Ex-McLean Bible Church Members on David Platt

[@gogs-1]

Did David really just say, “Go to them. If you have problems about anything in our church, by all means, go to one of our pastors.” Wow! That’s quite a statement. Hundreds, maybe even thousands, of us MBC members have “gone to them” with letters, emails, phone calls, and direct conversations. Most of us were never answered. But, those of us who were answered, were answered like this: “Go and find another church.” “You are under church discipline and in need of restoration.” “We’ll get back to you later.” “You are no longer a church member!” “You are in danger of all communication with you being shut down.”

[@kaymoto4023]

Also, “this is the way things are going to be & you better get on board.”😢

[@conceptualclarity]

Abusive

[@arkrainflood]

DP and his PR firm are probably researching all comments on negative youtubes (including this one). then creating a database of who said what for eventual doxing and canceling.

[@roscleo]

@@arkrainfloodI don’t doubt you are correct, likely the SBC will be doing the same along with paying people to back David on comments to try to muddy the waters, by blaming the victims in the video.

[@selahbeloved7685]

Thank you to the families that had the courage to stand for biblical truth. I had to pause the documentary several times. I was deeply grieved by the way this “Shepherd” and “Elders” treated their sheep. The church I used to belong to treated many of my brothers and sisters the same way I made excuses and justified the behavior because I was scared that I would be shunned. I didn’t realize how fearful and how much of a people pleaser (which is sin) I was until after God came rescued and delivered me away. I’ve had to repent to God, and to my children for being in compliance and in a way complicit with sin. I was not in leadership, I was a babe in Christ but there were several things that I witnessed that didn’t seem biblical but I couldn’t articulate “why is this sin” Be encouraged your testimony will be used to open up others eyes. Thank you so much!!

[@JRRodriguez-nu7po]

Bless you, Christ's body has people with different gifts and thus different functions. I'm the opposite of a people pleaser, at times also to sinful excess. In today's Churchianity the body needs both of us. Don't be too harsh on yourself for being a people pleaser. We need more pleasant, kingdom and gentle people than people lije me. We do need both though.

[@Claire5020GEN]

Beautiful heart ❤ we have all been pulled in and we must be extra careful

[@marcyoverby3817]

WHEN THIS FIRST STARTED,, I WAS REALLY SURPRISED THAT PEOPLE STAYED WHEN THEY FOUND OUT WHAT THIS GUY WAS UP TOO.. I WAS GRIEVING FOR THE PEOPLE AND GOT A LITTLE MAD AT THIS PASTOR...

[@billycagle2564]

I was a SBC pastor for 37 years. I would not be a part of that group anymore!! Woke. Sad. Worldly.

[@RNLWW]

Good for you! We left after a lifetime in the SBC. It’s so corrupt, it’s shameful. Uses “the gospel” to further their agenda and gain power and money. Churches need to leave it; congregants need to stop giving to it!

[@larrylafferty3836]

is greer behind this i have a BIble study teacher that uses greers videos that frankly are disturbing to me what greer says greers sermon on romans 1 seemed out of context but i never went to any Bible college just read the verses

[@RNLWW]

@@larrylafferty3836 Dr. Randy White of Randy White Ministries here on YT has an outstanding verse-by-verse study of Romans. Highly recommend.

[@RNLWW]

@@larrylafferty3836 Greer gets much wrong.

[@tanks1945]

Jon, thanks for having them on and showing the documentray. What happened to Mclean Bible church and Dave Platts behavoir needs exposed far and wide.

[@jdreisbach8721]

Perhaps churches should not seek out and hire “celebrity preachers”

[@teri1588]

Lon Solomon was the only pastor MBC wanted. Never David Platt. Never!

[@sulfuras1985]

​@teri1588 this church never sought him. Some malicious board did. Watch documentary.

[@conceptualclarity]

In today's BigEva, it seems prudent to assume the worst about people who reach the top in this environment.

[@kitthorton9860]

It's becoming apparent celebrity pastors aren't a wise thing

[@JESUSISKURIOS]

Or even better, drop the unbiblical “pastoral search committee”!

[@Claire5020GEN]

Laura and Jeremiah, thank you for your bravery. I love that you included your walk thru the church, challenging the Platt team to follow the rules of the church to officially remove you. I loved how you both handled that. Truth is often hidden among outrageously believable lies.

[@betty8173]

Thank you for having them on, I pray for resolution for all the members of MBC.

[@pattidunkin870]

Thank you. David Platt’s arrogance and scheming is very similar to those of the “pastor” of my church from four years ago. My husband was one of the elders who stood in the way of the vision and agenda of this “dynamic young visionary”-his words, not mine. Evil deeds eventually are brought to light.

[@stephenfennell]

What was the result? Did your church manage to withstand the "dynamic young visionary"?

[@pattidunkin870]

@ He replaced elders who were on his team. Many people left. My husband and I are part of a church plant. Our former church just keeps becoming more liberal and farther away from the Bible.

[@CognitiveDissident-d3j]

They have a protocol. This very thing happened to the First Christian Church in my little Tennessee town. The pastor, who came in from Cali, eventually brought his own people from there to head the church. But this wasn't to present a false gospel - they sold the building, raided the coffers, sank the church, and left. Members were silenced, the sherrifs department called on "troublemakers"....by and large the same process, step by step. If it happened here, it's happening all over the US. But what it appears is that this approach is known in a larger context than just the narrow scope of one denomination or organization. This has been disseminated from a single source. They seem to know all the legalities involved.

[@AK-rf2xd]

I am waiting for the paid off McLean Bible to be sold.

[@mikerobertson4041]

Platt goes beyond being a wolf; this guy is a snake! It seems to me that Platt, and those of his ilk, do not truly believe in the God of the Bible. They worship a god that they have created, for if they truly believed in the Biblical God, they would fall on their face before him, in fear of the judgment coming upon them.

[@asimon8313]

So grateful for this being covered. God continues to purify His church. He will be glorified in the end. The documentary was very well done. None of the members came across (as far as I could tell) as vindictive, but genuinely heartbroken for the name of Christ and the flock.

[@MisterBill593]

God help us if we have gotten to the point where a "pastor" needs a PR firm.

[@marlene56-143]

When your "church" has a "stage" instead of a chancel and pulpit of course it needs a PR firm.

[@tillman42anon94]

Fact: Most celeb 'pastors' pay PR firms & have hired Agents. Look into the skinny jeans crew who abandoned fornicator Carl Lentz. All have PR & Agents.

[@janecotone878]

Dale Sutherland (former Executive Pastor) played a role in this downfall. He managed the information being fed to elders (many of whom were past their prime) so they would go along with this SBC takeover of the church. He was Lon’s Judas.

[@Cinnamonbuns13]

There's a clip in part one showing him on hidden camera with a woman. What was that?

[@AK-rf2xd]

💯

[@AK-rf2xd]

@@Cinnamonbuns13a clip from his undercover cop days.

[@stephenfennell]

Hi Jane Cotone, you say Dale Sutherland was a former Executive Pastor. In other words he was under Lon Solomon and was highly trusted and respected?

[@Tecumseh1]

@@stephenfennell Yes. Dale was the Sr. High pastor when Lon promoted him to be his number 2. I believe Dale managed the church on a day-to-day basis while Lon focused on preaching as he winded down towards retirement.

[@Zach_James-_-]

Sad to see such a great church destroyed by leadership corruption

[@marcyoverby3817]

THAT DID SOUNDS LIKE A SOLID CHURCH AT THAT TIME...

[@pastorjimwalls5924]

I have been in Pastoral ministry now for over twenty four years and I've served in two different SBC churches in two different states. There are a few good churches in the convention but overall it is a spiritual disaster. Political games, weak & woke liberal theology, power struggles, etc are the norm. In many churches the Pastor is nothing more than a preaching figure head with No authority or positive influence whatsoever. I'm Pastoring an independent Baptist Church and I couldn't be more happy. Also, an important question needs to be asked of the members & leadership of MBC. Why was Pastor Lon Solomon released in the first place? Did the members know why Pastor Lon was being asked to step down? I have followed Pastor Lon's ministry for years and he was always a good Pastor & a stand up guy. I've watched the whole documentary twice and some of the leadership here was absolutely clueless and should resign or be fired.

[@suzannefoust3156]

He was encouraged to retire by leaders in the church.

[@pastorjimwalls5924]

But that doesn't answer the question as to why. I've known people who went to that church & it was flourishing.​@@suzannefoust3156

[@pastorjimwalls5924]

​@@suzannefoust3156I responded earlier but my comment was erased. The real question is Why was Pastor Lon asked to to be released.

[@dabhidhm4093]

7:00 Good point - the documentary does contain a record of David's own words and actions. It's not as though it's just a bunch of "disgruntled former members" alleging things - you hear David and his cronies speak and can read his own communications. The only thing the documentary does not do is allow David to frame the information in a way that is exculpatory to him. He was not given editorial power over this documentary, and some people therefore will think it is unfair. Which is plainly ridiculous.

[@kylemuldrow4652]

Just wanted to say my heart goes out to this couple and all others who were deceived and mistreated by David Platt and McLean Bible Church's leadership. It's especially sad knowing Lon Solomon was a true man of God with a heart for preaching Jesus Christ and ministering to the people in his church. Seeing his legacy just bulldozed as it was is terrible. One more thing: I've watched both parts of the documentary and the most telling thing I observed was when the motion was made at a business meeting to remove David Platt as lead pastor. Up to that point, Platt had been dodging questions about whether McLean was affiliated with the SBC. During that time, he tried to be outgoing and congenial. But as soon as that motion to dismiss him was made, his demeanor totally changed. He didn't just go silent. His face looked like a frightened little boy who wanted his Daddy to get him out of there. It's clear he didn't think anyone would challenge him to that extent. After that meeting is when members' names started disappearing from the member lists and the votes became shady. My personal opinion is that this was mostly about money. The SBC saw McLean Bible Church was doing great and wanted that money to go to programs run by the SBC, so they got Dale Sutherland in there to ramrod David Platt into the lead pastor position. As someone who grew up in the Southern Baptist Church, I am appalled that a denomination that was so committed to Biblical inaccuracy and the true gospel of Jesus Christ has fallen so far...and I knew this before I had even heard of David Platt! God Bless the true believers from McLean!!

[@laurenanne9620]

They could be doing so much good with the money they have. Instead, Platt refuses to repent and continues to waste money to defend himself. One day, he will have to answer. I only regret not going with my gut about him back in 2018 at T4G

[@reginaldchesterfield8110]

I remember while I was there, David went to a BLM riot. He also went with Pastor Mike and Mike’s son. He then called the entire MBC church to be sympathetic to their cries

[@dougsmith6346]

this reminds me of my Mark Driscoll/Mars Hill experience: change the bylaws, surround himself with sycophants, bully naysayers, fire staff who disagree, take memberships away..... and make a lot of money in the process.

[@chuckcribbs3398]

And yet, there he is, back in the pulpit, because he can’t make an honest dollar in the real world and the goats follow him.

[@johntrevett2944]

Ive never seen anyone present any evidence of Mark Driscoll peddling a false gospel or heretical doctrine. Ill be waiting...

[@purplethistle397]

EXACTLY!

[@johntrevett2944]

Can you show me where Driscoll preaches heretical doctrine or a false gospel?

[@kathyd456]

If's the Narcissist Playbook. Good to see them being revealed.

[@Now_We_Are_Sussex]

Laura!! So good to know you are aware of DARVO. It is rampant in our culture. Prayers for you all.

[@Seiskid]

Thanks for this interview. The financial deception is disqualifying. Secretly diverting money to "church planting" and then when people look nothing to show for it. There's needs to be a full open independent audit on this church. There's a bigger financial picture here, but I feel its only starting to be exposed. I hope that the full truth comes out. Thank you to this couple for the work they've done.

[@jasonschram2795]

Excellent job on the interview!

[@MatthewCarnsSr]

Remember everyone…. If in your church it is ever proposed that a new Pastor “share” the pulpit with the outgoing pastor - anything with 2 heads is a monster

[@cat-bg3rv]

🤔👍

[@minutebooks3245]

Look at what the Roys Report wants to discuss. She even had a piece on "controversial Pastor Doug Wilson" starting a podcast. Did he do something wrong or does she dislike conservatives? Doesn't surprise that she won't drag another leftist.

[@mrs.ingham]

Exactly

[@chuckcribbs3398]

She was reporting the “controversy” not necessarily pointing a finger at Wilson, although I’m not a big fan of his. I agree with a lot he says but he still has Calvinist underpinnings and he won’t ever go into the history of Calvinism which includes all sorts of unbiblical beliefs like infant baptism and “I’m saved, you’re not so I get to abuse you.” There is a really bad history of Calvinism that they either don’t know or won’t discuss.

[@minutebooks3245]

@chuckcribbs3398 That all sounds pretty far off from current events. Those sound like topics for a doctrinal podcast/blog. She would also need the theological depth to get into that.

[@CM-sy3to]

Wilson is controversial after marrying a convicted pedo to a church girl. They had a baby that he then molested.

[@gj5990]

I don’t agree with all the theology/practices of this church , even pre-Platt, but my heart goes out to them having to endure this level of corruption and manipulation. I pray for them and those hoodwinked by him still. Sickening.

[@IslandOfeCsiLe]

This entire saga perfectly illustrates the dangers of the Mega-Church model. Church is a community of individuals living in obedience to Christ, not a business. When we treat it like a business unfortunately this is what we get… Corporate espionage & hostile takeovers.

[@erc9468]

Yes, exactly. McLean was already on the Mega Church, rock concert, overly produced, auditorium full of anonymous people kind of bandwagon.

[@carolbarlow8896]

Where is Julie Roys? I don’t blame Sal Cordova for being disappointed in her.

[@Adam-yf3ss]

Similar thing happened to a Bible church I grew up in. New Rick-Warren-style pastor came in, gutted leadership, gutted doctrine, painted the stage black, and focused on hip seeker lead stuff. Took a long time to get him out.

[@erc9468]

Unfortunately, McLean was already a stage painted black, concert-style, hipster wannabe church. Unfortunately, that's what they were after even before Platt came around.

[@Adam-yf3ss]

@ man, sorry to hear that.

[@MisterBill593]

I went to MCB when they were in the Elementary School and a few times after they moved to the large campus out on US Route 7 in Northern Virginia. David Platt is a false teacher, he had been caught in all his lies and destruction with regards to ruining MCB. My personal opinion is that he is a narcissist that is a stranger to the truth.

[@laurenanne9620]

Progressive ideology has been the downfall of many pastors and churches

[@cedricjohn6835]

I am a South African. I find the MBC debacle truly tragic. Of interest, did the SBC make any public statements about this? Did they respond in any substantive way?

[@AK-rf2xd]

Not yet.

[@billiecorbett5824]

Has anyone noticed how the preeminence of Jesus Christ gets lost in these seductive church takeovers.

[@EmDubbs]

Absolutely loved the David Ratt parts 1 and 2 series. And love McLean Bible Church. But now people are wondering how a church could ever get to a point where MBC approved the beginnings-of-Ratt-phase in the first place. How were the lack-of-oversee'ership seeds planted to begin with? You might have to look at the mid-2000s to see large-scale MBC structural choices that weren't the healthiest to begin with. The seeds of waking up to Ratt in the pulpit were likely planted a whole decade before he even arrived -- through disjointed vision and mission. Love Jon's guest interviewees. Thank you for sticking up for truth.

[@KM-jt4xh]

It started in 2014-15, when Dale Sutherland was brought on to be senior executive Pastor for Administration, meaning Lon would only teach and not oversee the church at that point. Before that, Dale had announced he was leaving to go to the mission field and start his own missions organization. Lon convinced him to stay, and I imagine the conversation involved something about Dale doing those missions at MBC instead. Almost immediately, Dale brought in the NAMB and Clint Clifton (SBC) on staff and they announced MBC was found to plant 200 churches in the DC area. That seemed insane to me, since we were a non-denominational church and that sounded like the making of a denomination, and DC is saturated with churches already, including the 4 MBC campuses which we always encouraged people to attend in their area. The rest was history: the SBC guys who were allowed in took more and more power, Dale had the whole church study David’s book Multiply, buying thousands of copies with church tithe money, so we were prepped to accept David as Pastor with little due diligence

[@EmDubbs]

@@KM-jt4xh So who was watching and ardently monitoring in real-time every single factor/decision back in 2014 and 2015 regarding administration and pastoral structure and decisions? Was every single move/action stamped with approval in real-time? And if so, why were they approved? Were there any dissenters at the time (whether formal or informal) on any of those 2014 decisions?

[@iankristofer1]

I'm a missionary in Mozambique and have had questions about David P since before 2010, but what is so wild about the authoritarian part of what seems to have happened through him is actually opposite of the church planting movement. We run in those circles due to seeing an actual flood of discipleship hitting the tipping point here recently and the way David was trying to run the church is NOT the way church planting movements and discipleship movements work! Is anyone looking into the simple hypocrasy of the vision David said he was pushing and the structure of the church he was leading?? That alone should bring simple integrity in question so that the $$$ issues become easier to look at as reality. Look at the boots on ground work of his life and you won't find more than likely the discipleship history he is touting! Just a thought from a disciple maker actually in the field now sick to my stomach about how Platt is making the church, people, disciple makers look! ugh! Glad yall have stuck in and trusted God to bring exposure.

[@LittleSeasonSaintTX]

I cannot muster up any respect for any pastor or elder that took a deal and allowed themselves to be silenced for the sake of a payout. They are called to expose the wolves. The wolves couldn't get away with as much as they do if righteous men would stand firm and trust God to provide for them and their families as they speak openly and boldly against the evil and corruption.

[@KM-jt4xh]

In Lon Solomon’s case, he has a disabled daughter who needs 24/7 care and always will, and he spent his whole life and career at MBC. They threatened him with his retirement benefits, so he had to agree to the NDA in order to help his daughter 😢

[@1BONDSERVANT1]

AMEN. I AM THINKING THE SAME THING. IF AND I SAY IF, THE FORMER PASTOR KNEW WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN TO "HIS" PEOPLE (ULTIMATELY THE LORD'S PEOPLE) OR EVEN IF HE DIDN'T, DID HE SIGN AWAY HIS RIGHT TO WARN THE PEOPLE OR SPEAK UP LATER? IF THIS IS THE CASE, WHY WOULD YOU EVER AGREED TO SOMETHING LIKE THAT? THE CARE AND PROTECTION OF THE LORD'S PEOPLE SHOULD OVERRIDE ANY PERSONAL SECURITY.

[@clarissadavey1505]

Thank you for putting this interview together. When did the SBC become so corrupt? Still so interested to know exactly which elders brought David Platt in and how they got Lon Solomon out.

[@EvidenceandReasons]

At LEAST 24 years ago. Look up the SBC affiliate Baptist Foundation of Arizona. It was half BILLION-dollar scam that in todays dollars would be a billion. It's not a surprise the SBC and big institutions hustling for donations don't talk about this.

[@greggpurviance7252]

Unfortunately, if you have to proclaim your honesty & chastise people questioning your honesty, you are in trouble

[@JRRodriguez-nu7po]

Not always true. Paul spent quite some ink defending his honesty etc. Do NOT take this as a defense of this gold Platted Wolf.

[@RNLWW]

This is the problem with large, business-model churches. Most of these problems are avoided in small (~100ish or less) congregations. But in Big Eva, a pastor is considered ineffective and his church unhealthy if his church isn’t growing. Christians need to rethink this business model. It’s looking like that’s the only reason (bean count) these churches demand membership. Because, truly, they don’t want participatory, thinking members, like these folks from MBC. They want lemmings they can tell what to think and how to behave in order to further their prestige. And let’s talk about how David used this 1 Timothy verse to make a personal point when Paul’s statement there is to emphasize what he is saying to Timothy. Poor form, but that is Platt’s style. He does not understand Scripture.

[@shawnc.madden2181]

Wolves such as Platt surround themselves with coyotes.

[@justinhadley2583]

If criminal charges have not been filed for money laundering and fraud, they should be.

[@MadameRobinson]

I followed David Platt online since he was at The Church at Brook Hills. I was going through some stuff and Secret Church was very good for me. I’ve attended online the last few broadcasts and have donated to Secret Church. I’m very upset this happened and is happening. It’s hard to believe David Platt would do this. Terrible! And saddening.

[@conceptualclarity]

This video is an excellent supplement to the documentary and anybody who was fascinated by the documentary would be well-advised to watch it.

[@boxerspause]

I think the future of the “church” is going to be smaller groups meeting in people’s home like it started.

[@shawngillogly6873]

Thank you for sharing these. It's truly a sad story. The one concerning question i have is, if Lon Solomon was supposed to be part of the transition initially, how was he not aware a lifelong SBC insider was going to be anything but a SBC insider when he arrived at MBC? There's a level of culpability for him and the elders who agreed to bring Platt in that is not being accepted. Note: I am not excusing Platt or what happened. Merely saying the betrayal runs deeper than the documentary is admitting, imho. As for the links to Dever, that might explain the SBC involvement. But Dever is nothing if not a congregational polity advocate. Subverting congregational authority is pretty much anathema to him.

[@AK-rf2xd]

Lon was kept out of the decisions about platt. He only met him once and had never even heard him preach. He was basically fired and David was hired. The lion share of blame goes to Dale Sutherland and head elder Larry Cooper. And to your point those two knew exactly what they were doing and getting with Platt.

[@KevinHale-vq2xr]

If Platt were transparent and honest no one would need to ask for anything. They’d produce it without question

[@beaulin5628]

Thank you for this report. It will help all Christians protect their churches from exploitation.

[@kaebersold7219]

All the criticism against the “Real David Platt” sound like the beginning of the defenders of CJ Mahaney. When they don’t want to you to watch it,the reason is usually there is something they don’t want you to see. Get away from the people associated, like Platt, with the SBC.

[@christistruth705]

56:30 I went through something similar back in 2020 with my own church. I had to analyze our church budget for one of my graduate courses while I was working on my MDiv. First I was told to talk to our finance guy. He didn’t respond to my email. So I reached back out to one of the pastors, and he told the secretary to send me a blank budget. When I asked why I didn’t get the numbers, I was told that as a layperson I didn’t need to see the budget. He said he was concerned that I might lose respect if I saw how much the pastors were paid. I didn’t need to see how much each individual pastor made. It really made me think, “What are they hiding?” Thankfully, I was familiar enough with the program they were using to find where the secretary hid the numbers. And I still got marked down on my assignment because that church didn’t have a missions budget. 🤦🏻‍♀️

[@beeveedee9355]

Why the heck can't Platt wear something nicer to church than a T-shirt?!!!?

[@jkid8948]

That's the garb of the hip pastor. Tennis shoes included.

[@churchhymnsandpsalms]

God saved me in my 20s and McLean was my first church. It was an awesome basic evangelical megachurch that taught Truth. I was there when they announced the new building and built it. Prior to all their satellite churches. I met my wife in the McLean singles group. It breaks my heart what Platt did to the church. Luckily, we left years before he came.

[@CharlotteRyerson]

How about this idea- pastors who are dismissed like Lon was should refuse to sign a NDA! Think like you would imagine the Apostle Paul would think. It seems to me there are bleeding sheep partly as a result of his silence. The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing. Having said this I don’t know the whole story so I may be missing something..

[@christophergreen774]

Amen @CharlotteRyerson!! I believe NDA's are unbiblical and evil!!

[@nagwaaziz]

He wouldn’t get his retirement if he refused to sign the NDA.

[@connorhart2832]

My church is an SBC church. To my knowledge we only give money to SBTS, and its the minimum amount to send messengers to vote in the Convention

[@Claire5020GEN]

There is great arrogance in not following the established rules of the church or not appealing to the congregation to consider changes.

[@cat-bg3rv]

No. Just watch it. Then discern. My goodness! Is "Just don't watch it" gaslighting? Or using the power that David has to control people? He is not a true pastor. Wake up! The truth eventually comes out by whatever means necessary. I appreciate the research and PR of Conversations That Matter! 👍

[@damarafriederich9190]

And how much was SBC behind this planning and guidance?

[@roscleo]

After reading through many comments in different places, they have a huge MO of targeting church they can fleece money from. It’s sickening they are so money hungry they are going after churches, and destroying lives for their own greed.

[@damarafriederich9190]

1:06:42 this exposes that David has no authentic knowledge to lead with, so poor education system to prepare him, which makes him only know fallacious reasoning, pleading to his own authority, which Jesus never did.

[@shawnc.madden2181]

My former employer threatened to trespass me if I came back on campus.

[@marcyoverby3817]

JUST WATCHED THE 2 PART VIDEOS..VERY INTERESTING.. REALLY FELT SORRY FOR THE THIS CHURCH. ..

[@briannehill7583]

My church has quartet member meetings. In those meetings Financials are discussed. We see a break down of how much money we have, what its being used for and what we plan to do in the future. We discuss basically avenue that our financial contribution is supporting. Why on earth would a church not be transparent? Unless they are hiding something? Every member has a right to know where money is going and how much

[@briannehill7583]

Quarterly *

[@theweakestlink2278]

Mine has a business meeting on Wednesday nights periodically throughout the year to disclose and discuss finances. They give out handouts with a breakdown of the church finances and expenses. Any church member is allowed and encouraged to attend.

[@tristen7085]

Bless you for exposing the evil that crept it way into your church through the SBC.

[@jamiesmith9827]

Steve Kozar with The Messed Up Church just shared this today.

[@damarafriederich9190]

I would like to know more about Dale Sutherland. And why was Lon moved out? Who did that?

[@JRRodriguez-nu7po]

It seems to me if Biblical Churches were to choose at least one elder who was known for being an aggressive loose canon who had a contrarian spirit lije Paul; it would help prevent this kind of rot. The body needs all kinds and right now Churchianity refuses to recognize the need for at least one man that's not a gentleman.

[@3kidmama]

Why is the Roys Report not covering this in depth? This would seem to be right up her alley!

[@KennethSee]

“The Gospel can be lost in any generation.” That’s an alarming statement. No it can’t. God’s Word assures that it can’t.

[@mikeyonce2323]

59:30 "Oh, he does have sharp teeth". Kinda sums it up, lol.😧🙄😂

[@shawnc.madden2181]

The word "pastor" doesn't apply to the Platt types. It means 'shepherd.' These folks are not, in any stretch of the imagination, shepherds other than 'false shepherds.' They are celebrity 'speakers' or, as the new speak is, 'teaching elder' i.e., I just stand behind the pulpit (if they use one!) and tell you what I think and what you should think. Meeting with and shepherding the flock is not in their wheelhouse at all.

[@Rebel_Leader7]

I wonder where people got this “teaching elder” nonsense from because it is not at all Biblical. Biblical categories are either shepherd or hireling. Americans puzzle me with how they come up with these illegitimate corporate structures then insert it into what they call “church”. No wonder the cheating, stealing, bullying, adultery runs rife!

[@philbostian161]

In the late 1970’s, the church I grew up in experienced a shockingly similar meltdown. The issue the was not CRT and race, but it was pastoral authority. I think you could insert many different controversies and have a similar result. Satan will use anything he can to drag down a strong, Bible-believing church. How sad. Yet, we know the One who will win in the end!

[@Pastor_Grant]

Platt needs to be under discipline. He lied on video about SBC affiliation.

[@Savedbygrace22]

Our church budget is pinned up on the bulletin board. Not to see it would be a colossal red flag 🚩

[@moeesco36]

So, does this documentary only have 2 parts to it?

[@SimperReformanda]

How funny it is that ironically the clip of David Platt applies to what he is doing here and the slander of Joel Webbon by Tobias Riemenschnieder

[@tanks1945]

Since the documentary release has any present members of McLean Bible contacted the Burke's?

[@RNLWW]

As an SBC church member, you must designate your offering to stay local so that it does not go to the state or national convention. However, at this point, I would not trust anyone. Why are these churches still in the SBC?? It is no longer needed for cooperation for missions. We have the Internet now.

[@prismbrandingrealestatebra6301]

David Platt previously was a pastor at Brook Hills church in Birmingham AL under pastor Chris Hodges. In all likelihood he was sent to McLean bible church specifically to take over the church. This type of 'hostile takeover' happens more often than you think. McLean Bible church had some $30 million in assets including their real estate. This no doubt made them a target. It is more profitable to take over an existing church congregation rather than build one from scratch.

[@Josh.1234]

I bet MBC was more important even than money to them. It was a mega church in the DC metro and had massive numbers of politicians and their staffers in attendance. We always had a few staffers in most small groups I was in. All that to say, there is a lot of influence to be had controlling the church.

[@joannastockard]

David Platt was never under Chris Hodges who is over Church of the Highlands. Platt was ar Church of Brook Hills. Facts are important.

[@carpe996]

Don't believe Chris Hodges was ever at Church of Brook Hills where David Plat was pastor. Hodges is (was?) pastor of a different, though in geographic proximity, church, Church of the Highlands.

[@asimon8313]

Men that are telling the truth don’t run away (The Real David Platt).

[@glennthetheologian1691]

1:03:11 Wow! There's even questions on Platt being voted in. Strikes close to home: a SBC church I was involved in of only some 140 people where the vote counts, the percentages, made no sense (and even changed, depending on which deacon I asked the numbers from).

[@Sb1214nl]

Wait wait wait…you still attend online? Or you were attending online in the past? Why would you want to listen to David preach? Am I missing something?

[@jacobvids]

I find it bizarre that this couple still attends online. The comment was made at 52:38 And Jeremiah confirmed it in another podcast. It almost discounts everything they're saying.

[@RNLWW]

Jon, the mega church is WHY it happened and what allowed it to happen. If it had not been one, the wolves would not have come for it.

[@CCozart]

The link is the former pastor...

[@jordanellis8572]

Such a great argument, a sad one, for small “p” presbyterian polity. Sheep need an avenue to bring accountability for abusive under-shepherds, and under-shepherds need a process that protects them from false accusations. Objective forums, within the Church, that have charge to protect sheep and shepherds without going to secular courts, unless there is criminal activity.

[@susanburger4348]

Hi Jon, first of all thank you very much for doing this. I haven’t watched the expose yet and so please forgive me if the following things were addressed in it. This seems to me to be a major indictment on the ruling elders and their failure to do whatever it would take to hold DP accountable and to protect the flock from the heretical woke ideology he has brought upon the church. Why have the elders permitted (and continue to permit) DP to remain in the pulpit? Why didn’t any of the godly men shout, “Ichabod”? Why did they not recognize the false teachings quickly and put a swift stop to it? Why did they allow what appears to be a blatant power grab by DP? It sounds as if they’re on board with him. If so, may the wise continue to flee! Is this not a clarion call for the urgency of godly elders who have been approved by God according to 1 Tim 3? A comment was made by Jeremiah & Laura that there weren’t enough elders in proportion to the congregation size. Is not a lack of godly eldership the whole cause of the problem? I know that the corruption is deep and that you are uncovering many issues involved but I just wanted to express my thoughts concerning the elders. Where are the Saint Boniface's? May God raise them up!!! On another related issue, is it biblical that this was brought to court as per 1 Cor 6:1-8? Again my apologies if this was addressed in the expose.

[@Iamthestorm4750]

Man Mike Kelsey if he gets in there that church is toast. It’s pretty much toast. But if he gets in it’s going to be only social justice

[@jamescook5617]

I think that already happened.

[@Iamthestorm4750]

If they are ignoring it that is terrible pastoring as well. We are talking about CRT and the corruption of the gospel and we are talking about potential corruption.

[@cherimolinari7633]

People dont want to think their belief or faith has been off over time.

[@mikefowler2121]

I want to see somebody actually ask these two difficult questions about the documentary. We are only getting one side of the story and their story has a lot of holes.

[@KevinHale-vq2xr]

Platt is not saying anything he’ll not give up any asset or his pay check now. The elders and staff who did this will take it all

[@jonslagill8864]

I'm part of an independent non-denominational baptist church and to give money under the table like this to the SBC would anger a LOT of people for sure. SBC has issues. Many new churches are drawing people from other churches. They are not actually first gen. Christians. Integrity is the issue. I suspect there are a lot of SBC missionaries that actually don't do anything. With that much money going into missions and that many missionaries supported, there should be fruit and evidence.

[@iankristofer1]

so glad you mentioned Driscoll, because if you go back to before 2015ish you will see a connection between all of them! and Acts 29 fiasco. Platt is not distanced far from that stuff back then

[@gregb6469]

I don't get the whole mega-church model. How can members practice church body-life when there are thousands of households?

[@caroldonaldson5936]

DARVO is nothing new - we've just been calling it 'narcissism' for the last 100+ years.🤷

[@josephtobin8994]

I've yet to hear a single, clear cut 'sin' committed by David Platt from a valid source.

[@sodkasjunkie]

This isn’t the David platt I used to listen to. His voice everything is different

[@roscleo]

Has anyone thought to see if an outside source can check into IMB’s finances during the time David P. was in charge of it? Seems like he ran from there to jump into a church to highjack it, and take control of money. Seems like there should be some outside auditing and over sight.

[@chrisu3039]

It's surprising that it's such a small minority...basically a few people of 13000 plus.... Making the accusations. I'm with the people making these accusations but to me it's telling of the rest of the church. Why stay in a church that's overwhelmingly complacent to the craziness? It's obvious that most of the congregation is off the rails..... Probably time to leave.

[@Psalm144.1]

Usually in most churches only a certain core group are active in the polity. Most only attend Sunday morning at most.

[@chrisu3039]

@ agree but my point is most are giving their approval by showing up each Sunday.

[@marlene56-143]

More than half left if I understood correctly

[@Josh.1234]

Most people just left, so it wasn't a small minority. Honestly, this documentary doesn't even really cover the core problems. Platt started pushing CRT pretty early on and we left soon after that. All this is bad but the teaching was way worse. I run into tons of people who left MBC. Also, I wouldn't say MBC was the most theologically rigorous and it was a very seeker friendly type church. Huge media show, concert-like performances, low membership percentage, didn't seem elder run but more like a CEO of a corporation structure, etc. In retrospect, just not a sound way to run a church and not a place I wanted to raise my children.

[@deborahdedman7064]

I think it is important to remember. We are to serve God, not worship celebrity pastors. Who have PR firms to protect only themselves and feed on the sheep. Millions of Dollars have been funneled to the SBC under false pretense by a church that has a constitution to remain non-denominational. SBC also compliant in lies about why they were taking the money from a church who is not "part of the denomination" as a cocoperative. Church members, people who were there from the beginning, were silenced attacked and thrown out for speaking up. Not even allowed the process of buisness meeting. This is beginning to be a common story since the social justice hijack and seeker sensitive movement. I am thankful and praying for those with the courage to stand up to this Goliath and gave aim via truth. Enough making churches platforms for narcissists who could care less about the gospel under the guise of spreading the gospel. I know this story got out because God is tired of men like these who USE the church for their own end.

[@wesleygestring2529]

I disagree with your guests’ opinion in regards to giving money to “Send Relief.” You should have pressed them to defend /explain that statement.

[@Iamthestorm4750]

I don’t see them addressing it substatnstively. They may deny it or disparage these folks but I don’t know if I see them going through the whole documentary and rebutting the points that were made. Which is not good pastoring either.

[@alomax92]

If you look up 'gaslighting' in the dictionary, this clip is definition #1.