Richard Matthews
@RichFMatt
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lover of Jesus, preacher, dad, husband
Kansas City, MO
Joined December 2012
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Pinned Tweet
Regardless of where everything ends up here in Kansas City, enough has been demonstrated to make me regret moving here from Hawaii 24 years ago, question every "hearing God" decision I've made in 20 years, question things I have taught as a pastor over 20 years, and unseat my
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No more "movements". No more "mandates". No more predatory leaders drawing a following promising revivals, renewals, or elite status in the Kingdom. Find a community committed to mutual love, humility, and authenticity. Serve Jesus in the normal rhythms, enjoy his presence, enjoy
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This story is not about something that happened in the 1980's. It's about something that started in the 1980s and continued throughout a woman's lifetime. She was contacted as recently as fall of last year to help cover tracks. Don't minimize this.
#ihopkc
#MikeBickle
#shewas14
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I had an alcoholic family member that took great advantage of our family for years. In a short time of sobriety, he told me he wanted to make amends. I was ecstatic, but guarded. I ask him what he thought he did wrong, and he told me, "I'm just sorry for all the, you know, stuff
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Did
#MikeBickle
not have anyone in his life with the care, love, and courage to force him to confront consistent, habitually deviant and abusive behavior? Probably not, because the toxic manifestation of the "culture of Honor" effectively shields these leaders from critique.
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20 years of ministry and biblical training, I have literally never heard about an "end time female rebellion"... Until today. Make it stop.
@LouEngle
, what is this?
Lou Engle (a leader of Her Voice Movement) believes the
#metoo
movement is an evil rebellious movement akin to the sin of witchcraft. *Engle is good friends with
#MikeBickle
,
#ihopkc
founder, who is accused of decades of sex abuse and cover-up.
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The pattern emerging, not just from IHOP stories, but in almost every other similar scandal, is that of predators being known, protected, and championed in the name of mercy, and victims being shamed, maligned, and gaslighted as weak troublemakers.
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God never told
#MikeBickle
to stay silent before his accusers. He just knows the 5th Amendment. There's a difference.
#ihopkc
#shewas14
#ipleadthe5th
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My wife and I have been working with disillusioned "prayer movement refugees" for 15 years. We are always ready to listen, laugh, and cry with you. Please feel free to reach out
#ihopkc
#mikebickle
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Many of us standing against SA in the church are not "woke" or "progressive". We simply believe that the Church and its leadership should hold sacred the value and worth of God's people instead of using them to gain power, influence, or sexual satisfaction. The fact that this
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I guess I never thought I would be teaching my kids to avoid what I gave everything to be a part of.
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We thought that hours in prayer and worship would induce an environment rife with the fruits of the Spirit and teeming with faith, hope, and love.
Unfortunately we were wrong. The well was poisoned. Sons and Daughters of God paid the price.
Selah.
#ihopkc
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Went to the final service yesterday, or more accurately, the last day of the current organizational iteration of
#forerunnerchurch
.
1. There's a new wineskin coming. I did not realize that is what they called their vests, but I digress. Look for a new logo in the fall.
2. There
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A story of hope:
When I was 11 or 12, my mother and my step father, who were in the midst of a contentious marriage, fought often. One day, after a particularly intense argument, my mother took off her wedding ring and threw it off the second story of our house and into the
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I was seriously thinking about walking away from my faith, abusing my wife, and abandoning my children. But then I went to a men's conference where a tank ran over a car and I thought, "nah, better not." Thanks, tank guys!
#strongermensconference
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Honest struggle I am having right now: my wife and I have labored for years, a decade and a half, for an expression of church and faith marked by peace, joy and rest. We emphasized authenticity, vulnerability, and community as primary in a community following Jesus together. This
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Promoting a "prophetic storyline" creates an artificial gravity that susceptible people get caught in. If I tell you, "we're going to the National Mall to pray and worship. Join me!" I will get a few. But if I regale you about the dreams, and the dreams that confirmed dreams, and
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Sometimes I wonder if our white-knuckle grip on movements, mandates, ministries, etc. have more to do with our own desperate need for significance. We need to feel seen, heard, and valued, so we are drawn to the promise of a "special place in the end-time narrative". How much
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Never thought I'd see the day where the Bickles and the Clintons have so much in common...
#ihopkc
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I don't know who needs to hear this, but if you are being physically, sexually, emotionally, or spiritually abused in a church setting, your testimony does not:
- jeopardize the gospel
- jeopardize souls
- damage the Kingdom of God
- threaten the Holy Spirit
- display a lack of
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What is it about Christian ministry that makes leaders think they are automatically experts on all aspects of leadership, organizational structure, counseling and psychology, etc.? I swear it is among the most obstinate, unteachable group of people I know.
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The crisis in the global prayer movement as referenced by IHOP leadership cannot be traced to the calling out of abuse, rather it can be traced to shady, deflecting, unrepentant, calculating image management in the face of obvious and persistent sin.
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What surprises me greatly is this aversion from some within the prayer movement to "foul language", ie cussing, but not "foul language", ie false prophecy.
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In the midst of the
#ihopkc
meltdown, questions swirling around
#Bethel
,
#JesusImage
, and the general distrust of the modern charismatic movement, I want to say something, just for my heart, in this season.
I have absolutely no issue with devout Christian faith, expectation of
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Common strategy in professional obfuscation: make something else THE thing while minimizing or ignoring THE thing in hopes THE thing becomes NOthing.
#ihopkc
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If you are trying to decide whether or not to go to that slickly advertised, unaccredited "Bible school" to "waste your life for Jesus", consider this instead:
1. Get an education that will lead to gainful employment. Trade schools are great for this too.
2. Connect to authentic
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The charismatic church has largely forgotten about the "if I have not love it's meaningless" part of prophecies, miracles, and ministries.
#ihopkc
#bethel
#charismaticchurch
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If it is your belief that people who have been abused speaking out is a threat to the Kingdom of God, but not as much the false shepherds targeting the sheep, we are gonna disagree vehemently.
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Love Jesus, do life. Most of us will not move nations, we will raise children, love our spouses, work jobs we sometimes love and sometimes hate, love our neighbors and die at the end of it. The Spirit is present in this, he conforms us to the image of Christ in this. Rest,
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I have typed out, re-read, and deleted far more than I've ever posted. I'm sure I'm not the only one.
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@BobSorge
This is so true, and his use of broken people is not in doubt. But when our broken become abusive, it's not something to ignore. It's something to stop.
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@blaiseforet
I feel like this simplicity is so lost! Why is the call for the cessation of actual sustained, covered up, sexually predatory behavior in the church met with, "Oh, so now everyone has to be perfect to lead?" Uh... No. Just not a serial unrepentant abuser.
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If you are running or running with an organization that demonstrates a pattern of spiritual and emotional abuse, heed the warnings of IHOPKC. Organizational and relational dysfunction are not canceled out by your prayer room, gathering, conference, or worship meeting. Choose now
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Chapter 1: monetize the prophetic
Chapter 2: sell merchandise and teachings and convince people it is God.
Chapter 3: I'm rich, what now? Get Richer!
For this month only, get the "Keys to Heaven's Economy" book, the "Provision" book, and the "Keys to Heaven's Economy" E-Course, all for just $20! Don't miss this opportunity to enrich your spiritual understanding and manifest abundance in your life.
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This is a great example of a problem in the charismatic/prophetic world, and it doesn't have to exist. Encountering the Lord is incredibly powerful, I don't necessarily disagree with the entirety of this post. What I disagree with is the denigration of counseling as a tool, often
When you get a word from God it will take the place of 10 counseling sessions. When God speaks all of the sudden He brings you into the present with Him of what He originally designed you to be.
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Maybe you don't need "spiritual mothers and fathers" as we have come to understand them. Maybe you need friends in different stages of life that display the qualities you want to see in your own life. Maybe in that context you find you also have something to give. Maybe...
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Since the charade is lifted and we are all well aware of
#MikeBickle
's manipulations and false prophetic nonsense, maybe we can stop pretending he is being Godly for hiding and being silent? Own your schit, dude.
#ihopkc
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My heart was saddened that the issue of sexual abuse was relegated, yet again, to a spiritual attack against a supremely faithful man, his family, and his ministry. Recognition and repentance would have gone so far on this anniversary, but instead they double down. Sad, but not
A Kansas City prayer room with ties to disgraced International House of Prayer Kansas City (
@IHOPKC
) Founder
@MikeBickle
, gathered Tuesday to celebrate the 25th anniversary of IHOPKC, despite the ministry’s ongoing sex abuse scandal. 1/3
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Chosing a life of simple devotion to Jesus, expressed in joyfully loving your spouse, friends, children, and community, while working faithfully and enjoying life, is a holy and righteous endeavor. If you're in a spiritually abusive ministry and you're wondering if the grass is
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There are a lot of people not following Jesus anymore after IHOP. Some of them left the faith because of their experience and some left IHOP because of their faith journey. These realities have exactly zero bearing on their story or experience of real abuse.➡️
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Just my personal opinion, but IF:
- Various leaders are convinced
@ihopkc
leadership is acting in bad faith, lying, and obfuscating
- These various leaders have been involved in negotiations in which shady behavior has been demonstrated
- These various leaders have come to the
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"Saved, but wasted"
Not a thing. Just a line to get you to sacrifice your life for their ambition. See also "we get to do this" "the Lamb is worthy" "re-sign up" "this high priestly calling", etc.
Friends, please just embrace the beautiful, the quiet, the steady, the faithful,
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Overlooking an offense is good. Releasing the power of an offense through forgiveness is good. Weaponizing these truths to enable a predatory structure in which some violate others with impunity while enforcing legalistic consecration is not good.➡️
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Jesus is not afraid of what is going on in the Prayer movement right now. It is actually his hand moving. He is not scared of the emotions expressed. He is a good leader and will meet us all in the valley. IHOP is not his temple, his people are.
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"Don't drink, don't smoke, don't listen to secular music, don't have sex. Be consecrated."
"Ok. The Lamb is worthy. What are you gonna do?"
"Oh, all those things. But my narrative is better than yours."
"Oh... Ok. Says who?"
"An angel."
"...damn"
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A word came to me in a dream last night. Take heed:
Tomorrow, April 8, 2024, the sun shall be darkened over areas of the United States, and it will be a sign that there is a moon that occasionally blocks the sun. If you have ears, let them hear.
#EclipseSolar2024
#prophecy
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@shawnbolz
The God who waits 2000 years and calls it "soon" might have a different definition of suddenly than we do.
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As a pastor and a police officer, I am familiar with the glare of people who have been abused by people in my professions. It sucks, but I don't blame them. But those who chose to abuse from those positions, yeah, I blame them. You're the ones making it f***ing Impossible.
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Who in their right mind would follow a leader who has demonstrated that they will disappear when the world is burning, let others fall for him, let others malign for him, all because "God said"?
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In reality, I'm thankful. A full life in Christ doesn't have to have the baggage of grandiose prophetic mantling, striving to pray and fast enough to twist the arm of God on your behalf, or an elite outlook that denigrates people having a normal job as second class. And it
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The
#ihopkc
situation highlights the effect of arrogant and dismissive leadership on the trust fabric in an organization. Information control and narrative management does not give itself readily to organizational commitment, it simply weeds out the critical thinkers, leaving
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What does it actually take to call a spade a spade??
I can’t tell you how much is made my skin crawl and my stomach sink to see my father still allowed within a church setting. Much less to see him drunkly speaking with a child.
I immediately texted the bethel chief of security:
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What betrayal is: manipulating the prophetic, the preaching of the Word, and the judgement seat of Christ to enable abusive environments and behaviors over decades.
What betrayal is not: not speaking about a YouTube video when asked about documentaries.
Not the same.
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Fuller's statement tonight. He is well versed in high levels of military leadership, yet can't grasp why there is no trust. It's a unique feature that differentiates military leadership and ministry leadership, the power of rank doesn't exist, only trust. And there is none.
@ihopkc
The AG had their trust broken many times by a IHOPKC Leadership. It sounds like the general is taking this personal and making reckless decisions from having his feelings hurt, when in fact the AG not trusting him has NOTHING to do with him.
This is WHY a 3rd party is
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@blaiseforet
Admitting you've been hoodwinked is hard, especially when there is a good degree of truth and beauty in what tricked you. Giving up the "divine end time army" narrative for the "quiet faithfulness and rest in Christ" reality can feel like a downgrade, but it's not.
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When Jesus says he will remove the lamp stand, is it to be understood that Jesus manifests in the flesh to shut your ministry down. No, it means that the Spirit will work through humans to bring accountability, illuminate truth, and expose sin.➡️
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"Do not criticize the person with the anointing of God on their life. It will lead you to barren unbelief "
Are. You. Kidding. Me?
"Best to not say anything "
Are. You. Kidding. Me?
These men decide they're anointed, then tell you you're not allowed to have an opinion...
After allowing a stripper on stage, megachurch Pastor John Lindell claims you can't criticize him, otherwise you'll be headed towards unbelief and live a barren life.
In this conversation with Mark Driscoll, after kicking him off stage, there was not ONE MENTION of the former
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@starcazm
Not talking about these things hinders the ability of a community to function. Often my venting, to my trusted circle, leads to greater perspective and healthier assessment. But, if the goal is control, Mike's approach is the standard. Therein lies the rub...
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In Missouri and Kansas, the determination of a primary physical aggressor in a domestic violence situation mandates an arrest. The victim can choose to participate in prosecution or not, but that matter is irrelevant. The State files the charges and sees it through.
When making
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If a ministry or movement crumbles under the weight of dishonest/fraudulent finances, abusive behavior, sexual impropriety/assault, understand that this destruction is still part of Jesus building his church. The motion is forward, always. If you can't believe that, then it is
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@WildfireRising
I appreciate this, brother. Regrets are what they are, the Lord is good and works all things together because we love him and we're loved by him. But I'm done pretending like this isn't a heavy impact.
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As a leader, you will fail. It's inevitable and as long as the failure is not indicative of a pattern or attitude of indifference, entitlement, or narcissism, there should be some goodwill there.
In this situation, it is very important to be able to articulate clearly what it is
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Can we stop spending more energy complaining about how gross sins and abuse are uncovered in the Church than we do addressing the fact that gross sin and abuse is so prevalent in the Church?
#ihopkc
#megachuch
#church
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@susannarey313
@LouEngle
That's the question, isn't it? If women speaking out about their abuse is rebellion, what is is the leadership's abusiveness? Make it make sense...
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@BriaZyniewicz
My wife taught in the elementary side for 2 years. I was working as a police officer at the time. They tried to figure out a way to dock her pay for leaving for her father's funeral and make her pay for her own substitute. No condolences though...➡️
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Matthew 18 has been so clearly weaponized to dodge criticism and disqualify opinions based on procedural grounds.
Deal with the substance of the matter, even when procedures are lacking. By making the procedure primary, you signal bad faith in regards to the actual issues
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And can we stop reducing rape, sexual assault, and other mass impact violations as "offense"? It's not the same as someone talking behind your back.
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@shawnbolz
Man... This is a rough take. You realize for every one addict miraculously delivered, there are thousands faithfully going to NA and finding Jesus in the journey? Why must you denigrate counseling, which can be very Godward, to encourage faith in encountering God?
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Jesus, we repent. We who have led in your name, who refused to stand in humility, who avoided accountability and created spaces that fed our ego at the expense of your beloved. God, break our hearts for this abomination: that the result of our ministry is the erosion of faith!
@JenniferVerdery
Watching Lou’s video might’ve been the final flicker of hope for me going out.
If your god hates us because we want to stop being abused & hold evil accountable & us crying out about it is us being witches/evil… that’s not a god I personally want or will follow.
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If we are to believe that Mike's coercive control is so powerful so as to brainwash and silence for decades, it makes the ethic of all victims speaking for themselves very problematic. They won't speak for themselves, and abusers will continue to control and abuse. It must be
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@7MountainsInc
@mikebickle
@ihopkc
"international family of affection" is a great way to say, "we can love each other, but I don't have to be accountable to anyone". High five and move on.
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When you violently resist the discipline of the Lord in order to protect the thing God built, 2 things are probably true:
1. God did not build it, you did.
2. If he did build it, you seem to need it far more than he does.
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There is not a single soul in history that I would not be thrilled to share the marriage supper of the Lamb with. His grace is big enough that nothing would surprise me.
But here on earth, where the need to protect the vulnerable from predators still exists, woe to them who feed
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@isierranichole
God, I want that building so bad! I would put a gym in it, call it the International House of Gains. We would mobilize a generation to unprecedented fitness, the establishment of 24/7 hypertrophy, all unto the second coming of Arnold Schwarzenegger...
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It's because I believe that Jesus is beautiful and infinitely worthy that I will raise my voice to see justice for those abused and violated in his name.
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Patterns of bad leadership can only be written off as immature but sincere for so long. Beyond that point it should be understood as intentional obfuscation and manipulation.
#ihopkc
#churchleadership
#houseofprayer
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It's simple. People don't want to be lied to. When they are, they are angry and they don't trust. Also, the liars don't get to determine if you're handling things correctly.
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Good morning! Thank you for the comments and input on my post yesterday. Some of it is helpful and encouraging!
Sometimes expressions of lament, regret, and frustration are uncomfortable to hear, but in reality we all have those stories. We serve a God that laughs as nations
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@erinsmomtoo
@_bytheirfruit
@rachaelannsteel
@ihopkc
As a cop for over a decade, no. This statement is nuts.
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@seanfeucht
It is interesting how much energy is being spent on the victim's adherence to Matthew 18, but almost none on the stonewalling of the process by the offenders...
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You cannot claim to be repentant while also following up on your victims to:
1. Make sure they don't talk
2. Lie for you
#ihopkc
#MikeBickle
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In our 20 year ministry experience, only in HOP environments were our efforts to create and sustain authentic community rebuffed as un-spiritual distractions. Ironic...
#ihopkc
#bethel
#megachurch
#dpa
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@kvministries
Not wrong, and I rejoice that I have been cleansed and redeemed in spite of my sin by the blood of Jesus.
It is also true that victimizers and abusers, regardless of the truth of their holy standing before God by grace through faith, should be prevented by the body of Christ, in
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@EthanByerly
@kaitlynblosser
@ihopkc
This story pisses me off so bad. I'm so sorry you had that happen. Insecure leaders are so destructive.
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I will never give up on Jesus or the faith of my life. But there's a schit ton of extra stuff on the table, lol!
#ihopkc
#church
#faith
#MikeBickle
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@jessetaitt
I remember back in 2009, I was working as a police officer in my first year. That was working overnights and got a front row seat to some deeply disturbing stuff on a regular basis. I had a really hard time perceiving the Lord in that season. I was admonished by some folks that I
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Don't write anyone's story off because they are no longer Christian or embracing lifestyles you disagree with. Our humanity is not relegated to our belief system.
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Any "prophet" who relies on "on demand" prophecy should be highly suspect. Production efficiency and consistency will almost always trump authenticity and clarity. You are likely to get a lie or a nebulous fortune cookie.
#ihopkc
#prophecy
#bethel
#rickjoyner
#morningstar
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@Mariloveslions
His behavior is similar to any of the criminals that I interviewed and interrogated over my law enforcement career. They will only admit to what they have evidence for, and only incrementally. While I can't say definitively, it's a lot like roaches. Where there's one or two,
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It was wonderful ministering at Grace Covenant Church of Roanoke this weekend, especially in light of the
#ihopkc
fallout. It reminds me why I am such a believer in normal, healthy, mutually loving local church.
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@isierranichole
I have been physically assaulted by more than one victim of domestic violence while I arrested their abuser. This is a very real phenomenon.
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This approach set up an enabled caste of habitual offenders with a steady stream of conditioned victims, and it is one of the great unholy abominations of our time. No hyperbole, full stop, it is the substance of "woes".
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It is hard to fathom this reality: for many, the unveiling of long-standing sexual, emotional, and spiritual abuse in the church IS THE CRISIS, not the sexual, emotional, and spiritual abuse itself.
#lettherebelight
#mattredman
#ihopkc
#bethel
#rzim
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@ChristinaForet
Agreed. The language is purposefully vague and leaves room for his supporters to believe the allegations are exaggerated and Mike hugged someone too long 20 years ago or whatever. Boz's case info, when it is released, will be vital to getting a true picture.
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