There might be something to the trope of the only good leader is the one who does not want to lead. Anyone who desires this kind of power over others is almost certainly going to abuse it.
The "any high achiever, unfortunately, by their own sheer giftings and drive, will run over a few people along the way" is quite revealing of the way these churches think about people. You've mentioned before in writing about Arise how some people were determined to be more "valuable" than others - this quote reveals that same attitude, that the "valuable" high achievers might "run over" a few "less valuable people" along the way but it's OK bc they're being lead by God.
What an absolute copout, but we already know this from the way these churches utilise "God" as a reason to justify anything (or almost anything, except apparently adultery). It's revealing that they think of people in categories such as "high achiever/worthy" and "unworthy/able to be run over".
It's also a disservice to the many thousands of high achievers who manage to achieve great things w/o "running over a few people along the way".
God is such a convenient excuse for these people and it's absolutely abhorrent. This sort of thing, posting videos like this then deleting is a prime example of what people like Peter Mortlock do when they are scared, when their Jesus-grifting is being called out and challenged, and they are fearful that for them too, their comfortable life living prosperously off the 10% tithes they have manipulated their congregations into giving is in jeopardy.
Disreproach? There's a new one. The bloody man can't even speak English. Disrepute, numbwit!
Did they run off with the church's money? Well, while doing God's business they apparently acquired $6,000,000 in assets. More than Jesus managed.
And what is a "sheer gifting" when it's at home? I haven't read about lots of gifts being spread around!
"They've sincerely apologised for being extreme" - Freudian slip anyone?
Oh great. What it takes is a "thicker skin to outlive [your] critics". Don't bother changing, guys. Just wait until the news cycle moves on to something else and then everything can go back to the way it was.
And these Biblical characters were sent a screenshot? Who writes this stuff? What an addlepate this man is. Do people take him seriously? How can these people hoodwink so many presumably intelligent people.
We have some real problems with our society that this stuff is happening.
They're just not Christian. We aren't expected to be perfect of course... but oh Lord... we don't discount or disregard the people that get hurt. How far away from the teaching of Jesus is this guy going to get before his people wake up...
"Interns broken, souls crushed" . . . their idea of "running a few people over on the way" is pretty horrific. And mayyyybe if it were the odd incident a half decade ago, you could think about forgiveness. But it's not. It's an ongoing horror show, and there is no repentance, no acknowledgement, which is part of the forgiveness playbook. You don't forgive and forget when the sins against you are rug-swept and glossed over, and abusers allowed to just continue abusing.
It gets me how these guys all think that all they have to do is admit some degree of fallibility in the past, say they have learned from it and are no longer doing these things, and then they can get in with business as usual. Not only do they try to turn themselves into the victim, but they also seek to amplify themselves as a leader by admitting they’ve been less than perfect. It’s as if they are saying that nobody else is big enough to admit shortcomings, so because they have made these admissions (which are usually nowhere near the full extent of the problem /crime and are only ever made after it has been raised by someone else) then this is even more proof of their right to lead. What they never address though is: how come they managed to do things wrong in the first place? Back then they were standing in front of people saying some version of “I understand what god wants and he has appointed me to explain it all to you” - so was the leader lying back then or has god changed his mind in the meantime?
Holy weasel words Batman! I couldn't bear to watch the whole video, it was far too much for my wairua tapu. It's been fascinating watching this whole sorry saga unraveling since you first began the series David. I only hope it serves to open some shut minds to the danger of rich white men going feral in institutions like this one. By the way as an antidote to his bile your post on the video was the best! Kia kaha
As a devoted follower of Christ for over half a century, and currently at Arise church I take my hat off to you for being honest and brave. Jesus was honest. It’s so sad tho. And so sad that it took outside actions to snap Arise senior leadership into the reality that they MUST take these things very seriously. So glad I’m here to be a support and stable influence in our local community of Arise Church (Kapiti).
Jaysus, the never-ending delusion self-justification cop-out of "god's hand". He seems to conveniently forget that we could extend the same to you David, that it was "God's hand" in your work that did smite these people down
Ah yes, the three great enemies of the righteous soul; the devil, the taxman, the webworms
🍒🍒🍒 vs 💀💀💀
Matthew 7
15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
16 Ye shall know them by their fruits.
There might be something to the trope of the only good leader is the one who does not want to lead. Anyone who desires this kind of power over others is almost certainly going to abuse it.
The "any high achiever, unfortunately, by their own sheer giftings and drive, will run over a few people along the way" is quite revealing of the way these churches think about people. You've mentioned before in writing about Arise how some people were determined to be more "valuable" than others - this quote reveals that same attitude, that the "valuable" high achievers might "run over" a few "less valuable people" along the way but it's OK bc they're being lead by God.
What an absolute copout, but we already know this from the way these churches utilise "God" as a reason to justify anything (or almost anything, except apparently adultery). It's revealing that they think of people in categories such as "high achiever/worthy" and "unworthy/able to be run over".
It's also a disservice to the many thousands of high achievers who manage to achieve great things w/o "running over a few people along the way".
God is such a convenient excuse for these people and it's absolutely abhorrent. This sort of thing, posting videos like this then deleting is a prime example of what people like Peter Mortlock do when they are scared, when their Jesus-grifting is being called out and challenged, and they are fearful that for them too, their comfortable life living prosperously off the 10% tithes they have manipulated their congregations into giving is in jeopardy.
You're making a difference David.
Disreproach? There's a new one. The bloody man can't even speak English. Disrepute, numbwit!
Did they run off with the church's money? Well, while doing God's business they apparently acquired $6,000,000 in assets. More than Jesus managed.
And what is a "sheer gifting" when it's at home? I haven't read about lots of gifts being spread around!
"They've sincerely apologised for being extreme" - Freudian slip anyone?
Oh great. What it takes is a "thicker skin to outlive [your] critics". Don't bother changing, guys. Just wait until the news cycle moves on to something else and then everything can go back to the way it was.
And these Biblical characters were sent a screenshot? Who writes this stuff? What an addlepate this man is. Do people take him seriously? How can these people hoodwink so many presumably intelligent people.
We have some real problems with our society that this stuff is happening.
They're just not Christian. We aren't expected to be perfect of course... but oh Lord... we don't discount or disregard the people that get hurt. How far away from the teaching of Jesus is this guy going to get before his people wake up...
Awesome 👏🏽 mahi & reporting David!
Peter Mortlock is a snake & cracked me up in his wholehearted support for Brian & Murray . . . . It says it all . . . . Bunch of fuckwits
"Interns broken, souls crushed" . . . their idea of "running a few people over on the way" is pretty horrific. And mayyyybe if it were the odd incident a half decade ago, you could think about forgiveness. But it's not. It's an ongoing horror show, and there is no repentance, no acknowledgement, which is part of the forgiveness playbook. You don't forgive and forget when the sins against you are rug-swept and glossed over, and abusers allowed to just continue abusing.
It gets me how these guys all think that all they have to do is admit some degree of fallibility in the past, say they have learned from it and are no longer doing these things, and then they can get in with business as usual. Not only do they try to turn themselves into the victim, but they also seek to amplify themselves as a leader by admitting they’ve been less than perfect. It’s as if they are saying that nobody else is big enough to admit shortcomings, so because they have made these admissions (which are usually nowhere near the full extent of the problem /crime and are only ever made after it has been raised by someone else) then this is even more proof of their right to lead. What they never address though is: how come they managed to do things wrong in the first place? Back then they were standing in front of people saying some version of “I understand what god wants and he has appointed me to explain it all to you” - so was the leader lying back then or has god changed his mind in the meantime?
Holy weasel words Batman! I couldn't bear to watch the whole video, it was far too much for my wairua tapu. It's been fascinating watching this whole sorry saga unraveling since you first began the series David. I only hope it serves to open some shut minds to the danger of rich white men going feral in institutions like this one. By the way as an antidote to his bile your post on the video was the best! Kia kaha
As a devoted follower of Christ for over half a century, and currently at Arise church I take my hat off to you for being honest and brave. Jesus was honest. It’s so sad tho. And so sad that it took outside actions to snap Arise senior leadership into the reality that they MUST take these things very seriously. So glad I’m here to be a support and stable influence in our local community of Arise Church (Kapiti).
I wonder what an investigation into City Impact would uncover. I wouldn't be surprised to find much the same as what has come out about Arise.
Jaysus, the never-ending delusion self-justification cop-out of "god's hand". He seems to conveniently forget that we could extend the same to you David, that it was "God's hand" in your work that did smite these people down
I was so pleased to see AJ’s piece this morning.
“Any high achiever, unfortunately, by their sheer grifting and drive, run over a few people along the way”
Fixed it
I initially misread that as ‘sheer griftings’, which was amusing.