Pastor Landon Schott and his Mercy Culture Church gave Michael Brown a hero’s welcome with confetti and applause, as he returned to ministry this week, following sex abuse allegations.
In an Instagram post, Schott said he refuses to participate in “cancel culture,” claiming Brown has “only made me want to be a better man, a better leader, and a better Christian.”
Schott added, “Though all the noise and accusations, Jesus said, ‘You will know them by their fruit’ . . . I’m a part of the fruit of Dr. Brown.”
Last December, a former secretary of Brown’s accused the acclaimed apologist of grooming her in the early 2000s and sexually abusing her, as first reported by El Informe Roys (TRR). The woman, who later identified herself on social media as Sarah Erin Monk, claimed Brown had a pattern of holding her hand, kissing her on the lips, and slapping her on the butt.
Brown claimed all the interactions with Monk were “nonsexual” but lacked judgment.
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Brown also was accused of having an inappropriate relationship with a married woman in the early 2000s. Brown admitted having an “emotional, not a physical, tie” with the woman.
Sin embargo, un third party investigation found Brown had engaged in “sexually abusive misconduct” with one woman and an “inappropriate relationship” with a second woman. It also found Brown had employed a “calculated effort to evade accountability.”
Yet, on April 28, an “Elder Accountability Team” rejected the investigation’s findings and cleared Brown to return to ministry.
On Wednesday, Brown released a video, stating, that his sabbatical of the past few months had been “the most difficult season (he and his wife) have ever lived through.”
He then discussed the third-party investigation but did not mention its findings—only that an “independent board of elders” had studied the findings and cleared him for ministry. (One of the members of that “independent” board, Jonathan Bernis, is a board member for Brown’s ministry, The Line of Fire.)
Brown acknowledged the strong differences of opinion within the Christian community regarding him. He then urged people not to engage in a “civil war” over him but instead to “unite around Jesus.”
Soon afterwards, Schott posted pictures of his congregation in Fort Worth, Texas, celebrating Brown.
“The apostle Paul taught that elders are to be given double honor and triple defense (1 Timothy 5:17–19), Schott wrote. “I refuse to participate in cancel culture—I will only lead a MERCY CULTURE.”
Schott’s praise of Brown sparks pushback
Though Landon Schott’s public praise of Brown on Instagram garnered more than 1,400 likes, it also sparked sharp pushback.
Ron Cantor, a Messianic believer and former friend of Brown’s, seemingly highlighted the irony that Schott’s church plans to build a facility to house survivors of human trafficking, yet supports an alleged abuser.
“@landonschott says he loves victims, but he seems to honor offenders. He cares little what such a scene does to those wounded by men in authority like Mike Brown. #tonedeaf #disgusting,” Cantor posted on X.
#DrMichaelBrown, just after his investigator said he committed sexually abusive misconduct and sought to keep anyone from ever finding out, is celebrated at Mercy Culture. @landonschott says he loves victims, but he seems to honor offenders. He cares little what such a scene does… pic.twitter.com/HQKnbi9su6
— Ron Cantor (@RonSCantor) May 9, 2025
One person who said he appreciated Schott’s courage and mercy, commented on Schott’s Instagram post that he is “one of the many that struggle with this.”
“I pray that you create a culture where people are allowed to question decisions based upon scripture like Gods (sic) people have always done, and without ridicule,” he added. The man noted that Brown has turned from his sin “but we haven’t heard him confess the sexual sins he committed to that young lady.”
Three months ago, when Brown was still on sabbatical, Schott warned people at his Presence* Driven Conference that an “accuser of the brethren is going after men of God.” He then honored and celebrated Brown, who was sitting in the front row, which prompted a standing ovation from conference attendees.
Today, Schott posted on X that when the “mob” tries to lead spiritually, “it is almost always outside the will of God.”
In reply, New York Time best-selling author and Bible teacher Joel Richardson wrote, “The Body of Christ is a community that is mutually accountable one another. When confronted by his elders, close friends, staff members, and other leaders in the Body of Christ, Dr Brown rejected them all and proceeded to slander them. You also have utterly shirked very clearly defined biblical standards for leadership, while gaslighting and slandering those of us who have sought to uphold them. It’s beyond shameful, Landon.”
Richardson also pushed back on Brown’s call for unity, posting evidence Brown had blocked him on X, which many others have claimed Brown has done to them, as well.
“If you literally have to block more than half the Body of Christ, then you are the one dividing the Body of Christ. @DrMichaelBrown.”
If you literally have to block more than half the Body of Christ, then you are the one dividing the Body of Christ. @DrMichaelLBrown pic.twitter.com/eCLOyEeiCy
—Joel Richardson (@Joel7Richardson) May 9, 2025
Some, like abuse advocate Susan Danielle, poked fun at Mercy Culture’s celebration of Brown by posting that a new party favor had dropped—“Dr. Brown’s Pulpit Poppers—Now in “Selective Accountability” colors!”
NEW PARTY FAVOR JUST DROPPED!
Dr. Brown’s Pulpit Poppers — Now in “Selective Accountability” colors!
Whether it’s a “moral failing,” a “season of restoration,” or just an unfortunate “misunderstanding,” there’s no better way to say “Let’s move on” than with Dr. Brown’s… pic.twitter.com/GBWBfXnjwr
— Susan Danielle (@realprophetguy) May 9, 2025
Eric Metaxas is first to platform Brown
Schott was not the first Christian leader to platform Brown after his sabbatical. On May 2, radio and TV host Eric Metaxas featured Brown on his program.
The show had more than 10,500 views and more than 500 likes. However, most of the 361 comments were negative.
“Yikes. Read the room. And the Bible. And the firefly (sic) report. Badly done,” wrote one person.
Another said, “What is wrong with you people, evildoers who enable predators to continue in their sin and hurt people. God will not be mocked and you will be held accountable on the day of judgment!”
Yet another called platforming Brown “a colasal (sic) demonstration of showing no discernment.” And someone else wrote, “I’m stunned… have had such respect for you and your voice/platform… how do you justify this lack of discernment? I’m grieved.”
This is not the first time Metaxas has supported a Christian leader accused of sexual misconduct. On Nov. 31, 2023, about a month after allegations of clergy sexual abuse surfaced against Bickle, Metaxas posted that he believed the accusations against Bickle “are deeply vile lies” and expressed hope that the International House of Prayer would “fully exonerate Mike.”
An independent investigation of the allegations against Bickle found that he had sexually abused 17 women, including minors, and the abuse included rape.
Correction: The copy was changed to reflect the correct name of Schott’s conference.
Julie Roys es una reportera de investigación veterana y fundadora de The Roys Report. Anteriormente, también presentó un programa de entrevistas nacional en Moody Radio Network, llamado Up for Debate, y ha trabajado como reportera de televisión para una filial de CBS. Sus artículos han aparecido en numerosas publicaciones periódicas.
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15 Responses
Perhaps what I find more heartbreaking than any other characteristic in the American (and perhaps global) evangelical community is the undying and mindless tribalism…😥
The “patriotism” is not for Jesus and the high call to integrity – and humility – but to “our team” – rah, rah, rah – with little to no discernment.
Regardless of any matter, this is a painful issue – one in which Brown clearly failed here – and other areas as well (cf Brownsville, etc.). Sure we can interact civilly with such a one – but to be placed on a pedal and lauded – and nah, nah, nah to everyone else… This is a sickness – a disease – that is endemic in the evangelical community and VERY wide-spread and deep.
This complete failure of discernment is why hucksters like Copeland, Driscoll, MacArthur, Hinn, Rodney Howard Brown, NAR and all the rest of these con artists/cult leaders have their pedestals – as has so long been the case – now for two millennia.
Sad to see Jesus treated as nothing more than a prop for uncrucified human flesh that in America is more attuned to religion as a sporting event rather than the high call of God in Christ.
Remember, one day all things will be revealed and reconciled; sheep and goats.
I’m 71 yo and never seen the “alleged Christian churches” so full of narcissists all feeding on themselves and protecting each other. Re read every excuse he gave for his behavior. And submission dosent mean follow without using your god given brain for discernment.
Absolutely. Gary. I have been in the church world of charismatics and Pentecostals since 1971–MB is a pne more of an ever growing group of consummate predators and narcissists. How sad for the victims and the state of God’s church!!
This is just another example of the church allowing predators to destroy and abandon victims of abuse.. It’s a culture of power and abuse to protect ministries and throw away victims into an ecclesiastical garbage dump
Just remember, this is the same Landon Schott who last year declared from the pulpit, ‘You’re Not A Christian If You Vote For A Democrat’. As I repeatedly pointed out in comments on that story, Schott is a heretic, not because of his politics, but because he makes an extra-biblical claim regarding the definition of who is a Christian. With such a low view of Scripture, which is also a high opinion of himself, his intellect, and his position as “mega church pastor”, it is no surprise that he would exhonerate a proven sexual abuser. I wonder if Schott dares to preach from these texts: “But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints…. For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.”
Ephesians 5:3, 5-6 ESV
“For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God; that no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you. For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness. Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.”
1 Thessalonians 4:3-8 ESV
Yes, we shall know them by their fruit….and the fruit displayed by Brown and Shcott’s fruit is pretty rotten.
Ron Cantor along with others have dropped a 134 page report which includes a lot of witness accounts which were not in the Firefly Report. The harm and damage Michael Brown has done to his victims, colleagues and the body of Christ is sickening and grevious beyond words. Dr. Michael Brown, step down, make things right with the Lord Jesus and all those you have harmed.
No need to wonder who/ what some people worship.
My blood boils when I hear of things like this. The need to keep certain abusive celebrity pastors in positions of influence and power seems more important than heeding the voices of those abused by them.
Snakes will be snakes. The hypocrites have no conscience. They actually never had. These men have been con-artists and grifters all of their lives. Narcissism is something you are born with. They cannot be saved because they worship themselves, their own reflection. They have never known Jesus and are goats. They have never been are brothers. It is time to wake up!
Jesus stated you cannot love God and Mammon. You must choose. I cannot help but think that Brown’s ministry brings power, prestige and money. IF other people’s livelihoods are involved, there is a great incentive to overlook the report. Musings of mine with no direct facts.
Biblical leadership cancelation preceded contemporary cancel culture.
“What does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8).
Mercy is one of three requirements.
He received a hero’s welcome with applause and confetti?! When would that EVER be appropriate in a church, not just directed towards Michael Brown, but directed towards anyone? And yet they wonder why people are leaving the church in droves.
I am in the UK, currently refreshing my leadership safeguarding training. Thank you for highlighting what will be a very useful case study!