Vision Forum Ministries Closing After Doug Phillips Admits "Inappropriate ..."

[Reformed Guy]

... Relationship."

I guess I'm getting hardened, but I'm no longer shocked by this sort of thing.  Yet, I'm always grieved.  Particularly grieved about this one, because I know how the enemies of the cross will use (and are using) it as an occasion to blaspheme.

Whether or not the "for-profit" side of the business will remain open is unclear.  I have long thought that the most useful items found there were the non-Phillips items- those items from other authors that they had reprinted or distributed.  I hate to see these go away, but it's going to be a while before I'm ready to hear Phillips pontificate again on being a godly husband/father.

http://www.visionforumministries.org/issues/news_and_reports/the_closing_of_vision_forum_mi.aspx

 

[bgwilkinson]

Just another reason to follow God rather than the Man-O-God.

 

[FSSL]

Uggh!!!

Below are some good lessons raised on a blog:

Is defending the doctrine of justification your big thing? That’s where the devil will attack.

Has the Lord given you a passion against Internet porn? Be sure the devil has targeted that area of your life.

Do you preach against materialism? Know that the devil is planting seeds of discontent, greed, and covetousness in your heart.

Do you protest against the promotion of homosexuality? That’s right, the devil’s set his sights on kindling that lust within you.

Is gospel-centeredness your “thing?” Watch the devil turn that into a new “law” to forcefully impose on others.
Do you major on humility and service? The devil has pride and tyranny lurking just round the corner.

“Let him who thinks he stands, take heed lest he fall” (1 Cor. 10:12).

 

[The Rogue Tomato]

Just another reason to follow God rather than the Man-O-God.

QFT

 

[BandGuy]

Never heard of Douglas Phillips.

 

[HisServent]

FSSL said
Below are some good lessons raised on a blog:

Is defending the doctrine of justification your big thing? That’s where the devil will attack.

Has the Lord given you a passion against Internet porn? Be sure the devil has targeted that area of your life.

Do you preach against materialism? Know that the devil is planting seeds of discontent, greed, and covetousness in your heart.

Do you protest against the promotion of homosexuality? That’s right, the devil’s set his sights on kindling that lust within you.

Is gospel-centeredness your “thing?” Watch the devil turn that into a new “law” to forcefully impose on others.
Do you major on humility and service? The devil has pride and tyranny lurking just round the corner.

“Let him who thinks he stands, take heed lest he fall” (1 Cor. 10:12).

That is the best Comment I have ever seen on this site.

 

[The Rogue Tomato]

... Relationship."

I guess I'm getting hardened, but I'm no longer shocked by this sort of thing. 

There's no reason to be shocked.  The problem exists not only with the man, but the system.  Wherever you have a star, you will have one or more groupies, whether the star is a CEO, a celebrity, a priest or a pastor.  This presents a temptation for both the star and the women who crave breaking through to a star.  And the bigger the challenge, the more the temptation, which is why there are romance novels about a woman infatuated with a priest.

Here's the difference, IMO.  A celebrity will be a celebrity.  Not much you can do about that.  A business needs a CEO to exist and succeed. 

A church or Christian organization doesn't need a star pastor. 

 

[FSSL]

That is the best Comment I have ever seen on this site.

Welcome to the forum! I cannot take credit for it... It is an excellent warning to us all! Those who have hobby horses are typically exposing their own weaknesses. Satan loves the hobby horse!

 

[Tarheel Baptist]

... Relationship."

I guess I'm getting hardened, but I'm no longer shocked by this sort of thing. 

There's no reason to be shocked.  The problem exists not only with the man, but the system.  Wherever you have a star, you will have one or more groupies, whether the star is a CEO, a celebrity, a priest or a pastor.  This presents a temptation for both the star and the women who crave breaking through to a star.  And the bigger the challenge, the more the temptation, which is why there are romance novels about a woman infatuated with a priest.

Here's the difference, IMO.  A celebrity will be a celebrity.  Not much you can do about that.  A business needs a CEO to exist and succeed. 

A church or Christian organization doesn't need a star pastor.

You really need to teach your pony another trick....maybe Castor could help you.

 

[The Rogue Tomato]

... Relationship."

I guess I'm getting hardened, but I'm no longer shocked by this sort of thing. 

There's no reason to be shocked.  The problem exists not only with the man, but the system.  Wherever you have a star, you will have one or more groupies, whether the star is a CEO, a celebrity, a priest or a pastor.  This presents a temptation for both the star and the women who crave breaking through to a star.  And the bigger the challenge, the more the temptation, which is why there are romance novels about a woman infatuated with a priest.

Here's the difference, IMO.  A celebrity will be a celebrity.  Not much you can do about that.  A business needs a CEO to exist and succeed. 

A church or Christian organization doesn't need a star pastor.

You really need to teach your pony another trick....maybe Castor could help you.

Says the man who copies the witty response from Ransom.

 

[rsc2a]

... Relationship."

I guess I'm getting hardened, but I'm no longer shocked by this sort of thing. 

There's no reason to be shocked.  The problem exists not only with the man, but the system.  Wherever you have a star, you will have one or more groupies, whether the star is a CEO, a celebrity, a priest or a pastor.  This presents a temptation for both the star and the women who crave breaking through to a star.  And the bigger the challenge, the more the temptation, which is why there are romance novels about a woman infatuated with a priest.

Here's the difference, IMO.  A celebrity will be a celebrity.  Not much you can do about that.  A business needs a CEO to exist and succeed. 

A church or Christian organization doesn't need a star pastor.

You really need to teach your pony another trick....maybe Castor could help you.

Says the man who copies the witty response from Ransom.

Says the man who copies the witty response from...oh wait....

 

[The Rogue Tomato]

Let's face it.  Suppose -- just for the sake of argument because we know it will never happen -- suppose that churches abandoned the star-pastor-centered model.  What big news story would replace the ones we see now?

"JOSEPH BLOUGH, MEMBER OF TOWNSVILLE FELLOWSHIP CHURCH ADMITS TO INAPPROPRIATE RELATIONSHIP"

Not bloody likely, even if Joseph Blough is guilty of such.  The only reason it's a story when it's a story is because the star does it.  Even worse, often when the star crumbles, the ministry crumbles with it simply because he was a star.  If he was just a member who performed some pastoral duties, the ministry would go on just fine.

Take a look at the threads in this forum.  How many of them exist only because Pastor X said Y, or Pastor Z said A, or Foul-mouthed Preacherette said B?  What more testimony do you need that star-pastor-centeredness is a problem? 

 

[Tarheel Baptist]

... Relationship."

I guess I'm getting hardened, but I'm no longer shocked by this sort of thing. 

There's no reason to be shocked.  The problem exists not only with the man, but the system.  Wherever you have a star, you will have one or more groupies, whether the star is a CEO, a celebrity, a priest or a pastor.  This presents a temptation for both the star and the women who crave breaking through to a star.  And the bigger the challenge, the more the temptation, which is why there are romance novels about a woman infatuated with a priest.

Here's the difference, IMO.  A celebrity will be a celebrity.  Not much you can do about that.  A business needs a CEO to exist and succeed. 

A church or Christian organization doesn't need a star pastor.

You really need to teach your pony another trick....maybe Castor could help you.

Says the man who copies the witty response from Ransom.

Due respect to Ransom, I can't find his post....but if it's about your one trick...he's right and I join him in pointing out the obvious.

Too bad the NT is filled with references to elders, bishops...God ordained leaders in the local church.
Now, feel free to saddle up.....

 

[Smellin Coffee]

Too bad the NT is filled with references to elders, bishops...God ordained leaders in the local church.
Now, feel free to saddle up.....

But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers. And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. Neither be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Christ.

Since "God ordained leaders..." and Jesus made the above comment, are you suggesting Jesus is not God or is He being duplicitous?

Ah, nevermind. Each one of us will just pick and choose whatever fits our own agenda anyway.

 

[Ransom]

I would never hire an "IT professional." I don't see why my organization needs a star guru, or why it should be a paid position.

The right way to do it is to invite all employees to a sharing time, in which everyone is welcome to give their opinion on how the organization's IT architecture needs to be structured, what hardware or software they feel is necessary to achieve it, and what the corporate network means to them.

That way, everyone in the company is equal, and we aren't inappropriately focusing our attention on one professional "expert."

 

[rsc2a]

I would never hire an "IT professional." I don't see why my organization needs a star guru, or why it should be a paid position.

The right way to do it is to invite all employees to a sharing time, in which everyone is welcome to give their opinion on how the organization's IT architecture needs to be structured, what hardware or software they feel is necessary to achieve it, and what the corporate network means to them.

That way, everyone in the company is equal, and we aren't inappropriately focusing our attention on one professional "expert."

Are you designing a government healthcare website?

 

[Smellin Coffee]

I would never hire an "IT professional." I don't see why my organization needs a star guru, or why it should be a paid position.

The right way to do it is to invite all employees to a sharing time, in which everyone is welcome to give their opinion on how the organization's IT architecture needs to be structured, what hardware or software they feel is necessary to achieve it, and what the corporate network means to them.

That way, everyone in the company is equal, and we aren't inappropriately focusing our attention on one professional "expert."

Very perceptive. Kinda makes the point: over the centuries the church has been made into a business venture.

 

[Ransom]

Very perceptive.

Yeah, kinda makes the point that there's a good reason we respect the expertise of professionals in any field of endeavour, doesn't it? No reason that church should be an exception.

 

[Ransom]

Are you designing a government healthcare website?

Doesn't the idea of "healthcare" kind of elevate the doctor's office above everyone else? Maybe we could arrange our chairs in a rough circle and, as a community, agree upon what is making people sick.

 

[Tarheel Baptist]

Too bad the NT is filled with references to elders, bishops...God ordained leaders in the local church.
Now, feel free to saddle up.....

But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers. And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. Neither be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Christ.

Since "God ordained leaders..." and Jesus made the above comment, are you suggesting Jesus is not God or is He being duplicitous?

Ah, nevermind. Each one of us will just pick and choose whatever fits our own agenda anyway.

Your agenda needs alterations....

Jesus also said this..to His chosen leadership team.
“A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. It is enough for a disciple that he be like his teacher, and a servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more will they call those of his household!
Therefore do not fear them. For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known".