My interest in the traffic to this blog is not about numbers of visitors, or how many people comment, or how to inflict the most damage on the institution of the Stanton sect of the Church of Christ. No, it’s always and only been about one thing: uncovering the historical roots of the sect, and encouraging and motivating people impacted by its unbiblical doctrines to learn more about our loving God and forsake the teachings of men for the Bible alone. It’s about spurring one another on toward love and good works.
John 8:32 – Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.
Hebrews 10:24 – And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds…
As such, it’s awesome to receive things like the postcard I got in the mail the other day from a reader. He thanked me for the encouragement the blog offers, but the real thanks goes out to him and all the others who are actually awake, paying attention, and engaging in a meaningful way with the information and conversation here. You’ve encouraged me to keep moving forward with this project, and I can tell it’s done some tangible good. So thank you. It’s truly a blessing to be part of anything that brings people closer to the God of love I know.
Yet some people—those who have “come to spy out our liberty,” perhaps—assume different motives (I think we’d call that “evil surmising”), and suggest that the blog is nothing more than a tool to engage in a war of words with Stanton. For them, it is about politics, not ideas. This is evidenced by the occasional troll who pops in and tries to take a swipe at me, or the blog, or its readers or commenters without having read the posts and articles.
I can’t speak for the motives of every reader and commenter. I think most have genuinely good motives, but I’ll stipulate that everyone who reads this blog is in a different phase of understanding and dealing with the harm inflicted by Stanton’s teachings. Some are professed believers, some are not. This blog gives voice to both from time to time, and attempts to be fair and accurate in the process.
But we should acknowledge that trolling is a practice that lowers discourse from a conversation about ideas to a political sport where we’re rooting for teams, not truth. Trolling is not about communicating ideas and conversing about them. It is about appealing to our baser instincts, such as the pride of winning an argument, or sticking it to the opposition with a good “zinger.” None of us are above these human motivations; they can crop up at any time in any conversation, and I have to hold them in check as much as the next person. But the truth is that “zingers” rarely lead a conversation into productive territory. Just watch the presidential debates if you doubt me.
These types of comments are not about seeking to convince anyone, nor are they about seeking to understand, educate, encourage, or enlighten one another. They are solely about sabotaging the conversation between seekers of truth who are attempting to reason together.
This blog is intended to be just that—seekers of truth returning to the Bible alone for their authority in doctrine and practice. But for the Stanton loyalists who choose to troll this blog from time to time, it’s clearly not about that. It’s more about rooting for their team to “win” the debate. And with that attitude, everyone loses.
It’s been awhile since I’ve shared traffic analytics, so here are some stats you might find interesting. Aside from the >110,000 page views and >2825 comments, there is this:
Here you’ll see that in any given day, there are an average of 14 active users. For the past 30 days, there have been an average of 388 active users.
It is also interesting to me to see what posts and articles get the most readers. Clearly, the article on Fear and Intimidation Tactics resonates with a large number of readers. But even that is dwarfed by the number of people interested in the historical roots of the church, as evidenced by the pageviews to the historical pages about the church and about Merie Weiss.
Thank you Kevin! when I first joined the Stanton Group, if I had known Merie's history and that she was still withdrawn from by the churches of Christ I wouldn't have stayed. It was only shared that she had left them because they were "off", not that they had withdrawn from her.
Also odd is that there was a very popular saying when I was "young in the faith" and had questions. I would be told "how can one person be right and the whole church be wrong?"
This site has helped me in understanding a lot more about myself, the group, and about the love of God and His Son. So thank you once again, Deb
how can one person be right and the whole church be wrong?.
I dunno, Martin Luther was, Alexander Campbell was, Galileo was, Copernicus was, Moses was, Jesus was, King David was, Abraham was, and Joseph was……
The church was told eight years ago, they would not grow until they changed their doctrine and teaching in accord with the Bible.
They have not, and they have not.
Amazing, that in 2008, Obama was also elected, and he is the worst President our nation has ever had.
If Hillary is elected, the persecution of Christians begins in earnest.
The following anonymous comment was buried on a page that had too many comments for it to show. Rather than risk being accused of deleting it, I'm reposting it on this thread (I think it's an appropriate topic).
Y'ALL R ALL TEllNG LIES BECAUSE I KNOW ALL ABOUT THE STANTON CHURCH…… Your just mad because you got withdrawn from the church… " The Church of Christ" is the only truth.
You might want to check your spelling, grammar, and your facts before posting again. You're welcome here…but you're not helping your case by being so obviously uninformed.
1) I'm not withdrawn from, and never have been.
2) If you're going to accuse me of "TEllNG LIES," please have the courtesy of sharing what the lies are so I can correct them.
Proverbs 17:28 – Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.
Proverbs 29:20 – Do you see a man who is hasty in his words? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
Proverbs 18:2 – A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion.
Proverbs 16:21 – The wise of heart is called discerning, and sweetness of speech increases persuasiveness.
Thank you Kevin. I, too, would like to know what lies I am telling-anonymous accused us ALL of telling lies. Perhaps anonymous doesn't know all of the facts, or only heard second hand or even third hand. If I have said anything in error, I would like to know so that I can also correct it!
I have stepped on toes by pointing out the behaviors of the teachers and preachers of the SCOC. It would amaze you to find out how many have been taken to the police dept and questioned for hours when school officials found bruises on their children. In the San Francisco bay area several "teachers/preachers" have been arrested and detained for child abuse. It is easier to say "Y'ALL R TELLING ALL LIES" then it is to correct the problem of abuse. I will not stop pointing out the abuses when I see them, whether it is child abuse or abuse of power. Teachers/preachers are held up as infallible and beyond question yet their behavior is less than Godly. If you are a god on earth then why are you in handcuffs in the police station? It takes courage to hold their feet to the fire and make them take responsibility for their abuses. "Because I know all about the Church of Christ" well we too know all about the church having been members for several years and abuses are hidden just like the catholics hide their abuses. One abuse that needs to be talked about is extortion; the practice of obtaining something through force or threats. WP the preacher from Albuquerque used threats to silence members he did not like. His threat "If you people don't stop calling the evangelist in Spring Valley and Greenville SC you had better watch out!" was used to silence the members who complained about him. Who can call the evangelist? Only teachers and preachers? or any members of the congregations? To get away with their abuses a wall of silence has to be erected and this is done through extortion. Don't sit in silence and take the abuse call the evangelist or the police if necessary; abuse is not righteousness .
I know that I have said this before, but want to reiterate it. For the numerous years that I went through what I did I was always questioning, praying, and studying these things out. I was praying, almost hoping, that I was the one in the wrong and that I could see and understand where I am going wrong, but the scriptures never added up to was being done. I even asked the "preacher from the south", Which one should I follow, scripture or example, because they are not the same". He didn't answer.
One brother, who has been in over 30 years, told me to not be concerned on what brethren do to me, but be worried about how my attitude is about it. Yes, this is good advice and worth following, yet you will see that nothing is done to those who mistreat people. They just close their ears and shut their eyes to it. I pointed out that one preacher, who has been in since around 1976, threatened me and another, who has been in since the 80's who murmured in a sermon against one of the Evangelist's wife's counsel and nothing was done to either of them. This was, even, told to one of the evangelists. They were still preaching.
The problem is that to many people are not listening to what is being said. People stand in disbelief. Just because they are church leaders does not make them infallible.
I could not see myself being able to worship in a congregation like this. There are years of problems that have happened that are looked past and I was eventually marked and avoided for not going a long with it.
I said all of that to say this, that after I left I found this blog and saw that I wasn't the only one. People from various congregations saying the same things without collaborating first.
Yes, the foundation of the COC is true, but it is being handled in unrightousness. There is to much cruelty, a lack of love and mercy, to many hypocritical situations, to much preferring, to much murmuring and talebearing about each other.
Look into what is being said and you will see.
One connection that is only seen with time is the connection between covetousness and laziness. The evangelist in Spring Valley gave a talk after his predecessor left the church called "How much of that money is for the brethren?" The evangelist before him worked as a construction manager and got a bonus of twenty thousand dollars after a project was completed and then went out and bought himself a fifty era chevrolet and started telling the children that he was going "cruising in the fifties." Right or wrong it was his money to spend as he pleased. The teaching of "how much of that money is for the brethren" was adopted by many men in the church at that time (late 1980's) and held by some unto this day. When a person was baptized into the church the older members would come around asking for and getting loans (which were never repaid) or borrowing the new members vehicle and returning it empty of gas, or asking for free home repair of car repair services, to use the new members financial resources and time for their own needs. Once these older members saw that freeloading (parasitical behavior) was accepted they cut back on working to twenty five hours or less a week. After all why work when you can get it for free? The church I was baptized into in 1990 was full of lazy men, some self employed, some held full time jobs, but all were expecting a free ride in one way or another. These same men who did not work or were lazy on the jobs they did hold often failed to pay child support and I never heard of any man paying alimony to a wife from an unscriptural marriage. I asked one man who used to go around at tax time asking members "you got a tax return? Hows much of that money is for the brethren?" when he got two insurance settlements for one accident 9,000 from his own insurance company and another 9,000 for the other persons insurance company (18,000) how much of that money is for the brethren? He responded very quickly and rather angrily: NONE! You see the covetous who become lazy are all takers and never givers: do for me and forget yourself. If you allow men to freeload and become lazy then the wives and children will go hungry. One false teaching can have years of effect.
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.
Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.
You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire.
So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison. Truly, I say to you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.
You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell.
It was also said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
“Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.’ But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. And do not take an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil.
Typical delusions. Arizona has been ceaselessly lying and evil surmising on here for three years. Now, he thinks the indignation his wicked lying has stirred up is “persecution for righteousness’ sake.”
No, my delusional friend, lol, Jesus doesn’t like liars. You are one of the loathsome Christians who try to run behind the Bible to hide from the punishment of your sins, which you love and will not leave.
Confucius was right.
“He who knows not and knows not that he knows not is a fool – shun him.”
– Confucius
We can’t shun Arizona, though, he enjoys his lying and forces his wicked ways on others, though no wise person wants to be around him.
The internet has created a huge problem. Wicked people like Arizona are not easily gotten rid of. He hides to avoid detection, as he knows when he is known his wicked ways will lead to him being rejected.
In my entire history with Stanton, Arizona is the most deluded man I’ve ever encountered.
He should never have been in Stanton or in America. If Lincoln had sent the slaves back we never would have had to deal with Arizona’s delusional nonsense.
You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic let him have your cloak as well. And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Love has no meaning when it comes out of the mouth of an impenitent liar.
When you love others, you aren’t constantly lying about them, as Arizona routinely does.
Love sees the good in others, which you don’t. No one knows who you are, but we know you are the most prominent critic here, criticizing sins and things you make up. It’s hard to think of a more unjust judge.
We also know you are trained to see yourself as a Black victim. We know you have a huge problem seeing others prosper when you don’t. You are motivated by envy and jealousy, and wow, what a motivation it is. Instead of being a man and fixing your lying, you waste hours on this website trying to tear down those of us who tell the truth and expose your lying ways. Then, you claim you are persecuted.
It’s horrifying to think of what a woman had to deal with with you. It would drive a woman insane dealing with a lying wretch like you.
There is salvation to the contrite; you aren’t sorry at all for your pathological lying.
Arizona’s behavior resembled that of Stanton’s leaders. When caught in wrongdoing, they would start quoting the Bible and pretending they were being persecuted for being righteous.
Arizona is being criticized for his habitual lying, and Stanton is being criticized for disobeying God’s command for women to be silent in the churches.
Both Arizona and Stanton plead, “I dindu nuffin,” when their sins stink to high heaven.