Is Writing about Community Evangelical Free Church in Elverson, Pennsylvania Public Shaming or “Outrage Porn?”

An article by Scott Sauls at Christ Presbyterian Church in Nashville, Tennessee in Relevant Magazine is being shared by members of Community Evangelical Free Church. Is talking about the alleged criminal activity by Brock Estes, or the Elder Board internet shaming or “outrage porn?” It is not…instead its dealing with the facts of the situation. This explains why and how the dysfunctional leadership at Community created this mess.

“I don’t want to go viral, I want to set hearts on fire.”

Coco J. Ginger

“The two most powerful warriors are patience and time.”

Leon Tolstoy

“I have never advocated war except as a means of peace.”

Ulysses S. Grant

But the Lord reigns forever,  executing judgment from his throne.
⁸ He will judge the world with justice  and rule the nations with fairness.
⁹ The Lord is a shelter for the oppressed,  a refuge in times of trouble.
¹⁰ Those who know your name trust in you,  for you, O Lord, do not abandon those who search for you.

Psalm 9:7-10 NLT

I have heard that members of Community Evangelical Free Church (CEFC) are trading an interesting article.  The article is a Relevant magazine piece called “Internet Outrage, Public Shaming and Modern-Day Pharisees.“ Its written by Scott Sauls who is the Pastor at Christ Presbyterian Church in Nashville, Tennessee. We need to discuss a lot of what is said in the article and ask the question…does this apply to Community Evangelical Free Church in Elverson, Pennsylvania? I am going to quote a couple of paragraphs or sections and then do some analysis. My comments below will be in red.

New York Times writer Tim Kreider coined the term “Outrage Porn,” to describe what he see’s as our culture’s insatiable search for things to be offended by.

Based on hundreds of comments and letters to the editor, Kreidor says that many contemporary people feed off the feeling 1) right and 2) wronged. “Outraged Porn” resembles actual pornography in that it aims for a cheap, temporary thrill at the expense of another human being, but without and personal accountability or commitment to that human being.

It often escalates into the public shaming of groups and persons. Labeling, caricature and exclusion occur as offended parties rally together against a common enemy.

There are many forms of online shaming: The angry blog, the critical tweet, the vicious comment on Facebook. Whatever the method – people try to hurt people. Sometimes the shaming escalates into mob, a faux-community that latches on to the negative verdict and piles on. Under the pretense of righteous indignation, the mob licks its chops and goes into demonizing, diminishing and destroying its target.

When this story was told at The Wondering Eagle, it was done after many efforts to resolve this situation beforehand. Overall I had hoped and wanted Steve Estes, Matt Carter and the Elder board to do the right thing up front. I would have preferred that had transpired because that was my interest. I encouraged that to many people and that was what I had hoped for in the end. Over 50 people approached Steve Estes and the leadership, as well as the Eastern District leadership at the time and then national Evangelical Free asking for help and the were routinely dismissed. All options and avenues failed. There are many people who left Community who care too much to leave the situation as it is. Plus they care too much for Hurit to leave the situation where it is. Hurit has been the victim, she has been the one who has been wronged.  Its like  what I have written about and will continue to hammer. Steve Estes is a professor at Westminster, he should know that he needs to admit that he is wrong. If he can’t then why is he teaching? Should he be teaching? Is it practical theology to cover up alleged criminal activity? I am still trying to get a statement from Westminster Theological Seminary, and CCEF. I have contacted CCEF 3 times now asking for a statement. I have Tweeted David Powlison  asking for a statement on this situation.

Its not easy to undertake this and its time consuming, but the fact of the matter is that the Elder board, and Steve Estes are in the wrong. Why are they wrong?  They have been involved in the cover up of allegations of criminal activity. There are allegations of covering up domestic abuse and an incident with a fire arm. In addition, the Bible is being manipulated, twisted and I have to say after reading many of these individual spiritual abuse stories and talking to people all across the theological spectrum that I think anyone can use the Bible to justify basically anything. But is this blog and telling the story of Community Evangelical Free Church “Outrage Porn?” No…and here is why…the church leadership refused to do the right thing. Like I said, many people went two or three times and brought witnesses and challenged the church’s leadership and they were dismissed.  Many people went way beyond what scripture has taught about bringing a witness. So its pretty clear that Community isn’t adhering to the scripture it claims to teach. If so they would have heeded this a while back. This for me has not been a cheap, temporary thrill. It has been exhausting. For me its meant crawling into bed at 2:00 a.m. and working with a large number of people who I love and care for. It means responding to the emails I get. I do this work because there is so much pain coming out of Community that needs to be dealt with. The fruit of the spirit is supposed to be peace, joy, love, kindness, etc… The fruit of the spirit is not allegedly pointing a loaded gun at your wife, or allegedly raping your wife when intoxicated and then wanting to get out of the marriage and having your father cover up the allegations of criminal activity.

Outrage Porn is not new. The holier-than-thou New Testament Pharisees “trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and looked down on others with contempt.” (Luke 18:9) It’s there in the Simon the Pharisee as she shames the woman anointing Jesus with perfume and washing his feet with her tears and hair. She is “a sinner.” Not a person, not a thing. Not a woman but an animal. Not the image of God, but sub-human trash (Luke 7:36-50).

It’s also there in those who brand the woman caught in adultery with a Scarlet Letter. The mob encircles her, ready to pile on and destroy. Had Jesus not intervened, they would have destroyed her just like the Internet mob destroyed Justine Sacco for her single act, the act that she apologized for through tears. But apologies don’t make good stories,  do they? They aren’t as tweetable.

The aspect that greatly troubles me about this article is how it twists and redefines the situation. In parts of Christianity today words have been redefined and have a whole new meaning. In the process many people are confused. For example in Elverson, Community has redefined gossip and slander. Its not gossip and slander to talk about what is true. Everything that has been written about here is based on facts. To the very best of my ability I have been truthful in everything that has been written. I receive a number of emails from people who have thanked me for that effort. The reality is that there are a lot of brave and loving people in Elverson, who impress me with their courage. But words are being redefined….it’s similar to the way some pastors use the word bitter. They use the word bitter as a tactic and a means to shut people down. What troubles me is the way Scott Sauls article is being used out of context. The woman washing Jesus feet is a very different situation than the woman that Brock allegedly could have killed. Its apples and oranges. That is the issue at hand. In this situation in Elverson the sympathy has been directed at the wrong person. Brock is not the victim…in this case he is the perpetuator. He is the one who chose to act this way and set things in the course of motion. He is not the innocent one in this situation, he got a get out of jail pass because his father is the Senior Pastor at Community Evangelical Free Church. I keep thinking of what George Orwell wrote in Animal Farm. All animals are equal but some are more equal than others. What that means is that in the context of Community is that all are supposedly equal however the reality of the situation is that if you are a relative of the Senior Pastor or the Stoltzfus family you are above and exempt from the rules. Brock will never be disciplined by Steve Estes and the Elders. None of the Stoltzfus children will ever be disciplined publically, as family ties are thicker than blood.

And as for apologies not making good stories, let me say that is hogwash. One of the things I am hoping for is to hear about stories of reconciliation from this mess. As people leave Community Evangelical Free Church I am hoping they will reconcile with Hurit and the others who have left. When this happens I would love to write about it. I would love to highlight and promote those stories of healing. Its necessary and needed. This blog isn’t focused on negativity, but negative stories do need to be written about. If you want to know why I write about some of this you can read this post which explains my reasoning. However there are many stories that have been written that show reconciliation. You can read this post about Renee Napier and Eric Smallridge in Florida. Can you imagine if this was the norm and not the exception? Its the story of drunk driving fatalities, pain, repentance, and reconciliation. These acts don’t have to be confined to Florida. They can happen on Brick Lane and Main Street in Elverson. Here’s another post that I wrote about how I reconciled with the most difficult and estranged situation from a prolonged faith crisis. I put my finances and reputation on the line to help heal someone who I hurt. That risk paid off, and today there is peace, and fellowship. My desire is for there to be healing in Elverson, I would love to write about it. However, in order for there to be healing Steve Estes and the Elder Board need to come clean and say they were wrong.

 

The pious Pharisee’s bravado and righteous indignation is just a mask for self-justification. Forming a mob around a common enemy – around “the sinners” – was the group think of deeply insecure, small men looking for a way to medicate their own small egos at the expense of a scape goat – a scape goat who was no more shame-worthy than they.

When tempted to join the mob and to shame, maybe we should shift our eyes from the computer screen to the mirror. Maybe we should ask ourselves why we, too enjoy, the caricature and the labeling. Maybe we should ask ourselves why we, too are prone to “like” and “share” when someone else’s whole life is reduced to their most foolish, offensive, and regretted public moment.

The Elder board is the organization that runs on group think. It is the “lynch mob” that put Hurit through the system that they created. I would say it is the Elder Board that is deeply insecure. Let me say something…. I am not perfect and I am going to make mistakes. If I ever make a mistake in anything I have said about CEFC I invite correction. Actually as you can see in this post I made a mistake about an Acts 29 church in the DC area. When I realized it, I owned up and wrote about by mistake. You can read about it here.  And I value other points of view…if Matt Carter or Steve Estes want to publish something I’ll gladly let them do so to illustrate that I am not opposed to differing points of view. That said…Matt Carter or Steve Estes…any takers?

Let’s also touch base on the concept of “mob mentality” by the internet. First of all remember its highly likely that a number of felonies have been committed by the leadership of Community Evangelical Free and Brock Estes. That needs to be stated, as felonies are a serious matter. Lets also remember that Hurit could be deceased today due to Brock’s action. This is disturbing to say but I think it needs to be said…due to the fact that Brock could have killed her she could be gone, and buried. That is irresponsible, careless, and not something that a church should overlook. Let’s also remember that many of these issues rest with Brock and the leadership of Community. If people don’t like seeing this on the internet its because the Elder board is highly dysfunctional , run by family and can’t solve their own problems.

We also need to remember that actions have consequences. Should we dismiss someone’s most offensive and regretted public moment? If so let’s open up the Pennsylvania prisons and let people back into society! I’m sure there are plenty of people who murdered, raped or committed other crimes that they regret…let’s just forget they did anything wrong and focus on the good. No of course that shouldn’t take place…what you are creating is a system that constitutes cheap grace as Dietrich Bonhoeffer warned against.

What if instead of condemnation, we became known for giving benediction? What if instead of being on the hunt to catch people doing wrong, we went on the hunt to catch people doing right? What if instead of looking for someone to curse, we started looking for someone to bless? What if instead of naming people according to their worst behaviors and features, we named them according to their best and most God-reflecting ones?

In a perverse sort of way doesn’t this paragraph describe what happened to Brock? Wasn’t he given a “benediction” for his behavior?  After all he could be on the Pennsylvania Sex Offender Registry I believe for the alleged sexual assault of his wife and he is not. He could be incarcerated for allegedly pointing a gun at his wife and he is not. Meanwhile look at what Hurit was dragged through. The church went after her and gave a pass for Brock. If there is one lesson in this scenario its that rank has its privileges. But should we overlook alleged criminal behavior? If so why do we have a justice system? Why do we prosecute crimes in this country or even your county? The fact that this article is being shared by people who attend Community Evangelical Free Church shows how sick, sick, sick that church is. They have so removed themselves that they have lost sight of the true victim. The true victim is Hurit who was publically humiliated by a whole body of believers. Several letters were sent out about her to the entire congregation and a public service was held to openly shame her.

I want to go on record as saying that I welcome dialogue. Sometime in the next couple of months I plan on heading back up to Elverson, Pennsylvania. If anyone from Community Evangelical Free Church wants to meet and talk with me I would invite, and be happy to do that. I do this to illustrate that I am not hiding behind the computer screen. I’m a lovable teddy bear that loves to engage people. I regularly meet with and talk with people who like to read. Tonight in the Washington, D.C area I am met with another person that wanted to talk about their church experience, and life. If anyone from Community wants to speak on the phone I would be happy to chat with you. Just shoot me an email and we can arrange a time to talk. I do all this to illustrate that I am not afraid of talking with and having discussions with people. To those involved in Community Evangelical Free you need to break away, vote with your feet and walk. As always I want people to know that I love them!