Last week, New Life Covenant Church invited disgraced former pastor, James MacDonald, to speak at its men’s retreat. And today, the multi-site megachurch reportedly welcomed MacDonald and his wife into fellowship, bringing them on stage and praying publicly for them.
Kim Matthews, a woman who had recently started attending New Life Covenant with her family, said she witnessed the event this morning while attending the church’s 10:00 a.m. service in Humboldt Park. Another person reached out to me on Twitter and said he witnessed the same thing.
I contacted New Life Covenant for comment, but no one responded.
According to Matthews, a New Life Covenant pastor she didn’t know came on stage this morning after the sermon by former senior pastor, Wilfredo “Choco” De Jesus. (De Jesus recently stepped down from his role at the church to become general treasurer of the Assemblies of God.) The New Life Covenant pastor then invited MacDonald and his wife, Kathy, to join him on stage.
Matthews said the pastor told the congregation that the elder board at New Life Covenant had unanimously voted to welcome “Pastor James” and his wife into the church. She said the pastor then asked the congregation to extend their hands toward the MacDonalds, which they did, as the pastor prayed for the MacDonalds’ “healing.”
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Matthews, who said she’s read the many accounts of MacDonald’s wrongdoing, said she was shocked by what she witnessed and left the church as quickly as possible after the service because she was about to cry.
“I was so upset, I was seeing red,” Matthews said. “I was sick to my stomach in church. I couldn’t believe it.”
[pullquote]“I was so upset, I was seeing red. I was sick to my stomach in church. I couldn’t believe it.”[/pullquote]MacDonald has filed for arbitration against Harvest Bible Chapel—the Chicago-area megachurch that fired him in February for conduct “harmful to the best interests of the church.” The former celebrity pastor has been accused of numerous offenses, including misusing church funds to cover personal luxury items and trips, bullying staff, making highly inappropriate comments, and maintaining a pattern of deception.Last week Harvest Lead Ministry Pastor Greg Bradshaw said that Harvest and MacDonald remain in the “arbitration preparation stage.” He also said that Harvest had had no contact with New Life Covenant concerning MacDonald speaking at New Life Covenant’s men’s retreat. I reached out to Bradshaw and a Harvest elder for an update but have not yet heard back.
MacDonald and Pastor De Jesus have a relationship that dates back to at least 2014 when De Jesus spoke at one of the Harvest’s Summer for the City events. I have repeatedly reached out to De Jesus for comment but he has not responded.
Matthews said she and her family came to New Life Covenant church after hearing De Jesus speak this summer at Highpoint Church in Naperville, IL. She said that since her husband is African-American and she is white, the family was looking for a more diverse congregation.
“We thought we’d found it,” she said. Now she said her family is looking for a new church and added that she’s shaken that she had initially embraced a church that would embrace an unrepentant, disgraced pastor.
“If they put this guy in charge . . . he’ll take the whole thing down,” she said. Matthews added that she doesn’t think most of the congregation at New Life Covenant knows about the wrongdoing MacDonald has committed.
Personally, I’m as stunned as Matthews that New Life Covenant has welcomed MacDonald into fellowship. First Corinthians 5:11 is very clear about how to treat unrepentant sinners who claim to be brothers: “But now I am writing you not to associate with anyone who claims to be a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a verbal abuser, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat.”
New Life Covenant has a global, weekly attendance of 17,000 and maintains more than 110 ministries.
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Assemblies of God new church planting coming soon to Naples FL.
Glad that you brought this up. What is the motivation for wearing ratty holey jeans? I know of no other reason except disrespect. We should show reverence in God’s house and that is severely lacking today in many churches. People want it to be about THEIR “comfort” (as if holey jeans are more comfortable than normal pants) instead of coming to worship and show reverence to the Almighty King, Creator of the world.
I started attending Harvest in 1997. Back then, it was a basic church in a warehouse with a powerful sermon, and I loved it. Pastor James wore a suit back then, and I firmly believe he would have called out anyone dressed as he is in picture shown above. I don’t think pastors and/or attendees need to totally dress up for church, but some effort should be made for the reason stated: reverence for God’s house because it is different/set apart. I am sad for Pastor James. He looks lost, not the Pastor James I know from before the celebrity status. I am praying for him. I’m done with the anger, confusion, sadness and disbelief re: what took place behind the scenes at Harvest when he was the ‘leader.’ James looks like a lost soul. Julie, is this church welcoming him into the fellowship mean that he’s an attendee OR that he’s part of the staff?
JMac’s Minister of Wardrobe (his wife?) needs to add the gold chains, sunglasses and ponytail to complete his cool hip look.
No it’s not. Jobe’s churches do not include “covenant’. Believe me, I checked!
Anyone defending any of these players has not read and understood the New Testament in its entirety. You have to ignore everything that Jesus said to the Pharisees and about money and power to get there. A worldly value we have today is the forbidden “party spirit” which is political in nature. Gal. 5:19 “Now the doings (practices) of the flesh are clear (obvious): they are immorality, impurity, indecency, Idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, anger (ill temper), selfishness, divisions (dissensions), party spirit (factions, sects with peculiar opinions, heresies), Envy, drunkenness, carousing, and the like. I warn you beforehand, just as I did previously, that those who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.”
The party or political spirit is simply demonizing and attacking all the other factions and refusing to admit evil or try to clean house in your own political faction. We see this greatly in our country in the far right and far left factions. I also see this a lot in what calls itself a church. People join a faction, demonize other Christians for minor differences and defend the indefensible in their own. JMac looked to hire hitmen to kill off those he judged to be his enemies. This is as indefensible as any actions can get. This is the way Satan’s Kingdom operates. There is no Jesus anywhere in this!
Those defending JMac or this other church or indeed the practices like ghost writing for profit and selling the lie that the famous celebrity actually wrote the book, when he likely did not have time or interest even to thoroughly read it are just promoting evil and sin. They need to repent. The celebrities will likely never do so, but the sheep who have embraced the worldly value of choosing a celebrity and standing by him through murder and mayhem just might. So please do. There is nothing Christian about proof texting certain scriptures, pulling them out of context and then telling the watchmen to shut up.
If only 1 Corinthians 5:9-13 would come to mind when it comes to backing Trump. And yes, silence is backing him.
Hello MH:
You write, “if only 1 Corinthians 5:9-13 would come to mind when it comes to backing Trump. And yes, silence is backing him.”
MH:
Christian tradition, church Polity, and Scripture ( highest authority ) teach that the STATE is different from the Church. Romans 13, etc…etc…. teach that there are 2 different domains or “Realms” or “Kingdoms” on earth: one called the “STATE” and the other , the CHURCH. They are different and have different roles and responsibilities. That is why Charles Colson wrote a book called, “Kingdoms in Conflict”…..
The reason why many of us are quick to share our Harvest experiences and to also call for the public disqualification of Pastor James MacDonald is because the Bible teaches so. That is the sole reason. James MacDonald has abused the office of the Pastor ( domain: Church ) for many, many years, and he has no godly fruit in his greed, self-absorbed, celebrity pastor lavish lifestyle. The Bible teaches that false wolves like MacDonald should never be allowed to preach in a public setting ( read 1 TImothy; Titus )
Trump is not an evangelical, …………at least Not until he started running for office.
I do not see much godly fruit in Trump’s conduct.
But my problem with your misguided, earlier post is that you seem to conflate and confuse the roles and division of the 2 Kingdoms. In one Kingdom, it is clear from God’s word that God wants James MacDonald to be removed from ministry. In the 2nd Kingdom, it is NOT clear from God’s word that God wants Trump removed from office. This is because at the time of the New Testament, Nero and Diocletian were racking havoc, and yet God’s word never mentions removal of office.
I don’t know your motivation for your earlier post, but I see confusion and conflation of the 2 Kingdoms here, and that is why I responded.
We are going to see even stranger and unbelievable things happening. #Godiscomigsoon remember we are here to serve God and not man. Let’s pray that God has mercy.
I met James about 30 years ago. He came to our church in New York to get us started with small groups. Back then, he was amazing. A really great speaker.
But here’s the thing, he is unrecognizable today: both physically and character wise.
We used to joke that he looked like Larry the Cucumber. He was tall, and skinny as a rail. Clean shaven, too.
To see all the weight he has put on, that gross beard, the ripped jeans, and the tattoos makes me realize he is nothing like used to be, at least physically.
@Mark,
Can you please explain why there are so many Evangelicals supporting Trump and how they themselves have not conflated the two ‘Kingdoms?’ The Bible says how can two walk together lest they be in agreement? Trump has massive support from Evangelical leaders such as David Jeremiah, Pat Robertson, Franklin Graham, Robert Jeffress, Falwell Jr., Jay Sekulow, etc., etc., etc. The hypocrisy on this issue is sickening.
@Carla beat me to it. (Thank you). @Mark, I brought it up because the world–the world we are supposed to be spreading the gospel to–is watching. They are watching us have more to say on whether or not Kanye West is a Christian than on the behavior of Trump. Go look at the number of posts and comments from evangelicals that slam a celebrity. Then look at the silence of those SAME evangelicals about Trump’s bullying, dishonesty, cursing, and taunting behavior. Or worse, you’ll see the “but what about” justifications of “the liberals did it first!” and “but we will get a conservative Court!” which scream of immaturity (my mom didn’t allow “but he did it first!”, but somehow it’s ok of adult evangelicals?!) and obsession with gaining or holding onto political power. I have friends who have either left churches or lost interest in becoming a Christian because of how they see evangelicals conflating Christianity with conservatism, justifying and/or staying silent on Trump’s behavior. They are looking for us to scream about Trump’s bad behavior with the same fervor we do about an actor’s awards speech. But….nothing. It is relevant in these discussions because just as these corrupt mega church pastors have bowed before the idol of power – WE as THE CHURCH have bowed before the idol of political power. Call it ALL out. Don’t be selective. Being selective is literally costing us souls.
MH: thank you for your post.
MH writes:
“They are watching us have more to say on whether or not Kanye West is a Christian than on the behavior of Trump. Go look at the number of posts and comments from evangelicals that slam a celebrity. Then look at the silence of those SAME evangelicals about Trump’s bullying, dishonesty, cursing, and taunting behavior.”
Mark’s response:
Good point: we are already in agreement here. I share your same feelings and concerns.
MH writes:
“They are looking for us to scream about Trump’s bad behavior with the same fervor we do about an actor’s awards speech. But….nothing. It is relevant in these discussions because just as these corrupt mega church pastors have bowed before the idol of power – WE as THE CHURCH have bowed before the idol of political power. Call it ALL out. Don’t be selective.”
Mark’s response:
I benefitted from reading your post 2 different times.
I see your point. I agree with you. You made a good point.
May I please make 1 small as in “Minor” point? I say this as “Minor”, only because I do not want to detract away from your well-reasoned post.
My small contribution here is that Evangelicals like myself have given up on all news outlets. I do not know what is Truth versus what is a Lie. I am being honest here. For example, it is a Fact that in 1980 there were 55 different media conglomerations, each with different and conflicting and varying degrees of influence. This meant that back in year 1980 the average TV view could receive and consume Divergent points of view, all because….in reality, they came from multiple sources. Now flash forward to today……in year 2019, there are 6 major media corporations/entities that control over 90% of the news. AOL/Time Warner, ABC News, Yahoo News, etc……all of their mergers and re-structuring has contributed to 6 remaining corporations that dictate and control over 90% of what is called “news”.
So as a right-leaning, conservative who is Appalled at Trump’s many bad marital choices, I look at the “news” and simply recoil in disgust. And I did not even vote for Trump. I did not vote for Hillary either or for the pseudo-Libertarian named Gary Johnson. Many Christians like me voted GOP plank and then voted Constitution Party for President.
But I do not even know what is “True” any more??
So when I hear of Trump wrong-doing, I am skeptical.
Hello Carla:
The evangelical sub-culture often intersects and is interwoven with a variety of other positions/subcultures. For example, the evangelical sub-culture is most prominently Influential in the mid-west and in the south for other “Non-Trump” reasons ( Libertarianism, 2nd Amendment, pro-life, etc…etc )
To answer your question:
the Evangelical leaders that you mentioned ( Pat Robertson, Franklin Graham ) I personally do not follow.
The ones that you mentioned above are INDEED guilty of conflating and confusing the “2 Kingdom views”, and so you and I are already in agreement here.
These same Evangelical leaders that you mentioned ( Falwell, Pat Robertson, etc ) do not speak for me. And I have uttered and shared that sentiment at church and at work and at home.
It is indeed possible to support Trump in the voting booth ( for other Non-Trump reasons ) without conflating the 2 Kingdoms.
Thank you for your earlier post.
Thank you for the dialogue.
Carla and MH:
Thank you both for your follow-up posts and comments.
In summary, I do indeed still believe that the “2 Kingdom View” would teach that James MacDonald should be banned from preaching and teaching in the future. James MacDonald does not even meet the Biblical requirements of a teaching Elder. While at the same time, the “2 Kingdom View” would support the idea that there is a LESSER and relaxed standard for the Non-Christian domain or “Kingdom” of the State.
Under this “relaxed” or LESSER standard, the State leader ( Prime Minister or mayor or congressman or President or whatever Politician ) would still be able to retain and hold elected office at the very same time…….that if a Preacher committed the same act, then there would be calls for immediate removal ( and rightly so ) from his church office. The office in the Church domain has far higher ethical and spiritual guidelines/requirements than the office of elected official in the separate domain or “Kingdom” called the State.
I agree with you that many famous Evangelical “leaders” ( Falwell, Graham, etc ) have Not been discerning towards Trump. I agree with you that some of these same leaders have conflated the 2 Kingdoms. They do not speak for me.
I do Not agree with you that 1 Corinthians 5 or 6 should be applied towards Trump ( or Obama or any elected official ). That verse only applies to the Kingdom of the church,….towards Christians.
I do not agree that it is wrong to cast a vote for Trump. After all, a Christian can indeed have non-Trump reasons for voting for Trump.
You both made good points. And I benefitted from re-reading your point about being Silent towards Trump’s public sins and errors.
Thank you.
I do not pretend to be an authority here, but this was interesting.
Friendly FYI only….
https://www.ligonier.org/learn/articles/tale-two-kingdoms/
I appreciate your response too. I have a couple of points to raise:
I agree that media has become more about entertainment and less about news. That is why it is important to know the difference between fact and opinion ESPECIALLY since today’s “talking heads” do a great job of presenting their opinions as facts.
HOWEVER, I often see conservatives hide behind your point of “what is truth” to avoid calling out what is right in front of them. What’s there to question when Trump is cursing during his “rallies” on live television? Or when he’s calling others names on Twitter? Or shouting insults over a reporter trying to ask a question at a press conference? Or when he lies and says he didn’t day something, only for it to be ON CAMERA that he did? I’m sorry, but you know that’s wrong behavior when you see it. Being quiet in these moments under the guise of “the media is making it hard to know what’s true” is blatant avoidance of calling a spade a spade, and a sin a sin. And just like that avoidance is wrong and allows bad behavior to continue among church leaders, it is wrong when it’s political leaders too. In all honesty, there are times I think the church comes across as AFRAID of Trump, given how he lashes out at anyone or anything who criticizes or calls him out for bad behavior. And what’s that say about us? If there are 2 kingdoms, are we to be afraid of one?
I also think you’re taking my point on the scripture reference more literally than I intended. My point is evangelicals are ready with verses to condemn those they don’t like, but then can’t seem to recall a SINGLE verse to condemn someone they support. You KNOW there are PLENTY of verses that Trump’s behavior (and not just his marital behavior) violates, PERIOD. I wish evangelicals could quote ANY verses Trump violates when he is on a cursing, lying and bullying rampage. And yet….nothing! But let someone they dislike—like a Hollywood celebrity—speak out. THEN evangelicals suddenly have verses memorized and ready to fire and take that celebrity down. The selective anger and scripture memory is astounding, frustrating and baffling.
MH makes the point:
“HOWEVER, I often see conservatives hide behind your point of “what is truth” to avoid calling out what is right in front of them. What’s there to question when Trump is cursing during his “rallies” on live television? Or when he’s calling others names on Twitter? Or shouting insults over a reporter trying to ask a question at a press conference? Or when he lies and says he didn’t day something, only for it to be ON CAMERA that he did? I’m sorry, but you know that’s wrong behavior when you see it. Being quiet in these moments under the guise of “the media is making it hard to know what’s true” is blatant avoidance of calling a spade a spade, and a sin a sin.”
Mark’s response:
Good point. We are in agreement that evangelicals like myself are often silent on Trump’s UN-Biblical behavior.
MH makes the point:
“And just like that avoidance is wrong and allows bad behavior to continue among church leaders, it is wrong when it’s political leaders too. In all honesty, there are times I think the church comes across as AFRAID of Trump, given how he lashes out at anyone or anything who criticizes or calls him out for bad behavior. And what’s that say about us? If there are 2 kingdoms, are we to be afraid of one?”
Mark’s response:
Good point.
MH makes the point:
“I also think you’re taking my point on the scripture reference more literally than I intended. My point is evangelicals are ready with verses to condemn those they don’t like, but then can’t seem to recall a SINGLE verse to condemn someone they support. You KNOW there are PLENTY of verses that Trump’s behavior (and not just his marital behavior) violates, PERIOD. I wish evangelicals could quote ANY verses Trump violates when he is on a cursing, lying and bullying rampage. And yet….nothing! But let someone they dislike—like a Hollywood celebrity—speak out. THEN evangelicals suddenly have verses memorized and ready to fire and take that celebrity down. The selective anger and scripture memory is astounding, frustrating and baffling.”
Mark’s response:
Excellent point: silence by evangelicals on either Church ( Kingdom 1 ) and/or State ( Kingdom Sphere number 2 ) is wrong, and the silence comes across as “enabling” and “supporting bad behavior.”
Good point.
Could someone contact JMac for this open position at NCCC found on HBC’s website? (https://harvest.thejobconnection.org/ ); If NCCC believes in him, they can have him lock, stock and barrel. This way he cant taint or corrupt other Christian evangelical churches in North America that truly follow Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
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Hey MH and Mark , this is just my opinion ….I Dont assume that someone is a Chistian or an Evangelical just because they say they are, I vote for the candidate who’s beliefs on how a society and a government should operate MOST align with my own…..Trump isn’t the Pastor of the United states, He’s The President …if He was Pastor He would be disqualified from being a Pastor because his behavior doesn’t match the Biblical qualifications ….on the other hand if James McDonald were President of the United states even with his bad behavior he WOULD qualify , because they are two completely different offices with two completely different sets of qualifications….is it hypocritical for someone to claim to be a Christian and behave badly??? yes it is….and ALL Christians fall short of the mark…the truth is The Biblical qualifications of a Elder are much more Narrow than the qualifications of Public office in the United states of America…also we don’t know if any Evangelical leaders have talked Privately with Trump about his behavior, our responsibility as Christians is not to expose everyone’s sins to the World, but to admonish them privately and to encourage one another to Love and good deeds, this also includes repentance which all of us need and should be doing including me. Evangelicals support Trump because He is Pro life, pro family , pro Christian…(I don’t know if he is truly a born again Christian)… but he is pro Christian, He believes The Constitution means what it says, and he’s pro America….The alternative Was Hillary Clinton Who’s beliefs are contrary to most Evangelicals.
Well said Dan Keller!
Dan, I am not here to tell anyone how to vote. It is evident that we all have different values, priorities, and tolerances for certain behaviors. I know I have deal breakers, and I know exactly what mine was (and remember when it happened) that has led me to cease voting for ANY member of the GOP until I see differently. And I’m ok with others having different deal breakers from me. I will admonish that pro-America and pro-Christian SHOULD BE separate, but have also become conflated, with the church idolizing nations and citizenship in a WORLDLY kingdom over that of the Godly one—the one full of citizens from nations across the globe God created —that we are SUPPOSED to represent ABOVE ALL ELSE.
Now I am telling other believers how our PUBLIC behavior as the church is perceived and turning away the souls we should be saving. Do you admonish evangelicals who publicly shame celebrities, politicians, and those they disagree with? Do you tell them to do it privately or exhibit grace? Or do you sit by quietly? Or post amens and justifications for why it’s ok to do to a celebrity but (gasp) NEVER someone like Trump?
I will tell you what is now happening: evangelicals publicly drag and slam anyone they disagree with, but then hide behind messages like “I don’t believe in saying anything publicly” when it comes to the bad behavior of someone they support. It’s not a good look and makes us come across as more of a mafia than the people of God. I’ve tried to defend this hypocrisy with EVERYTHING I’ve read in this thread (even the ”maybe it was done in private” excuse), but after talking with friends who are leaving the church and/or questioning our faith behind this, it’s time to call it out.
We need to consistently stand for God ABOVE nation, country, and political party. That will help us have more credibility with the world we want to save.
So M H….do you know ALL Evangelicals ???seems like you paint with a really Broad brush…and by the way what has Donald Trump have to do with James McDonald not being qualified to be a pastor.
M H …I agree we need to stand for God above nation, country and political party….also above friends, family , wife,children and even ourselves… that doesn’t mean that all of those other things aren’t important…I believe Christians are called to care for and function in the body of Christ..aka The CHURCH, people don’t go to Church, saved people Are The Church….I have to look in the mirror, am I without Sin ??? if my life or any Christians life were put out in the media each and every day for all the World to see , would we be able to stand “Not Guilty “??? Gods word says in Ephesians 1:13-14 in Him you also, when you heard the word of truth, The Gospel of your Salvation ,and believed in him,were sealed with the Promised Holy Spirit , who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it to the Praise of His Glory. …God saves people not me ,not you ,not anyone else.,only God can save…Yes I agree our way of life matters , its proof that we are truly Saved, there is no such thing as a unrepentant Christian….God saves Who He chooses to save, not because of us but inspite of us,( check out Roman’s 9:16-24)…and no one can get a saved person to become unsaved.( John 10:28)..”I give them eternal life, and they will never parish, and no one will snatch them out of my Hand….God gets All the credit and all The Glory , I get none.
So now this has become a bash/defend Donald Trump blog.
Please take it to another blog, and stop hijacking this one.
Relevance was stated in my earlier reply— that all this corruption and drama boils down to idolatry running rampant in the church. It led to a respective dialogue on our role in it as Christians, its public causes and effects, and how it is tarnishing our reputation as messengers of the gospel. I thought posters here cared about that.
Thank you dan Keller for your LOGICAl, well- thought out response.
I find it fascinating how, once disgraced, even the theology of these men is up for grabs. MacDonald and Driscoll are not the only ones. Once ostensibly in the reformed camp, leaders in the YRR movement, and speakers at the big reformed conferences, now, having fallen, they reveal themselves to be theological chameleons, on top of everything else. Driscoll has gone off to join with WOF, Prosperity preachers, and the MacDonanld has joined the AOG. Neither are exactly bastions of their previous Reformed convictions.
So with that logic, the kind you used toward our president, were you calling out Obama like this? Or Clinton? With that same logic you could never accept any president other than Jesus. You should grow up a bit and realize all government was and is established by God, and his authority.
Excellent Jason!
Awesome! I have finally found a church home.
Being put in place by God does not mean all that person does is Godly. I pray for our leaders (on all sides of the aisle) but do NOT co-sign or remain silent on cursing and other unBiblical behavior. I reiterate to the children in my family that no matter what, that such language and behavior is NOT of God and is unbecoming of a leader PERIOD. You say that means I need to grow up?
I respectfully disagree.
Harvest New beginnings is in no way associated with HBC and has been a church with that name for years in Oswego.
I am glad to see that Oastor Choco and New Life Covenant church have given Pastor James and Kathy a place to call home and to heal. I pray that they experience the grace of God in a deep way as they are in this season of renewal. I know God still has a plan for Pastor James and I am looking forward to seeing God use James again for His glory. Sadly every time I read an article by Julie Roy’s on this issue I sense a deep lack of grace and revenge as she seemingly goes for the jugular while a brother in Christ is down. So sad. Thankfully the bible is clear that in the way she judges she too will be judged.
Anibal, your sentiment while well intended may be a bit misguided. And I say this with no malice or judgement in my heart towards you. I’m currently a member of HBC and have been for the last 15 years. I’m also a former Assemblies of God church member, know New Life Pastor Wilfredo “Choco” De Jesus and have many personal friends in his Chicago congregation. We are all sinners saved by grace because of our confession and repentance towards sin. JMac being a former bible preacher and teacher is under stricter scrutiny as noted in James 3:1; “My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.” JMac by his own actions is a disgraced church member and disqualified to be a minister of the gospel. Confession and repentance must come before “healing” and “renewal”. “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?” (Rom 6:1). God forbid….
I certainly agree with Anibal Maldonado. It is very sad when a child of God goes all out to destroy another child of God as Julie Roy’s has been doing to James McDonald. It has been said that Christianity is the only religion that kills its wounded. Yet the Scriptures that Christians are guided by have so much to say about loving and caring for each other. Dr. James McDonald has been used by God to transform the lives of thousands of persons not only in the USA but around the world through his preaching and teaching of the Scriptures.
He may have sinned. Who is without sin? Who is His master and Judge? I also salute Pastor Choco and New Life Covenant Church in giving Pastor James And Kathy McDonald a place to call home and to heal. Scripture is clear that the pit you dig for someone else to fall into you yourself will fall in it
Does JMac need time and a place to heal, of course. I would argue however no better time than now, and no better place to start with than with the HBC church family, he founded, and has now so deeply wounded. The bible is clear for all offenders which is ask forgiveness and seek reconciliation with those you have injured. Will New Life Covenant church leaders hold JMac accountable to fulfill scripture; repent and reconcile, or will they overlook his sin with partiality because of his stature as a former pastor and leader of the church he founded and confessed to love? Julie Roys is not the guilty party here. God is the ultimate judge. He declares in Jeremiah 23:1 “Woe to the shepherds who are destroying and scattering the sheep of my pasture!” saith the Lord.
The issue is not that Pastor James has been given a place to heal…Praise the Lord for that we all need times of healing. The biggest issue is that given the nature of the accusations by credible sources such as hiring a hitman to kill one of his detractors or his plan to plant child porn in Christianity today’s editors computer and these are only a few of the accusations. Pastor James should not come in to NLCC in any kind of preaching capacity. Until he has had ample time to be fully restored
I advocate for full restoration however, this takes more than just a few months. I would sincerely love to see JamesM restored but should we not deal with his character first before we place his gift on display?
We have got to seriously pray
Wow, Anibal Maldobado…maybe you should use some of that grace you say Julie lacks ….and extend it to people you disagree with..
Maybe someone like…..Julie Roys
Couldn’t agree with you more. As we have been in the Julie Roy’s crosshairs, I just don’t understand why she doesn’t have anything better to do than go after believers.
I just cannot understand why Julie Roys and others have the Nerve to believe that 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1:5-9 are still applicable to year 2019 !!
I mean, as a fellow “Celebrity Pastor devoted follower”, are not those Biblical passages supposed to be “twisted” when they run afoul of the public, multiple, documented witnesses who testify publicly that our favorite Celebrity Pastor of choice lacks those clear Biblical qualifications ?
Surely, we cannot believe that the Bible actually applies right now to our day and age today !!
Instead, our fellow Celebrity Pastor of choice is under much stress and has management organization leadership difficulties, and that is supposed to over-ride Biblical qualifications of an Elder, right?
So, what, if our Celebrity Pastor of choice has a cloud of ethical and moral problems over his head !!
I just cannot understand why people still have the Nerve to believe the Bible applies to today?
( sarcasm )