Earlier this week, an Evangelical man by the name of Joseph McPherson left the following comments on my Facebook page:
That is not spot on theologically, or something evangelicals would say. What garbage, purposefully deceptive and slanderous tripe. I can’t imagine someone would come up with that as a pretend conversation. Sickening.It’s akin to saying, “no wonder evolutionists are so despised. Look what Jeffrey Dahmer did by murdering and cannabalizing multiple young men.”
…..
The Life and Times of Bruce Gerencser according to you, you weren’t called to be a pastor/minister for 25 years; yet you position yourself as a person (perhaps even a sage in your own mind) worthy of a following today.
Myths to support hatred of a people group – mostly identified externally by people such as yourself and pages such as this – are not only hypocritical, they are savagely harmful and even violence-evoking to the target group.
I grew up in a conservative Christian community, attended hundreds of different churches (dozens of denominations), thousands of services; never once did I hear a sermon that spread the mythological misrepresentations of: the building being “the church,” violence against homosexuals (was speaking with someone recently and we agreed hearing maybe one or two actual sermons on Sodom and Gommorah even, and then only to do with Lot’s wife looking back and being turned to salt [her former life she had left behind]), meanness, insensitivity and violence to victims of sexual abuse, rape etc. These are gross misinterpretations of “evangelical” and/or “Christians” generally – the liberal movie meme of southern Baptist or tent preachers.
Do you believe Jesus is the Son of God Whom God raised from the dead? This is your confession of faith and whether or not you are a believer.
I”d admonish you against leaving one position of miscalling only to assume another.
Evangelicals don’t like what I have to say about their religion. My posts have been known to cause runs on Preparation H at pharmacies nationwide. Some Evangelicals are so anally agitated that they can’t even sit down. Here’s how I picture such people:
Instead of responding to my writing, Evangelical apologists either attack my character or ignorantly and stupidly assert that I don’t know anything about Evangelicalism; that my observations and critiques bear no resemblance to their brand and flavor of Evangelical Christianity.
Imagine a person watching every episode of M.A.S.H. over, and over, and over again. Imagine this person studying the intricacies of the show and its characters. Imagine this person taking classes in MASHology. Imagine this person establishing online M.A.S.H. groups and leading members in serious discussions about the show. Imagine this person retiring, yet spending hours each day keeping up on all things M.A.S.H. Imagine this man writing articles and books about M.A.S.H. And imagine this man being regularly contacted by newspapers and magazines for background information on M.A.S.H. Wouldn’t it be safe to say that this man is a M.A.S.H. expert?
So it is with me and the sixty-three years I have spent attending Evangelical churches, pastoring Evangelical churches, interacting with Evangelical clerics, reading Evangelical websites and blogs, listening to Evangelical sermons, and writing millions of words about Evangelical beliefs and practices, churches, and pastors.
I will readily admit that I don’t know everything there is to know about Evangelicalism — or anything else, for that matter — but I remain a student of the cult, and, by all accounts, I am an expert on the sect. I recognize that the Evangelical tent is quite large, but, over the years, I think I have done a good job distinguishing between the various flavors of Evangelical Christianity. To suggest that I don’t know what I am talking about is absurd. The real issue is that zealots such as Joseph McPherson don’t like my critiques of Evangelicalism or they don’t like me airing their dirty laundry, so they attack me personally or distort (lie about) my writing.
There was a time when I gave such people the benefit of the doubt, but these days I no longer do so. I have concluded they are either obtuse, blind, or liars. I’ll leave it to readers to determine which label applies to Joseph McPherson
Let me conclude this post by responding to several aspects of McPherson’s comment.
McPherson states that I said, I wasn’t “called to be a pastor/minister for 25 years.” At no time, have I ever said I was never “called.” In fact, I have said the exact opposite; that at the age of 15, I was called by God to the ministry. I made that calling known to the church I attended at the time, Trinity Baptist Church in Findlay, Ohio. At the age of 19, I enrolled in ministerial classes at Midwestern Baptist College in Pontiac, Michigan. While there, I married a beautiful pastor’s daughter. I spent the next 3 decades preaching the gospel and pastoring Evangelical churches in Ohio, Texas, and Michigan. I sacrificed my family, my health, and my economic well-being, all because I believed that God had called me to be a preacher.
McPherson then says that I believe that I am “worthy” of a following today; that I consider myself a sage. Again, I have never made such claims about myself. While I am humbled by the fact thousands and thousands of people read my writing, I still wrestle with my lack of self-worth, asking myself, “why would anyone want to read this shit?” I have quit blogging numerous times over the years for this very reason. Evangelicalism did a real number on me psychologically. I lost all sense of self and worth, believing that God alone was worthy of praise and honor. It has taken a decade of counseling to even begin to repair the harm done over the years I spent attending and pastoring Evangelical churches. Even now, I don’t particularly think well of myself, and when good things come my way or people compliment me, I have a hard time seeing myself worthy of these things.
McPherson says that I am promoting myths about Evangelicalism that cause people to hate Evangelicals, and even, at times, cause physical harm. McPherson provides no evidence for his claims. If pointing out the abhorrent beliefs and behaviors of Evangelicals causes rational, thinking people to despise and hate Evangelical Christianity, that’s not my problem. Evangelicals are arguably the most hated sect in America. Why is that? Are Evangelical-turned-atheist writers such as John Loftus. Matt Dillahunty, Bruce Gerencser, and a cast of thousands to blame for how people view Evangelicals? Are the messengers really to blame? Or is the message the problem, and Evangelicals such as McPherson don’t like their religion being exposed for what it is: a sect that promotes hate and bigotry; a sect that is presently attempting to turn the United States into a theocracy.
In 2016, 82 percent of voting white Evangelicals voted for Donald Trump, and many of these same lovers of Jesus plan on voting for him again. It is Evangelicals who are primarily behind the culture war that presently ravages America. Evangelicals are overwhelmingly anti-abortion, anti-LGBTQ, anti-same-sex marriage, and anti-separation of church and state. Which sects are prominent among climate change deniers, anti-maskers, anti-vaxxers, white supremacists, and militia groups? Evangelicals. If McPherson doesn’t like my writing about his tribe, I kindly suggest he spend his time cleaning up his own back yard. Evangelicals get every bit of the criticism and derision they deserve. Don’t like it? Change your behavior. And while you’re at it, stop electing misogynistic bigots as President. “By their fruit you shall know them,” and right now all I see is dying, rotting, smelly fruit.
McPherson gives several things that he thinks I am wrongly saying about Evangelicals. First, I have never said that the “church” is the physical building. I know what Evangelicals believe about the “church.” I know quite well the different ecclesiology positions held by various Evangelical denominations and churches. That said, Evangelicals put a lot of value (and pride) in their physical church plants. It may be that the “church” meets in the building, but Evangelicals sure as hell love their multi-million dollar golden calves — built to give praise and glory to the man in the pulpit, not Jesus.
Second, if McPherson has never heard an Evangelical preacher speak disparagingly of LGBTQ people, including calling for their arrest, incarceration, and execution, I seriously doubt he’s an Evangelical. The Bible commands the execution of all sorts of people, including gays, fornicators, atheists, Buddhists, rebellious children, and other unbelievers. I encourage McPherson to keep reading this blog. He will, over time, read a number of posts about violent Evangelical beliefs; how, thanks to their theocratic tendencies, Evangelicals promote violence against those who refuse to bow a knee to their God.
McPherson asked, “Do you believe Jesus is the Son of God Whom God raised from the dead? This is your confession of faith and whether or not you are a believer.” I have no idea why this question is relevant. All I can say is this: for 50 years, I believed that Jesus was the resurrected Son of God, and for the past 12 years I have denied this claim, believing that Jesus was a Jewish itinerant preacher (rabbi) who lived and died, and is now buried in an unmarked Palestinian grave. Twelve years ago, I came to the conclusion that the central claims of Christianity were false. I continue to believe this today.
I may not know everything there is to know about Evangelical Christianity, but that my writing rings true with thousands and thousands of people suggests that my writing is spot-on.
McPherson and I traded several comments. My last response to him went unanswered:
Joseph McPherson , you said “The Life and Times of Bruce Gerencser according to you, you weren’t called to be a pastor/minister for 25 years; yet you position yourself as a person (perhaps even a sage in your own mind) worthy of a following today.”I have never, ever said this. I most certainly was called by God to be a pastor, as I have stated in numerous articles and comments.
I started writing 13 years ago. I didn’t seek out a following. I now have a large following of readers, but that was never my goal. I just wanted to tell my story, hopefully writing a book someday. That my writing resonates with Christians and non-Christians alike is humbling. In the intervening years, I have worked very hard at becoming a better writer, providing content people want to read.
I will give you the same challenge I have given to my other critics — which are legion. Don’t like what I say? Think I am lying? Think I am painting a false picture of Evangelical Christianity? Start a blog. Deconstruct my life. Dismantle my writing. Set the record straight. Or, you can just bitch and whine on social media. I suspect you will continue to do the latter.
I will make you an offer. Want to write a post for my blog? Want to tell thousands and thousands of people how wrong I am? I will gladly give you the space to write a post. Write what you want. All I ask is that you write using your real name. And, I should remind you, that your post would be open to comments by my readers. Ball is in your court, Mr. Evangelical.
I have yet to have an Evangelical critic take me up on this offer. Why is that? Maybe Joseph McPherson will grab the gauntlet and attempt to slay the atheist Philestine Bruce Gerencser. I’ll be waiting . . .
Bruce Gerencser, 66, lives in rural Northwest Ohio with his wife of 45 years. He and his wife have six grown children and thirteen grandchildren. Bruce pastored Evangelical churches for twenty-five years in Ohio, Texas, and Michigan. Bruce left the ministry in 2005, and in 2008 he left Christianity. Bruce is now a humanist and an atheist.
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“I”d admonish you against leaving one position of miscalling only to assume another.”
A characteristic he has in common with all the slick, self-righteous assholes who were running things in the churches I attended as a child and teen.
Who asked him to admonish anyone?
They all do the same thing, placing themselves above everyone in the church and out of it, too… they think they’re a step above everyone else in the known universe.
Sit down, shut up and fuck off.
rolls eyes I didn’t realize that the Sodom and Gammorah was only about LGBTQ people. I thought it was a much larger message. Oh well, maybe I am too lost to understand.
He must not be listening to sermons and his christian siblings if he believes there is no violent message against LGBTQ people. He could start by looking at gay conversion therapy. He may not see these problems in his church due to his blinders and makes it sound very rare. I would counter that it is my belief that the vast majority of christians see LGBTQ people as the worst of evil and would do all they can to eradicate my community.
But I really hope he accepts your offer to write a post….
My patience is gone. These evangelists have ruined the US, and are aiming for a theocracy. They LOVE Trump and think he’s done great things, which include harassing minorities and refugees, including LGBTQ+ people. I HAVE NO PATIENCE FOR JOSEPH. And the fact that once again, someone is rudely harassing Bruce calls forth only ONE response from me: “Joseph, FUCK OFF.”
I’d go even further with admonishment junkies like Joseph: “FOADIAFWSSFABCOC19.”
Joseph, you sound like a typical Southern religious fanatic ! Bruce is NOT inciting anyone here or elsewhere to go afterwards your ” people group”,. Nothing you said to Bruce applies so far. He doesn’t HAVE to make up anything, That’s the point. When he posts something going on, it’s a deja Vu moment for those of us with unpleasant memories and experiences. You have the freedom guaranteed by the First Amendment to peruse religious blogs that you identify with. You don’t have the right to deny ex-members or survivors of abuses done by your demographic, to deny us blogs discussing these issues,many involving CRIME ! And you’re in no position to admonish Bruce or anyone else regarding this blog series .
Many of the “churched” believe that their personal church experience is reflective of the whole. They may be in a community of close neighbors who all know one another and love and respect one another, therefore all evangelical churches are like that. If you ask them is they have read the entire Bible or how many churches have they researched, etc. they usually look at you blankly. People who believe that the Bible is the actual word of god and haven’t exactly gotten around to reading it … sheesh.
Re “In 2016, 82 percent of voting white Evangelicals voted for Donald Trump …” They still support Mr. Trump at the same level, despite his personal failings/atheism/etc. because they believe he is punishing those who made poor decisions, those who are deviants, those who do not believe. Even a Babylonian king can become a messiah and Donald trump is a divine agent. Apparently they do not trust their god to reward the faithful and punish the wrongdoers. In that we have something in common.
tsk, Bruce, you actually expected Joseph to have courage and faith. When people like him have to actually take responsibility for their nonsense, they run.
Uh, Joseph, I just read now that a prominent pastor from — NORTH CAROLINA — just peed on a sleeping Black woman on an airplane flight ! Tell me, who does that. Sleep aids like Ambien don’t cause a person to pee on another person. His “excuse”. Sadly, Bruce doesn’t have to make up one thing about the bad things your type of Christians do ! That pee-pastor is just another Useless Chryster.
Think about this one fact, McPherson :those profiled in Bruce’s blog here are the TRUE misrepresentation of Jesus ! Their words and actions do ALL the talking. Again, nothing has to be made up against such people. If this issue bothers YOU that much, then your job is confront these horrible crimes, assist the survivors, be it children, teens,adults,etc. Only that would salvage Jesus’reputation. You only aid and abet criminals when attempting to silence whistleblowers like Bruce. Rest assured, we won’t allow you to shut down this blog !
Hello everyone. Say, by now it’s news everywhere about the White, North Carolina pastor–well known–who peed on a Black woman while they were in flight a couple of days ago. The three- letter agency investigating this incident refuses to tell the media his name. One wonders just WHY are they protecting this creep ! Joseph McPherson, are you paying attention ?? Would you say this publicly peeing pastor is misrepresenting Jesus yet ? Yes or no ?