The Fall of Doug Phillips and Vision Forums

I have to admit my mind just swims when I look at the different responses from different groups to ‘scandals’ within their circles.  Being human I think we all realize coming clean at times isn’t the easiest thing in the world to do.



I don’t know about most, but I value people that can fall – even big time – and then pick themselves up, dust themselves off, and keep going.  It can’t be easy to totally own something, and yet you notice at times some individuals don’t seem to have an issue with this at all.  While, others – especially some leaders – struggle with even admitting the smallest of issues.

Doug Phillips, of Vision Forums has resigned over an affair that he claims hasn’t gone into the ‘biblically intimate” realms…if you catch my drift.  Their ministry seems to be falling apart at the seams that this point, and now you are getting the impression that despite his ‘repentance’ letter he placed online?  He truly isn’t all that sorry.  Here is a partial quote from Spiritual Sounding board from a another ‘leader’ that was groomed in this movement since the cradle.

He then wrote about the intention of a group of men who were “bosom brothers,” close friends, to lovingly confront Phillips to plea for true repentance and restoration.

What for us was a tender, emotional, mission of mercy and plea for true repentance was met with something, and by someone I never could have imagined. Instead of being received as the “wounds of a friend” (Proverbs 27:6), I was formally disowned and declared to be a “destroyer” to my face.

You could feel the disillusion in Peter Bradrick’s words, and if you see some of his sermons?  He was raised in a very insular homeschooling movement that is packaged into a ‘true way to live’ type of ministry.  Sadly, for him Doug Phillips isn’t following the rules he presented for everyone else to live by. 

It reminds me of one of my daughter's favorite shows: Law and Order, SUV.  When I listen to Doug Phillip’s group at times it reminds me of one of the episodes about a Homeschooling mother.  Don’t get me wrong there is nothing WRONG with home schooling, but like everything else in life there can be a dark side.   The Characters were not in a religious homeschooling group, but the fear of the outside world was very similar.

The show starts by a little boy (Jacob) being caught eating garbage, and that triggers an investigation because he clearly wasn’t homeless.  The boy was trying to escape a paranoid mother that refuses to have anything to do with the outside world.  She did this partly by controlling their food.

After Marilyn's husband was shot in a holdup, she kept her sons very close. According to Marilyn, processed food causes cancer, school is a place where children are shot and bullied, the city streets harbor killers around every corner, and foster homes lead children into lives of abuse and misery.

When the mother was called in, and questions were asked?  They were targeting her NOT because her son was found in a garbage can eating the food, but because she homeschools.  The world ‘targets’ them due to this, and she keeps them very close.  Since they really have nothing legally to hold them on a ‘home check’ is ordered, and of course everything checks out there.

Problem is her paranoia decides that the ‘world’ is going to come and get them after that.   Now her younger child Jacob – the one caught eating the food – has brought the evil world to them.  She talked her older son (Adam) into doing the youngest a big favor by killing him, and then he was to kill himself.  That way they were safe, and no one could harm them.  She would leave her gun at home, and she would go shopping.  Adam would do this while she was gone, so she wouldn’t get into trouble.

Adam did kill his brother Jacob, but the gun jammed after that.  He couldn’t kill himself, and of course you have an investigation into murder.  Adam was brainwashed at this point, and his excuse for killing his brother was to save him from a life of misery at the hands of the ‘world’. 

The show ends when they find another brother – Daniel - that was the oldest, and the now Adam was dealing with the fact his mother lied to him.  He was told his older brother Daniel was taken away by foster care, and was killed.  Something his mother told him he was saving his brother Jacob and himself from now.  The reality was he was taken away due to abuse from his mother, and abandoned.  Daniel was used as a tool of terror for other two, and was told this is what happens when you don’t listen to mother.

Marilyn (mother) is arrested off-screen and is shown in Novak's office with her attorney. Adam arrives and angrily berates Marilyn for lying to him about Daniel and for making him shoot Jacob. Daniel enters the office and sarcastically greets Marilyn much to her shock. Realizing that she has lost control of her son, Marilyn accuses the police of destroying her family. Stabler and Benson begin dragging Marilyn out of the office, and she begs Adam for help, saying that she's the only one he can trust, but Adam doesn't even look at her.

You can imagine bewilderment Adam felt when he realized how the world was much different than what he had been taught.  Now he has to begin a new life with his brother Daniel ‘in the world’.  He was so sheltered he didn’t know any different.  He honestly felt he did his younger brother a favor by killing him, and was left with the reality of the true circumstance.

To many groups start with a good intention, and go into these controlling ‘la la’ lands.  The leaders are good at telling everyone what is wrong with everyone else, but when they get caught with their hands in the cookie jar?  That seems completely different.  What is even more strange to me is the group no doubt would have accepted his full repentance if he had stepped up, and lived out what he preached to others.  Instead, Phillips seems to be handing over a crash in their reality like Adam had in our story above.  It will cause a ton of heartbreak.

When this type of thing happens?  All types of other ‘ugly’ business comes out shortly afterwards.  It really does shake people to the core.  I do not have the same belief systems as this group, but my heart breaks for them.  Now I will pray for their journey forward.

Other Articles of interest:

PETER BRADRICK, FORMER EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT TO DOUG PHILLIPS, SPEAKS OUT ON BEING “FORMALLY DISOWNED” AND “DECLARED TO BE A DESTROYER”

Vision Forum Ministries President Doug Phillips Resigns Due to Infidelity

Revisiting Vision Forum

Vision Forum: Peter Bradrick Speaks

Under Much Grace – plenty of articles on the aspects of the group think

How Doug Phillips Wreaked Havoc On My Family

Stumbling Blocks of the Church

The concept of the stumbling block has been on my heart lately.  The scandals we read about are indeed stumbling blocks to people.  Yet I see so many approaches to Christians that are HUGE stumbling blocks as well.

I think it truly dawned on me when I had been reading more and more about the New Pope Francis.  You know me!  I love history, and he is part of history now.  He is so opposite of what we are used too.  He really draws you in by his love of others.

Compare that to some Christian leaders get so busy pontificating on how people need to view things, and how they live their lifes.  Yet, you wonder if they realize how much they turn OFF people with their approach.  Yes, they are told about this.  They pretty much blow off their critics, and let everyone know they NEED to be told the truth. 

Notice, you were not addressing ‘the truth’.  You were addressing their delivery of the ‘truth’.  They have answers for that as well.  They go onto this speech from Matthew 7 about how most people will take the WIDE path in life, and others that ‘get it’ will take the smaller one. 

Notice that still doesn’t address their delivery.

I guess they don’t wish to face that there is a REAL possibly that their delivery is a real stumbling block for their brother – along with their actions.  Then you compare that to the delivery system of the new Pope?  It startling in differences.

I’m not Catholic, but I have say Pope Francis is extremely refreshing to me.  His humility and care for everyone – not just Catholics – shows me he does indeed have Jesus in his heart.  He has that ‘delivery’ down pretty well, although I can see why he rubs ‘conservatives’ the wrong way.  (giggles) He isn’t stuffy enough for them!

I want to compare approaches, and not so much to get into ‘denominations’, etc.  Lets view the delivery system, and the stumbling block we present to others at times. 

I firmly believe even if you disagree with someone their delivery and attitude can still leave with you a sense of respect for the person.  One approach can be very attractive, an other repels.  The repelling nature of a pastor can be a stumbling block to others when you can’t feel the presence of God within them.

Accountability

Doug Phillip’s is very popular in certain circles, but the man is clearly ‘out there’ with a lot of his beliefs.  Its always left a bad taste in my mouth how churches can attack certain aspects of the ‘world’, and yet leave cultish figures alone and unchecked.   Doug Phillips is a great example of them ignoring.

Doug Phillips, an outspoken proponent of male “dominion” over women and a leading home-schooling activist, has stepped down as president of his Texas-based Vision Forum Ministries after admitting to an inappropriate relationship with a woman

I guess its easier for them to poke at generalities in society than it is for them to point out groups that preach a dark gospel.  The bible clearly – to me anyway – states we are to speak out against false teachings.  Yet, sadly if you pay close attention?  There are many ‘church’ circles that tend to intertwine themselves, and that could be why they won’t speak against the other.

Doug Phillips told the world he was stepping down from some of his responsibilities due to a long, ongoing emotional affair with someone besides his wife.  You will notice a pattern of how they step down for a short period of time, and then their ‘elders’ announce to the world they are all better now – and come back.  They go on with life as if it never happened, and go back to that same nasty, ugly attitude towards anyone that doesn’t agree with them.

One sentence from an article I read about Doug Phillip’s recent fall that seemed to sum it up quite nicely.

His fellow patriarchs will help him in this “restoration” because they have to defend the system they’ve built.

Notice they will remind everyone that we are fallen humans, and are prone to sin.  Sure, there is truth to that statement.  The big difference is how certain fallen humans are treated, compared to the ones in leadership.  You can pretty much guarantee the power ‘pastor’ will be redeemed, but the individual in most cases is still considered stunned and revolting.

Remember the world to them seems to be the real enemy.  The world doesn’t agree with how they view things that they call ‘biblical’, and they are quick to call them names and tear them down.  Then you have the statements about how ‘those’ people don’t appreciate marriage, children, nor God’s word.  A difference of opinion places you automatically in that camp.  Unless you bow down to their way of thinking you will always be ‘one of those’.  Its always this ‘us against them’ game.

Be careful, however, that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling block to the weak. - 1 Corinthians 8:9

You hear them say they LOVE everyone, and yet their words and actions do not line up!  No accountability for that either.

Yet, they don’t view that as a stumbling block.


I suppose that is why I have been watching this new Pope.  I have to tell you his approach towards the world is refreshing to me. 

You can almost feel his concern, humility, and care for everyone – not just Catholics.  Again this week he was in the news showing his concern for the lest of these and captivated the world.

He also is calling out its hierarchy to move away from their TONS of small minded rules, and get back to serving as Christ has asked them too.

RULES are very important to some churches, and there is a lot of them – written and unwritten.  Those are the upmost importance to ‘show’ the world their sense biblical ….whatever – fill in the blank.

This is a stumbling block.