Tonight, C.J. Mahaney and Joshua Harris were removed as Council Members with The Gospel Coalition (TGC). No explanation has been given thus far.
D.A. Carson, Kevin DeYoung, and Justin Taylor of The Gospel Coalition have been staunch supporters of C.J. Mahaney. I wrote about it this past May. Read here. I've repeatedly endeavored to correspond with these men, talk to these men, and meet with these men. They have refused every offer.
For instance, here is some correspondence with Justin Taylor. He refused to be honest with me and he refused to talk to me about his assertion that I was a slanderer. Truth be told, Taylor slandered me by calling me a slanderer. He also slandered Janet Mefferd.
From: Brent Detwiler
Sent: Sunday, December 08, 2013 8:31 AM
To: Justin Taylor
Subject: Who is the "known slanderer"?
Hello Justin,
I noticed this Dec 3 comment on your blog about “a known slanderer regarding the SGM situation.” I have a simple question. Are you referring to me or to someone else?
“This is not the first time I’ve observed this behavior from her [Janet Mefferd]. I think it is very problematic that she has given a platform to a known slanderer [me] regarding the SGM situation. She [Mefferd] also tried to try the case in the court of public opinion and proceeded in an unbiblical way. In other words, this didn’t seem like a one-off situation.”
Thanks for the clarification.
Brent
From: Justin Taylor jtaylor@crossway.org
Sent: Monday, December 09, 2013 9:04 AM
To: Brent Detwiler
Subject: Re: FW: Who is the "known slanderer"?
Brent,
Given the way your track record of handling personal correspondence, I have no reason to believe our correspondence will be kept confidential and have resolved not to interact with you.
Justin Taylor
From: Brent Detwiler
Sent: Monday, December 09, 2013 9:28 AM
To: Justin Taylor
Subject: RE: FW: Who is the "known slanderer"?
I guess that means you are not willing to be honest and answer my simple question. Since you don’t want to write please call me at 704-497-xxxx. I’d like to talk with you about your comment. You are quite mistaken about me.
I am coming to you in private per the teaching of Scripture. I’ve never gone public with anything including personal correspondence unless I first took every measure to address an issue in private. In the case of C.J., I (and many others) appealed to him in private for over ten years (2000-2011) before I was forced to go public when he continued to lie and deceive. I simply obeyed the teaching of Matthew 18:17, 1 Tim 5:20, etc. I had no choice. I believe in the authority of Scripture.
Please don’t use what you perceive to be my “track record” as an excuse for not being accountable for what you have written. I look forward to our interaction.
Brent
Justin Taylor never called me. I consider that cowardly.
These three men, and many other nationally recognized leaders like them, must publicly repent for their ungodly support of C.J. Mahaney in the face of overwhelming evidence. Rather than search out the truth, they believed the talking point provided by Mahaney and Sovereign Grace Ministries including the claim that not one shred of evidence existed to prove a conspiracy. They have not been impartial. Rather, they have treated Mahaney with unparalleled favoritism. This enabled Mahaney and allowed him to escape accountability.
Carson, DeYoung and Taylor need to renounce their “Why We Have Been Silent about the SGM Lawsuit” statement from May 24, 2013.
Postscript - 11:59 PM
The Religion News Service is reporting The Gospel Coalition will not be commenting on the matter. http://www.religionnews.com/2014/05/18/megachurch-pastors-leave-reformed-evangelical-network-amid-child-abuse-scandal/. “An employee of TGC said it will not be putting out a statement on the matter. Initial attempts to reach Mahaney and Harris were unsuccessful.”
Postscript - Reason for Harris' Resignation
