Oklahoma: Megachurch Rocked by Reports of Sexual Assaults

A 17,000-member megachurch has been rattled by allegations that five employees waited two weeks to report the rape of a 13-year-old girl in a campus stairwell.

The Tulsa police say the girl is among at least three victims of sex crimes committed by two former employees of the church, Victory Christian Center.

The police said this week that the worldwide ministry’s pastor and co-founder, Sharon Daugherty, whose daily broadcasts are heard in more than 200 countries, knew about the accusations, but trusted employees to follow policies on reporting such assaults.

A former church employee, Chris Denman, 20, was arrested Sept. 5 on charges of raping the 13-year-old before a church service on Aug. 13. He also is charged with molesting a 15-year-old girl between Aug. 13 and Aug. 17.

Another ex-employee, Israel Shalom Castillo, 23, was arrested Thursday and charged with making a lewd proposal to a child and using a computer to commit a sexual crime.

Prosecutors this week also charged five church employees, including Ms. Daugherty’s son and daughter-in-law, who are both youth pastors, with failing to report accusations of the assault between Aug. 15 and Aug. 30.

The church said staff members in the ministry’s youth department learned of the accusations and spent about a week looking into them before reporting them to supervisors and human resources. Once the complaint reached human resources, “that department did not follow its own reporting policy,” the ministry said.

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Posted by Breaking Bread

Poll: Over Half of Tea Party Members Support Bringing Guns to Church

Can the Church involve itself in any more buffoonery

A recently released poll has found that Americans who describe themselves as members of the tea party movement are the most likely to support carrying guns to church.
According to the Public Religion Research Institute poll, released Wednesday, 55 percent of respondents who identified themselves as tea party members supported allowing people to carry guns to church. This contrasted with 38 percent of Republicans, 17 percent of independents, and 9 percent of Democrats.
"Although the issue of gun control tends to divide Americans by party, gender, region and race, there is broad agreement among the public that there are some places where concealed weapons should be off limits," said PRRI Research Director Daniel Cox in a statement.
The poll was conducted between Aug. 8 and 12, with a sample space of 1,006 adults. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 percent.
According to the PRRI poll, overall roughly three-quarters of Americans oppose concealed carry of guns into various facilities, with 76 percent opposing them in worship facilities, 73 percent opposing them in government facilities, and 77 percent opposing them on college campuses.
Other findings from the poll included 52 percent of Americans favoring tougher gun laws and 68 percent of Americans believing that the constitutional right to own a gun is as important as other rights.


"In spite of recent debates over gun control, a strong majority of Americans believe that the constitutional right to own and carry a gun is as important as the right to free speech," said Dr. Robert P. Jones, PRRI CEO, in a statement.
"Unsurprisingly, this belief is particularly pervasive among gun owners."
The results of the poll come in the wake of several high profile gun-based violent crimes took place across the country. On July 20, an individual entered a Colorado movie theatre during a viewing of "The Dark Knight Rises" and opened fire, killing 12 and wounding 58. On Aug. 5, a shooter opened fire at a Sikh Temple in Oak Creek, Wis., killing six and wounding four.
The poll also came a couple weeks after a court in Georgia upheld a law that banned the bringing of firearms into places of worship.
The Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals ruled on July 20 that the 2010 law banning guns from churches did not violate either the First or Second Amendment.
"A place of worship's right, rooted in the common law, to forbid possession of firearms on its property is entirely consistent with the Second Amendment," ruled the Eleventh Circuit.


By Michael Gryboski , Christian Post Reporter

Posted by Breaking Bread

The So Called Black Church

Why is the black church so adamant about homosexuality? Secondly, does the President have to answer to you. I understand the church has gotten away from evangelizing to proselytizing, it's been in bed so long with politicians that it behaves the same no less. I thought homosexuality is a choice that a person can choose freely. The same as men who sleep with many different women and impregnating them. where is the real outrage when it comes to SIN. Homosexuality is one type of sin, what about the other 3000. The church is ever growing weaker and insufficient, it no longer produces fruit but thorns instead. Allow me to ask a question; what is sin? We have to start there, until we answer the tough questions the church will forever be in the wilderness. WAKE UP BLACK CHURCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Gay Gayer Gayest

I'm tired of the entire subject of homosexuality. Politicians use it as a wedge issue to obtain more votes for a certain party, which is strange if you look at the entire picture. What did republicans do for the Ecclesia when in office, as far as promises are concerned. I remember very specifically when George Bush won, he was asked to appear at the dove awards coincidentally it was the christian community that pushed him over; didn't appear. I was really dumb struck by this. It showed where his allegiance really lied; not with faith based communities. I don't like politicians to play the religious card, first I don't know what you believe as your core doctrine. I don't know your convictions as a person of faith, and lastly I have to look at your policies and past engagements to know who you really are. My conclusion is, you can't be a politician and lie (Prov 17:7), yet they continue to do so as well as practice deceitfulness.

As I mentioned, yes homosexuality is a wedge issue. An evangelical professor is calling for the resignation or removal of Alan Chambers as president of Exodus International, citing concerns that Chambers is offering a false hope to gays and lesbians and compromising the ministry's mission. This really struck me as odd. First we understand what the bible says about this issue. Yes Christians are missing the larger issue. Did God accept you when you were dirty and filthy and vile and lovers of many; YES. Did he hold it against you; NO.  Same issue as it pertains to Gays, come as you are. You get cleansed during the journey, not a minute before. Gays can be born again/anew, but once they accept the contract and sign it they have to abide by what it says. Christians need to stop putting their personal convictions on others and simply let people live. Sure the bible teaches only a certain subset of people will enjoy everlasting peace; we don't know those people. Remember they are three Resurrections, life, judgement, death; allow God to rule as he pleases.

God understands we are flawed individuals, didn't he wink at ignorance when his men had concubines of woman practicing immorality and selfishness. This even proved problematic even to King David when you look at his actions concerning Bathsheba. My only point is, we don't know and we must not act as if we do know. When a person accepts the Messiah into their heart, we have to leave it there. It is now between the person and God. Christians need to fix and get their house in order first and stop banishing people to the lake of fire. We are called to be witnesses; be a witness and stop being hypercritical and start practicing love and kindness.

God has this thing figured out, his son was a fine example. He hung with the dredges of his day, so much so he was called a wine bibber. In all this we have to use common sense. Fine, use the old adage "love the sinner hate the sin". The bigger problem, you are hating the sinner and the sin. If you keep kicking them upside the head; why would they want what you are giving. We all have family members that are gay; I do. When I talk to them they are lost and confused. I say this based on conversations I have with them. In their heart of hearts they want to serve God according to the bible. We have to help steer them in the right direction; the ones who ask for our help; and not judge them. It is time for the Church to understand what the scriptures teaches and what the constitution says. With that in tow we can influence the world for a better good.


DISCLAIMER
In my talking about the issue of homosexuality, allow me to say, I'm not necessarily a friend to the gay community nor am I an enemy. As a volunteerist I believe in personal freedoms as well as non aggression. I understand people can disagree with gay pride parades and sometimes the over the top behavior. In the end we must allow people to be who wants to be. In order to minister to people we have to be open to them as others have to be open to us. 

Kicking over Sacred Cows:The Cross or is it?

A lot has been said about the cross or the crucifix of the Messiah. In order for us to accept truth we must accept the truth of the Scriptures. While many will have us believe he was crucified on a cross, this runs contrary to what is true. He was murdered on an upright stake.

In order to know what something is we have to know what it is not. Church history is something that isn’t being taught. We have excluded true doctrine for the doctrine of itching ears. The issue of the cross is another in a long line of offenses that helps to delude or erode orthodoxy as useless and ineffective. The word cross is stauros “an upright pale or stake” on which executions took place. The verb form is stauroō “to fasten to a stake or pale.”

It’s important to note an argument that has arisen is the Jews were complicit in having the Messiah murdered. The Messiah was more likely murdered for political reasons. He resisted Jews from giving tribute or celebration to Caesar’s Jewish New Testament, Sacred Name Bible Authorized Version (Lk 23:2).

As much as it pains people to admit this, the Bible is a Jewish book. We have to look at the fact that translators have changed so much of the Bible to make it fit certain doctrines. Take Easter for example, why is it erroneously translated as Easter in the King James Version (KJV), while other Bibles translate it properly by using the word Passover? This is another in a long line of offences that must be corrected. The word cross isn’t figurative language either.

Our English word “cross” is the translation of crux. The word never implies or means two pieces of timber placed across one another at any angle but always of one piece alone (1Pet 2:24, Acts 5:30, 10:39, 13:29, Gal 3:13). The cross itself was presented by the Third Century A.D. The Ecclesia (church) was heavily influenced by pagan culture; it is one of the reasons why God says, “Do not follow in the way of the heathen (Jer 10:2-5). This very Scripture has to do with Christmas trees as well as Christians. So much of the church succumbed to strange practices and customs.

Scripture is specific and uses plain language. The word cross is erroneously translated when it should be upright stake. In the New Testament the word stauros (upright stake) is used 28 times. Many believe it isn’t necessary for this type of teaching. We are to contend for the faith (Jude 1:3); we are to preach the whole gospel, not in part. If we are confused about this one simple issue imagine all the other parts. The gospel has been perverted by pagan influence to this day. Why does the Apostle Paul sound so American, or Peter, or John?  Paul would be Shaul, Peter would be Kepha, and John would be Yochanon. The church also has been compromised by the very people that are supposed to uphold it and teach.

The execution stake is a place, the place, we are to die. It is metaphorically used in denunciation from the world and from self. It is to take on the life of the Messiah and to live for him (1Cor 1:17-18, Gal 5:11, Phil 3:17-20). We are to take our burden and follow the Messiah, we are to follow in fellowship with him (Matt 10:38).

Lastly, it is the traditions of men that make the word of no affect (Mk7:13). The reason to wear the cross is best explained in (Matt 10:38), and anyone who does not take up his execution-stake and follow me is not worthy of me.

Losing it's Way

The church is as the title say's, losing it's way. I thought the church is suppose to be in the Ministry of helps not put downs. Pastors are running around espousing all kinds of facts that aren't true, they try an act sincere while hiding behind the Bible. Terry Jones actually hangs an Obama effigy because of his controversial stance on marriage equality. David Barton says people are on welfare because they don't read the Bible. Creflo Dollar gets arrested for beating his daughter. How do these incidences lead people to the Messiah; they don't. They make people scratch there heads and wonder. Terry Jones must be an ignorant man or is starved for attention to bring people into his fellowship. How offensive is it to hang something like that of the President, but was to much of a coward to burn the Koran. He claims it's because of the gay thing. Get over it sir, believe in your constitution that talks about equal protection under the law. If you treat people like dogs, how can you minister to them? With these types of antics I wonder if these people really study the scripture. What can I say about David Barton, except another bone head statement. It's easy to pick on the poor, what about the rich. Have you ever heard of corporate welfare. So in other words rich people did it all themselves without government interference. If you believe that you are delusional. What are you doing to combat the issue? Are you simply preaching at them? Have you walked a mile in their shoes? Barton is another fellow I wonder about, if he actually studies the scriptures for understanding. He say's a lot ignorant things. Lest we forget, Creflo Dollar; what a fitting last name. A prosperity preacher, who preaches the good news of riches. He is going to have some explaining to do on Sunday. I have children, we disagree often, but to put hands and physically cause them harm is way overboard, especially a young girl. Parenting is a difficult job in it self. I wont go to hard at him, we as parents have to choose our battles. However his doctrine is something I do question. The church is in the wilderness trying to find a way out, until then we are going to continually be lost. It's time to start from the bottom up, it is time for a cleansing.The church is to divided, to racist, to be effective as a collective. The church needs to get back to God, not politics, but what God's word says. 1Jn 3:4 is a good start, if we follow that and the church works as a whole doing different things while working for the same result, it will be a force to reckon with. I'm not a fatalist, I just don't see the kind of unity any time soon.

The Revealing

The church is in an influx of confusion and is in need of a cleansing. Some groups have gone as far to insist the office of the Apostle is coming back. These groups have already started acting as if they are Apostles. Don’t be fooled, and have no part of it. These men haven’t met the requirements of the office. They weren't chosen, they didn't witness his resurrection. Paul the last of the Apostles was in the presence of the Messiah. He was commissioned and personally taught by him. These movements are nothing but farces. As far as the cleansing is concerned, it is getting back to truths. The transitional period the church is going is the revealing of past and current ignorance. How disturbing is it to have a young boy singing homos are going to hell. This kind of activity is silly as well as reckless. The only reason we know of the incident is that someone you tubed it. Another incident that went viral was when a NC preacher said they should build a high electric fence and put all the gays in it. This behavior in the pulpit is irresponsible and it hurts the church more than you think. For all the gay and lesbians out there, the church is missing opportunities to witness. The second error is, think of the many other people that are listening to this hate being spewed. You are turning people off not on. It’s okay to preach the sincere word; it’s not okay to add to the sincere word.

Andrew Sullivan who’s article that was featured in Newsweek questioning the church was correct in many ways. He’s a bit delusional. Protestantism claims to be the truth, it doesn't view the Catholic Church as credible. Andrew seems to link both as one, it is at best misleading. Why don’t they deal with their overreaching issues that have plastered headlines and continue to be in the headlines? Andrew is also openly gay, which I don’t mind. The problem I have is he wants to spread the ills of the church but doesn't want to deal with his personal sins.

It is true the church is starting to go through a revealing; simply for it to deal with homosexuality and gay marriage. The church is being outed, as it should be outed. In order for the body to be cleansed, it has to be vulnerable in order to get back on the right track. The second issue is doctrine. The church has to get back to truths and stop putting personal convictions on people. God is going to do a great work, but the people’s hearts and minds must be receptacle to God’s truths and workings. A divided church cannot be effective!