Comments on: Latest on Golden Murder http://tatumweb.com/blog/2006/03/12/latest-on-golden-murder/ Pentecostal Rumination and Review Sun, 29 Apr 2012 15:24:06 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Sheila http://tatumweb.com/blog/2006/03/12/latest-on-golden-murder/comment-page-1/#comment-38739 Sheila Sat, 04 Nov 2006 17:48:52 +0000 http://tatumweb.com/blog/index.php/2006/03/12/latest-on-golden-murder/#comment-38739 Every church that I have been in, AOG churches, they play the role of partiality especially if you're a family member of the Pastor. Stuff is overlooked and swept under the rug. A member that isn't kin to the Pastor and there is a minor indiscretion you're immediately asked to step down. But if you're family, it is overlooked. I think that is a sin itself ... anyone experience these matters in any other AOG churches? It was a big thing in the one I went too. ... Every church that I have been in, AOG churches, they play the role of partiality especially if you’re a family member of the Pastor. Stuff is overlooked and swept under the rug. A member that isn’t kin to the Pastor and there is a minor indiscretion you’re immediately asked to step down. But if you’re family, it is overlooked. I think that is a sin itself … anyone experience these matters in any other AOG churches? It was a big thing in the one I went too. …

]]> By: anonymous http://tatumweb.com/blog/2006/03/12/latest-on-golden-murder/comment-page-1/#comment-36625 anonymous Wed, 18 Oct 2006 13:02:25 +0000 http://tatumweb.com/blog/index.php/2006/03/12/latest-on-golden-murder/#comment-36625 Brian pleaded guilty to murder on 10/17/06. I find it interesting that positions within churchs are filled by individuals with a troubled past. It seems that some churchs are so desperate to fill the void that they will use anyone who volunteers and bend the established rules when the need fits. Just because someone ask for forgiveness is no reason to place them in a position of authority. Brian pleaded guilty to murder on 10/17/06.
I find it interesting that positions within churchs are filled by individuals with a troubled past. It seems that some churchs are so desperate to fill the void that they will use anyone who volunteers and bend the established rules when the need fits. Just because someone ask for forgiveness is no reason to place them in a position of authority.

]]> By: Rich http://tatumweb.com/blog/2006/03/12/latest-on-golden-murder/comment-page-1/#comment-24440 Rich Sun, 13 Aug 2006 23:35:19 +0000 http://tatumweb.com/blog/index.php/2006/03/12/latest-on-golden-murder/#comment-24440 Anonymous, I agree with you that no pastor has all the answers. I don't think anywhere in my posts on this subject I have implied that they do--or should. And I agree with you that too many people probably let the warning signs slide. You are not the first to write to me (most privately) saying that they knew there were problems, but nobody ever expected Brian to kill DeeDee. That's understandable. And, as you imply, that's part of the problem. When the Church (the whole Church, not necessarily your church) takes seriously Christ's call to discipleship and the need for true spiritual transformation I think a few things happen that diminish the risk for this kind of thing. For one, if Brian Golden had been truly spiritual transformed, it's unlikely this would have happened. His behavior reveals a lack of transformation. Second, if the people around Brian Golden were truly heeding Christ's call to discipleship, Brian would have been in a transparent mentoring relationship with other men who would have called him into accountability. And even without a mentoring relationship, since we are called to help others who are in sin, I imagine there should've been some sort of confrontation about Brian's and DeeDee's so-called "spats." Dialog would have ensued, and perhaps some confession of sin. Now, I'm not accusing SSAG, its staff, or any of its members of not being true disciples of Christ. That's not my point. However, what happened at SSAG is a reflection of the culture of the entire North American church. There is not enough transparency between believers. There is not enough mentoring and discipleship. There is not enough spiritual transformation. There is not enough confession of sins. That's as likely true for SSAG as it is for my home church and anybody's home church who reads this blog. For further evidence of my claims, just check out sociologist George Barna's website at barna.org and follow his polls of North American Christians. The state of morality and spiritual transformation in the NA church is shockingly negative. We need to return to biblical discipleship. And, by the way, I include myself in that imperative. Regards, Rich <a href="http://tatumweb.com/blog/">BlogRodent</a> Anonymous,

I agree with you that no pastor has all the answers. I don’t think anywhere in my posts on this subject I have implied that they do–or should. And I agree with you that too many people probably let the warning signs slide. You are not the first to write to me (most privately) saying that they knew there were problems, but nobody ever expected Brian to kill DeeDee.

That’s understandable. And, as you imply, that’s part of the problem.

When the Church (the whole Church, not necessarily your church) takes seriously Christ’s call to discipleship and the need for true spiritual transformation I think a few things happen that diminish the risk for this kind of thing.

For one, if Brian Golden had been truly spiritual transformed, it’s unlikely this would have happened. His behavior reveals a lack of transformation.

Second, if the people around Brian Golden were truly heeding Christ’s call to discipleship, Brian would have been in a transparent mentoring relationship with other men who would have called him into accountability. And even without a mentoring relationship, since we are called to help others who are in sin, I imagine there should’ve been some sort of confrontation about Brian’s and DeeDee’s so-called “spats.” Dialog would have ensued, and perhaps some confession of sin.

Now, I’m not accusing SSAG, its staff, or any of its members of not being true disciples of Christ. That’s not my point. However, what happened at SSAG is a reflection of the culture of the entire North American church. There is not enough transparency between believers. There is not enough mentoring and discipleship. There is not enough spiritual transformation. There is not enough confession of sins. That’s as likely true for SSAG as it is for my home church and anybody’s home church who reads this blog.

For further evidence of my claims, just check out sociologist George Barna’s website at barna.org and follow his polls of North American Christians. The state of morality and spiritual transformation in the NA church is shockingly negative.

We need to return to biblical discipleship. And, by the way, I include myself in that imperative.

Regards,

Rich
BlogRodent

]]> By: ----- http://tatumweb.com/blog/2006/03/12/latest-on-golden-murder/comment-page-1/#comment-2598 ----- Wed, 10 May 2006 13:48:53 +0000 http://tatumweb.com/blog/index.php/2006/03/12/latest-on-golden-murder/#comment-2598 I've heard a lot about this case. I've heard the news reports and I've heard the 'talk'. What I have heard is that DeeDee did not have a drinking problem. Too many women knew DeeDe to well for her to have gotten away with a serious drinking habit. As to Brian's personality, I really don't know. I didn't know him well. I knw the Pastor of the church and he is devestated by what has happened. Moreover, there are people in the church who have said that they knew there were problems but didn't think it was their place to say anything. If you want to address a problem, that's the one to talk about. Church folk tend to put their pastoral staff in some kind of bubble. They aren't treated like normal peple. It's almost like royalty. Then we find out they have feet of clay. Wow. What a shocker. If you want to change something, stop acting like any pastor has all of the answers. They are just human beings like the rest of us. They just decided to accept responsibility for a higher purpose. I’ve heard a lot about this case. I’ve heard the news reports and I’ve heard the ‘talk’. What I have heard is that DeeDee did not have a drinking problem. Too many women knew DeeDe to well for her to have gotten away with a serious drinking habit. As to Brian’s personality, I really don’t know. I didn’t know him well. I knw the Pastor of the church and he is devestated by what has happened. Moreover, there are people in the church who have said that they knew there were problems but didn’t think it was their place to say anything. If you want to address a problem, that’s the one to talk about. Church folk tend to put their pastoral staff in some kind of bubble. They aren’t treated like normal peple. It’s almost like royalty. Then we find out they have feet of clay. Wow. What a shocker. If you want to change something, stop acting like any pastor has all of the answers. They are just human beings like the rest of us. They just decided to accept responsibility for a higher purpose.

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