The Black Collar Crime Series relies on public news stories and publicly available information for its content. If any incorrect information is found, please contact Bruce Gerencser. Nothing in this post should be construed as an accusation of guilt. Those accused of crimes are innocent until proven guilty.
John McIntosh, pastor of Cedarville Baptist Church in Cedarville, Illinois, stands accused of sexually assaulting a minor.
McIntosh’s church bio page states:
John McIntosh has been our pastor since December of 2018. Serving the Lord at Cedarville Baptist is the joy of Pastor John’s life. Prior to coming to Cedarville, he has pastored in Iowa, Wisconsin, and Illinois. In addition, he has served on the board of directors of a Crisis Pregnancy Center, has been involved in rescue mission ministries, has been a regular contributor to the “From the Pulpit” section of local newspapers, as well as worked many summers for a Christian camp.
He has earned a Bachelor of Arts degree at Maranatha Baptist University in Watertown, WI. He also has earned a Master of Arts in Biblical Studies as well as a Master of Divinity from Trinity Theological Seminary in Newburgh, IN. Furthermore, he is an accredited Christian counselor through the American Association of Christian Counselors.
Prior to coming to Cedarville Baptist, McIntosh pastored Winneshiek Evangelical Free Church in Freeport, Illinois.
A Batch Degree and then an Art Master and on top a Master of the Divine.
I do understand that the man has been accused and not convicted but I want to speak to a recurring issue that crops up on this blog and that is all the B’s and A’s and the Masters and credits hanging to the left and right of these men who find themselves abusing, of assaulting others and often, minors.
I believe it might be time to hold these men not to a ‘higher’ accounting as men of honor and esteemed in our communities. That sure has not worked for us, has it… How about we hold them to account for what they actually do in life, Gawd-deluded scoundrels, big bullies wearing coats of many colours. Maybe they take the pulpit on to cover their own pain and lack of personal responsibility, not to save others but to harm themselves first. I believe that Bruce might concur that while he was saving souls he was harming himself first and passing on that harm, the eternal gift wrapped in the blood. It took me, as the child of a preacher, half my life to admit the mote in my eye was inserted there, not an accident but something designed to show me what was important, that my own vision was worthless from the beginning.
The preacher blames from a high pedestal and hurts us for money, for pay. They promise and they lie. When a man of character understands he has truly erred, he makes a human effort to stop. His skid marks on the church floor horrify the believers and they shout that he was a faker or they weep to know his final fate in hellfire. They harm in their hearts. They prey.
It is not a surprise to me that so so many come around here preying, no surprise at all because I had that mote in my eye for half a life.
The preacher who stands accused in Illinois is just another bully of the spirit whether he assaulted a minor or not… It is wrong to bully, to assault, to bruise others with scriptural weapons. Evangelical, it would be more honest to soak your Bible in the toilet, load it into a pillow case and go looking for a stranger to beat down.That would be more honest and frankly, perhaps easier for the victim to recover from… Do I hear an Amen?