Today’s Buzz: Chuck Norris, Church Scandal Old Testament Style; Fundamentalists; & Pastors for Rudy

Orginally published on Tuesday, November 20, 2007 at 9:24 AM
by Todd Rhoades

In today's buzz... what do you get when you have a bishop who slept with his brother's wife, and his illegitimate son is the mega-church's senior pastor (who doesn't know about any of this)? You have a brand new church scandal that has Old Testament written all over it. Plus some other things here and there that you might find interesting...

‘The Bishop’s Not My Uncle, He’s My Father’
The 80-year-old leader of a suburban Atlanta megachurch is at the center of a sex scandal of biblical dimensions: He slept with his brother’s wife and fathered a child by her.  Members of Archbishop Earl Paulk’s family stood at the pulpit of the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit at Chapel Hill Harvester Church a few Sundays ago and revealed the secret exposed by a recent court-ordered paternity test.  In truth, this is not the first - or even the second - sex scandal to engulf Paulk and the independent, charismatic church. But this time, he could be in trouble with the law for lying under oath about the affair.  The living proof of that lie is 34-year-old D.E. Paulk, who for years was known publicly as Earl Paulk’s nephew.  “I am so very sorry for the collateral damage it’s caused our family and the families hurt by the removing of the veil that hid our humanity and our sinfulness,” said D.E. Paulk, who received the mantle of head pastor a year and a half ago.  D.E. Paulk said he did not learn the secret of his parentage until the paternity test. “I was disappointed, and I was surprised,” he said.  Oh my.  You can read the full article here.

The Fundamentalist Survival Mechanism
As many of you know, I grew up in a very staunch, fundamentalist (and legalistic) church (and I still have he scars to prove it).  Recently, I read this, may I say, brilliant piece on the subject by Trevin Wax (which is REALLY weird, since my youngest is named Trevin and I haven’t seen that name elsewhere much).  Anyway, Trevin starts out his piece by saying “If a “fundamentalist” is a person who believes in the fundamental doctrines of the Christian faith (the virgin birth, the substitutionary atonement, the physical resurrection of Jesus, the perfect inspiration of Scripture), then count me in. I’m not ashamed to wear the label.  But it can be dangerous to be a fundamentalist.” He continues on, and later says:  “A movement that receives its identity from protesting is likely to prolong its survival by finding smaller and more insignificant things to protest.” Very well said.  You can read his whole piece here.

Introducing Crossroads Creative...
I got an email from Richard Gaspard, telling me about what his church is doing.  He writes, “I would like to introduce Crossroads Creative.  Crossroads Creative is a ministry of Crossroads Church (with link) in Lafayette, Louisiana.  They have created some great video material for churches to use as tools in their own ministries.  Their pieces that are professionally done and topically sound. Crossroads Creative was birthed out of the necessity for quality video illustrations for use within their congregation.  Everything that they have to offer has already been used in their own church.  Now they want you to be able to use it as well.  Visit Crossroads Creative web site and check out the many examples of their work they have posted.  In addition, Crossroads Creative is offering a 30% discount especially for Monday Morning Insight readers.  Simply go to their site and when you’re ready to check out, simply enter coupon code MMI, and the discount will be applied.  This offer expires January 31, 2008.

NC Baptist Convention Expels Charlotte Church
Delegates from North Carolina’s Baptist State Convention voted overwhelmingly this week to expel a Charlotte church for its stance on homosexuals in the church. Several media sources, such as Fox News, reported that Myers Park Baptist Church became the first church to be thrown out of the convention because of its belief in welcoming gays and lesbians without trying to change them. Despite a plea from two Myers Park members for delegates to open their hearts to homosexuals and to leave biblical interpretation pertaining to the issue up to local churches, fewer than 15 out of the 2,000-plus delegates present showed support for the church. Other souces, including NBC News, credited the church’s expulsion to its allowance of homosexual leaders within the church. From MinistryTodayMag.com

Politics Heats Up… Rudy and Huckaby Look for Support from Pastors
Republican presidential hopeful Rudy Giuliani, who received the endorsement of Rev. Pat Robertson recently, plans to launch a “Pastors for Rudy” group soon. 

Meanwhile, according to the BibleBeltBlogger, Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee will appear on national television this month with a Texas televangelist whose teachings have been branded “heretical” and whose lavish spending has sparked a congressional inquiry. Earlier this month, in an interview with the Democrat-Gazette, Huckabee said he has stayed at the home of Kenneth and Gloria Copeland and considers them friends. “They mainly are just real encouragers,” Huckabee said. Asked if the televangelist had given him any advice when they crossed paths at a DeSoto, Texas, campaign fundraiser Nov. 3, Huckabee said, “The main advice he gives me is to stay faithful. His advice is spiritual, not political.” But Malcolm Yarnell, director of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary’s Center for Theological Research, said Huckabee is joining forces with a false teacher who is spreading a “false gospel.” “Kenneth Copeland is a heretic,” Yarnell said Friday. “I’m not sure it’s wise for [Huckabee] to use Kenneth Copeland’s pulpit to promote himself as a politician. I don’t like that.” Read more here at the Bible Belt Blogger (Thanks, Frank for the heads up!)

And thanks, too Frank, for reporting this.  You gotta like Chuck Norris…

And Finally Today… The Perfect Technical Glitch
For some reason, I found this funny…

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Hi... I'm Todd Rhoades. I'm a Christ-follower, husband, father and I love to connect leaders with other leaders. Hopefully you'll find something here at MMI you like and will return often. If you want, you can find out more about me or follow my every step on Twitter.

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