#12 What if?
What if Michael Brown responded differently?
Listen to this interview of Ron Cantor by Dwayne & Jennifer Roberts.
https://youtu.be/OS7SsJoNLq4?si=wor71_sprUGwYNKh
This is one of the best podcast interviews yet. They actually addressed the bigger problem plaguing the Church. There's a cancer that charismatic ministry leaders won't acknowledge. They say the problem is in exposing the cancer. They fail to recognize that we need to go through surgery and chemotherapy to eradicate the cancer before it infects the whole Body! I like how well Jordan, Kim's daughter, articulated this. It's an old pattern that's always been accepted. It needs to change. The Church needs to be educated on healthy boundaries. Michael Brown missed his opportunity to bring unity to the Church. What if he had truly humbled himself and acknowledged the pain he caused Sarah even though he didn't realize it? What if he leaned in to listen to former students and understand how harmful his actions were? What if he admitted he was wrong in minimizing and justifying his behavior? What if he would cross the invisible boundary between ministry leaders and the "accusers of the brethren" and listen to what you all are saying, even in this interview? What if he would be willing to come and have an honest conversation on your show to talk about what he could do differently to bring healing to the Body? What if he would read "When the Church Harms God's people"? What if, instead of continuing with ministry as usual, he would become a voice to acknowledge how his own failures reveal a bigger problem among leadership in the Church? What if he began to speak to those in ministry positions about how to recognize harmful behaviors, DARVO, manipulation tactics, etc. Imagine if he actually read the book by Peter Scazzero and became emotionally healthy? What if he began teaching on principles from Emotionally Healthy Spirituality? It's so sad that he was so close to recognizing his failings with the Kim situation as he acknowledged on one interview, even that he should've gone to his board about it, yet he can't see the problem of his relationship with Sarah. It's so sad that he thought a week of therapy was enough after the Kim situation seemed resolved with his wife and the couple. What if he actually went through real therapy, acknowledged where he mishandled so much, and chose to turn his pain into a treatment to help the body of Christ learn from his mistakes. I had so much hope that he would respond differently. He seemed more willing to humble himself than others. What if he could watch this interview, read this comment, choose a different path forward? What if he would speak to the Mike Bickle situation with clarity to help ministers see what happened and why? This story could actually help to heal the Church, if only... What if!?
If you haven't been following any of this, here are some helpful links to go back and listen to. I honestly empathize with both sides. I have history from both perspectives concerning situations in my own family. Both have valid points. Both are also wrong in some areas…
One thing that is of utmost importance is that the dysfunction within the Body of Christ cannot be swept under the rug. We CAN'T just move on with business as usual as if there's nothing wrong!!!
So here is some LOOOOONG listening in order to catch you up…
This is the latest post. I haven't even listened to it yet, but I'm glad to hear Ron's giving them a voice:
https://youtu.be/uHm1-fxi7ak?si=xUR-207-KjZgEsYk
Minor Prophets on Dr. Michael Brown:
https://youtu.be/wyEaNzEn1oo?si=CnVCB476fNoUFZcr
3 hr interview of Dr. Michael Brown by Mercy Culture:
https://youtu.be/uwTCulZn2xM?si=jy_xACn1F7h4RbfB
Joel Richardson on confronting Dr. Michael Brown and seeing the dark underbelly of Evangelicalism:
https://youtu.be/lyUFpM2kooo?si=8vRiEAp353t1LwW4
Shane Winnings reacting to a portion of the Michael Brown interview:
https://youtu.be/oX1113_8Exo?si=k1LiMmpf4DWGRBH0
Something's not right by Wake Up and Win:
https://youtu.be/N9MA1MXGNDI?si=VvUbmAeaCoijRbZ3
Another interview with Shane Winnings:
“In this episode, we sit down with Shane Winnings — CEO of Promise Keepers and former law enforcement officer — to talk about biblical masculinity, being a godly husband and father, and what it really means to lead with integrity. Shane shares his powerful testimony, the need for men to rise up in truth, and why confronting abuse in the church isn’t optional. He offers a bold take on the Michael Brown scandal, speaks plainly about the Daystar/Lamb family situation, and calls out the silence and compromise that protect predators in the pulpit.”
https://youtu.be/CyoUq_ALudY?si=OIFPQVVy1iiJM91H
Julie Roys interviews Ron Cantor about Dr. Michael Brown's return to ministry:
https://youtu.be/w-m1mWaIZCI?si=K7ltfIjaCjdVyWUL
Go back and read my first 11 Substacks to track with my journey on sorting through the pieces of The Church Puzzle.