about Shawn Boltz’s fraudulent prophecies as early as 2016 and yet he praised Boltz’s character while promoting his book in 2023. Vallotton knew Boltz would masturbate in front of interns and send pictures of his penis and full nudes via text. Yes, he apparently confronted him. But Vallotton placed gifting over character and used Solomon and Judas as examples of good ministry done by bad characters. Mike Bickle cited David in his defense. Yes God causes all things to work together for good…Romans 8:28. That said, the moral failings of biblical leaders are there as an example of what not to do. They are not an excuse for the same moral failings on our part.

Things might be different if just one or two people were the problem. However, the issue is systemic. At the end of the day, all of this is about image management to preserve a brand instead of obedience to God through His word. That brand may be framed as a “movement” or a ministry. But it is a brand nonetheless upon which the inflow of millions and millions of dollars and lavish lifestyles depend.

If this is confusing consider the following especially if you have children.

What would you have me do if I walked in on a trusted person in ministry who was masturbating in front of your child? Should, I bless him and affirm all the good he has done, gently explain why God does not approve of his behavior, pray with him, and ask him to stop?

For the record, I would give extreme mercy. In this case, mercy would look like me rendering him unconscious and calling the police instead of hanging a millstone around his neck and casting him into the sea as Jesus recommended.

What would you say if you later learned that the others in church leadership knew about the perpetrator and his recurring behavior for years and did nothing?

Where are the men in the church? Or have all of you been so emasculated that you cannot or will not stand boldly and protect the flock especially women and children?!

Maranatha