I “found” a picture of Revival Fire on the Internet today. RF a gay-hating, Obama-hating Evangelical man who leaves disgusting comments on this site, Enjoy. 🤣
Derek Lambert operates the Mythvision YouTube channel. A former Evangelical Christian, Lambert makes informative videos about Biblical and historical subjects. Excellent videos, for the most part, though I find the clickbait titles annoying.
Two or so years ago, Lambert embroiled himself in a conflict over having mythicist Dr. Robert M. Price on his channel. The conflict, however, was not over mythicism. The issue was Price’s racism and his support of right-wing, MAGA beliefs. Why was Lambert platforming a man such as Price? supporters, friends, and acquaintances wanted to know. There’s a lot to the Price Saga, but the bottom line is this: with much weeping and gnashing of teeth, Lambert condemned Price and deplatformed him.
Fast forward to two weeks ago. Lambert reversed course, kissed and made up with Price, and with weeping and gnashing of teeth, attacked the “online atheist community.” He called the “online atheist community” a cult. He has retreated from the cult claim by editing the video title to hyperbolically say “Toxic People are Trying to Destroy Careers.” Contrary to what Lambert thinks, no one is trying to ruin him or destroy his career. If he has evidence that suggests otherwise, he needs to cough it up. I seriously doubt any hairball is forthcoming. Lambert can be hysterical at times, and I suspect the title issue is more about his hysteria than anything else.
What was a skirmish with a handful of largely unknown online atheists, Lambert turned it into an attack on the “online atheist community” in general.
Lambert and Price are now best buds. The bad people in this story, according to Lambert, are woke, pro-trans, online atheists who dare to call Price what he is — a bigot and a racist.
It’s evident, at least to me, that Lambert’s politics have moved to the right, more in line with Price’s politics. It would not shock me to hear in a few years that Lambert has (again) seen the light and is returning to Christianity.
Some atheists think Lambert is a grifter; he thinks he can make more money by platforming people such as Robert Price. Maybe. I do know that Lambert’s “I’m Done” video ends with an infomercial advertising his wife’s channel that sells online educational programs. So, there’s that. The ad is out of place, so much so that you are left to wonder if all the junior high whining about the “online atheist community” is a pretext; that the real goal is to sell shit.
I tried to engage Lambert several times over the years — without success. Evidently, I wasn’t high enough up the “online atheist” food chain for him to bother with me. Granted, I’m somewhat of a loner, hanging out on the fringes of the so-called “online atheist community.” This allows me to say my piece and not care what online atheists think. This means, of course, I won’t be invited to be on this or that channel, and that’s okay. I have much to offer, as many fellow creators have learned, but, for some atheist creators, I’m too liberal, too woke, or too religion-friendly, I’m told. Fair enough, but I am who I am, and I believe what I believe. Derek Lambert needs to figure out who he is, what he believes, and act accordingly. You can’t be all things to all people.
Bruce Gerencser, 68, lives in rural Northwest Ohio with his wife of 47 years. He and his wife have six grown children and sixteen 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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Caller: What principles do you use for hermeneutics?
Justin: My hermeneutical principle is that the stuff you don’t like is not metaphor just because you don’t like what it [Bible] says.
On a long, painful, depressing day, Justin’s comment brought me laughter, knowing that what he said would go right over the caller’s head.
If you are not familiar with Justin, he operates the Deconstruction Zone YouTube channel. A college-trained ex-preacher, Justin is an awesome debater, especially when it comes to the Old Testament. Pop some popcorn and give Justin a listen.
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Most Evangelicals believe the following about the Bible:
- The Bible is inspired (breathed out) by God
- The Bible is inerrant (without error)
- The Bible is infallible (true in all it says, free of mistakes)
Two words describe how most Evangelicals read the Bible, that is, if they read the Bible at all. It is becoming increasingly clear to me that many Evangelicals rarely, if ever, read the Bible. And if Evangelicals do read the Bible, they do so selectively, often reading only the New Testament, Psalms, and Proverbs.
- Univocality (Univocality refers to the state of having only one meaning or voice, being unambiguous and straightforward. It contrasts with ambiguity or equivocality, where a word or statement can be interpreted in multiple ways. In essence, univocality implies a clear and single meaning. Google AI definition)
- Literally (Reading the Bible “literally” means understanding its words in their most straightforward, ordinary sense, as they would be understood in everyday language, while also acknowledging the use of figurative language like similes, metaphors, and other literary devices. It’s about discerning the intended meaning of the text without imposing personal interpretations or allegorical readings that are not supported by the text. Google AI definition)
These words give definition to evangelical cliches such as: “God said it, I believe it, and that settles it for me.”
The problem, of course, is that the Bible is NOT inerrant and infallible. Whether Evangelicals appeal to inerrant translations or manuscripts, it matters not; neither claim is true and can be easily rebutted. All one has to do is show one error, mistake, or contradiction for inerrancy to come falling down. The same goes for infallibility.
Bible inerrancy and infallibility are irrational claims that can be easily dispensed with by giving the Scriptures an honest reading. The errors, contradictions, and mistakes are easy to see IF you are not committed to inerrancy, infallibility, and univocality. Scores of sites on the Internet, including this one, list numerous mistakes, errors, and contradictions. Granted, Evangelicals have all sorts of novel, fancy, and, at times, irrational explanations for these problem texts. Their presuppositions demand they find some way to defend inerrancy, so Evangelicals go to extraordinary lengths to protect the Bible’s honor. Most often, all they do is either make fools out of themselves or show that they really do not understand the Biblical text. And this is to be expected. Many Evangelicals have a borrowed theology — that of their pastor. He’s the man of God, and they trust that he will tell them the truth. Unfortunately, many Evangelical preachers don’t tell the truth, either out of ignorance, or fear that if they tell their congregants the truth, the pews and offering plates will be empty and they will have to get a job at Home Depot.
When Evangelicals are confronted with errors, contradictions, and mistakes that they can’t explain away, what do they do? Admit defeat? Admit the Bible is not inerrant? Not a chance. Often, Evangelicals will make appeals to the Greek and Hebrew languages underlying various Bible translations. Oh, they can’t read Greek or Hebrew, but they own a Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance and an 1828 Webster’s Dictionary, and, in their minds, they have all they need to defend the inerrancy of the Bible and defeat “liberal” scholars who have spent their lives studying the Biblical text. I have watched countless atheist talk shows featuring Evangelical callers who think they know more about the Bible than the leading scholars of the day. When these defenders of the Bible meet their demise in the arena of debate, what do they do? Admit they were wrong? Not a chance. When backed into the proverbial corner, Evangelicals will always appeal to faith. Once they do this, no further discussion is possible. Faith is what people appeal to when they have no evidence for their claims.
Unless an Evangelical admits the obvious — the Bible is not inerrant, infallible, or univocal — it is unlikely that they can be convinced of the irrationality of their claims. Those of us who are former Evangelicals know that it wasn’t until the Bible lost its magical hold on us that we were able to see the text as it is: an ancient text written by fallible, frail men. God did not write one word of the Bible. From the table of contents to the index, the Bible is a manmade text, and Evangelicals cannot provide compelling evidence to the contrary.
Evangelicals are free to believe what they want about the Bible, but if they want to convince the unwashed, uncircumcised Philistines of the world that the Bible is the very words of God, evidence — not Bibe prooftexts — is required.
Bruce Gerencser, 68, lives in rural Northwest Ohio with his wife of 47 years. He and his wife have six grown children and sixteen 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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This is the latest installment in the Songs of Sacrilege series, which I would like readers to help me with. If you know of a song that is irreverent toward religion, makes fun of religion, pokes fun at sincerely held religious beliefs, or challenges the firmly held religious beliefs of others, please send me an email.
Today’s Song of Sacrilege is God Is a Weapon by Falling in Reverse.
Lyrics
I can’t stop from spinning
Down the rabbit hole
The deeper that you push
The deeper I will go
They said that God’s a woman
I’ll worship you the same
Cause all I do is think about
Saying your name in vain
You might as well marry me
My sinful confession
You’re my obsession (yeah)
If God is a woman
Then God is a weapon (yeah)
I can’t stop from sinning
My halo’s just a hole
The deeper that I get inside you
The deeper you will fall
They say that God’s a weapon
Well, I’m a hand grenade
Try to take this ring from me
Watch me detonate
You might as well bury me
My sinful confession
You’re my obsession (yeah)
If God is a woman
Then God is a weapon (yeah)
My sinful confession
You’re my obsession
If God is a woman
Then God is a weapon
God is a weapon
Yeah
Bruce Gerencser, 68, lives in rural Northwest Ohio with his wife of 47 years. He and his wife have six grown children and sixteen 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.
Your comments are welcome and appreciated. All first-time comments are moderated. Please read the commenting rules before commenting.
You can email Bruce via the Contact Form.
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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.
Douglas Jones, the pastor of Welcome Missionary Baptist Church in Pontiac, Michigan, stands accused of one count of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct.
The Royal Oak Tribune reports:
A prominent 82-year-old pastor of a Pontiac church accused of a sex crime in Rochester Hills will face an Oakland County Circuit Judge next week.
The case against Reverend Douglas Jones of West Bloomfield was advanced following a preliminary exam in 52-3 District Court.
Jones, senior pastor of Welcome Missionary Baptist Church in Pontiac since 1989, is charged with one count of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct — a high court misdemeanor — that allegedly occurred Aug. 26, 2024.
At the conclusion of the preliminary exam on May 20, Judge Laura Polizzi determined there was enough evidence to bind the case over to the higher court for possible trial.
Jones is well-known for his ministries and other community involvement throughout Pontiac — including board member of the Oakland County Health Network, founder of the Greater Pontiac Community Coalition, and more. In February, the Detroit Red Wings recognized him as a “Black History Month Game Changers honoree.”
Fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct involves unwanted sexual contact but does not include penetration. High court misdemeanor penalties are typically more severe than misdemeanor penalties; fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct is punishable by up to two years imprisonment and/or a fine of $500.
Jones is out of custody on a $10,000 personal bond, which requires no cash or surety to be posted.
Bruce Gerencser, 68, lives in rural Northwest Ohio with his wife of 47 years. He and his wife have six grown children and sixteen 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.
Your comments are welcome and appreciated. All first-time comments are moderated. Please read the commenting rules before commenting.
You can email Bruce via the Contact Form.
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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.
Chaz Chinsethagid, a youth pastor at an unnamed church, was recently sentenced to fourteen years in prison on child pornography charges.
A former Bixby youth pastor is headed to prison for trying to coerce a minor to meet up for sex.
According to federal documents, Chaz Chinsethagid admitted to going to an online chat room and messaging who he thought was a 14-year-old girl; the account was run by an undercover officer.
Documents say Chinsethagid asked the girl to send pictures, asked for her to call him, and offered to drive to meet up with her.
Investigators say he also admitted to having child porn on his phone.
Chinsethagid pleaded guilty to Attempted Coercion and Enticement of a Minor and Possession of Child Pornography.
A federal judge sentenced Chinsethagid to 14 years in prison for the crimes.
He will have to register as a sex offender after he’s released.
The U.S. Attorney’s office reports:
A former youth pastor was sentenced today for Attempted Coercion and Enticement of a Minor and Possession of Child Pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.
U.S. District Judge John F. Heil, III, sentenced Chaz Chinsethagid, 34, of Jenks, to serve 168 months imprisonment, followed by lifetime supervised release. Upon his release, Chinsethagid will also be required to register as a sex offender.
According to court documents, from December 2023 through March 2024, Chinsethagid knowingly entered an online chat room. He engaged in several conversations and initiated a conversation with someone he believed to be 14 years old. Chinsethagid spoke with the 14-year-old about school and quickly turned the conversation sexual. He then attempted to entice the 14-year-old to participate in a video call or provide sexually explicit photos.
Chinsethagid further admitted to possessing explicit videos and images of children, some under 12 years old, engaging in sexually explicit conduct.
Chinsethagid will remain in custody pending transfer to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.
The Homeland Security Investigations and the Texas Department of Public Safety Criminal Investigations Division investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley Robert prosecuted the case.
Bruce Gerencser, 68, lives in rural Northwest Ohio with his wife of 47 years. He and his wife have six grown children and sixteen 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.
Your comments are welcome and appreciated. All first-time comments are moderated. Please read the commenting rules before commenting.
You can email Bruce via the Contact Form.
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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.
Cody Robinson, a camp youth director at Pine Lake Bible Camp in Caldwell Ohio, stands accused of numerous crimes related to the possession of child pornography.
A youth director at Pine Lake Bible Camp has been arrested following an investigation into child sexual abuse material by the Noble County Sheriff’s Office as part of the Southeastern Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force.
According to Your Radio Place, Cody S. Robinson, 29, was taken into custody on May 17, 2025, just outside of Caldwell.
Authorities say the arrest followed a cyber tip received by the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, which reported video files of child pornography linked to Robinson.
A search warrant was executed at Robinson’s residence, leading to his arrest. He is facing a range of charges, including:
One count of first-degree misdemeanor Falsification
One count of second-degree felony Pandering Obscenity Involving a Minor
Two counts of third-degree felony Attempt to Commit an Offense
Two counts of fourth-degree felony Pandering Obscenity Involving a Minor
Two counts of fourth-degree felony Pandering Sexually Oriented Matter Involving a Juvenile
Two counts of fifth-degree felony Illegal Use of Minor in Nudity
….
The investigation remains ongoing. Authorities urge anyone with relevant information to contact the Sheriff’s Office directly.
The Southeastern Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force is part of Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost’s Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission, which coordinates multi-agency responses to combat human trafficking and related crimes.
In the wake of the arrest, Pine Lake Bible Camp announced on social media that all camps scheduled for June 2025 have been canceled.
The announcement cited “unforeseen circumstances” and offered an apology to affected families for the short notice.
Bruce Gerencser, 68, lives in rural Northwest Ohio with his wife of 47 years. He and his wife have six grown children and sixteen 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.
Your comments are welcome and appreciated. All first-time comments are moderated. Please read the commenting rules before commenting.
You can email Bruce via the Contact Form.
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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.
James Murphey, a youth pastor of Oak View Baptist Church in High Point, North Carolina, pleaded guilty to sexually abusing three teen boys he once worked with at Oak View Baptist Church.
A former youth pastor in High Point is now a convicted sex offender.
On Thursday, James Robert Murphey pleaded guilty to abusing three teen boys he once worked with at Oak View Baptist Church.
He made the admission in front of a judge, his father, and a courtroom filled with people seeking accountability and healing, including a former coworker.
“The registry on the sex offenders list, that’s going to impact his life quite a bit. It is going to keep him away from being able to be around children and in churches like he’s used to being for many years,“ OVBC Safety Director Chris Martin said.
With attorney Don Vaughan representing him, Murphey pleaded guilty to four counts of sexual battery, which was down from the 30 counts he initially faced.
Prosecutors said Murphey abused three teenage boys while serving as youth director at OVBC.
The incidents happened between late 2023 and early 2024.
Assistant District Attorney Sarah Harvey said Murphey gave the teens prolonged wedgies, offered them money, and pressured them to comply by threatening to withhold prayer. In one reported incident, Murphey placed his foot on a teen’s private area.
Twelve people were in court who personally knew Murphey. Ten of them came to support the victims.
Two of the victims were in court. The third was not there, but a statement from his father was read aloud by Martin.
Bruce Gerencser, 68, lives in rural Northwest Ohio with his wife of 47 years. He and his wife have six grown children and sixteen 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.
Your comments are welcome and appreciated. All first-time comments are moderated. Please read the commenting rules before commenting.
You can email Bruce via the Contact Form.
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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.
Daniel Lamppin, a volunteer youth pastor at Connection Church in Kissimmee, Florida, stands accused of sexually abusing two minor girls under his care.
A foster parent in St. Cloud is being accused of sexually abusing two girls who had been in his care.
On Wednesday, 40-year-old Daniel Lamppin made his first court appearance where a judge gave him no bond and ordered he not discuss the case with his wife or children who are “potential witnesses.”
Lamppin is facing 24 counts of sexual battery by a custodian, according to the Osceola County sheriff.
The sheriff said Lamppin worked as a manager at Chick-fil-A on South Orange Blossom Trail and as a volunteer youth pastor at Connection Church on Generation Point in Kissimmee.
A pastor with the church says Lamppin was a member, but did not serve as a volunteer youth pastor.
“It’s sad and it’s sickening,” Osceola County Sheriff Marco Lopez said, describing what Lamppin is accused of.
Lopez said they started investigating Lamppin in November 2024.
“The victim now is a 15-year-old who disclosed being sexually battered from age 6 to 8 years old by her foster parent, Daniel Lamppin,” Lopez said.
The sheriff said the victim accused Lamppin of sexually abusing her on three separate times and physically abusing her once.
While investigating this case, the sheriff said another alleged victim was found. A woman who is now an adult, but was a foster child under Lamppin’s care.
“The family disclosed he began abusing her within days of moving into the home. The sexual abuse started at the age of 16 and continued for years,” Lopez said.
The sheriff said Lamppin is facing two dozen counts of sexual battery by a custodian. He was walked out of the sheriff’s office in handcuffs Tuesday to be taken to jail.
When asked if he had done what he’s accused of, all Lamppin said was, “No.”
Despite his claim of innocence, the sheriff said that because of his foster parenting and his work, they’re concerned there could be more victims out there.
“Based on his contact with these children at the time and through his work, foster care, and as a youth pastor, there’s a concern that there could be additional victims. There is an open investigation, and we definitely want other people to come forward,” Lopez said.
The church relased the following statement:
The Connection Church acknowledges that an investigation involving allegations related to Daniel Lamppin is currently underway. We want to assure our congregation and the broader community that The Connection Church is fully cooperating with all authorities involved in this process and have already spoken to the lead investigator on this case. For clarity, Daniel Lamppin is not a volunteer youth pastor at the Connection Church.
Our priority remains the well-being of everyone connected to our church community. We are committed to fostering a safe, accountable, and Christ-honoring environment for worship, service, and fellowship.
We ask for your prayers during this time—for those directly impacted, for our church leadership, and for the truth to prevail.
Bruce Gerencser, 68, lives in rural Northwest Ohio with his wife of 47 years. He and his wife have six grown children and sixteen 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.
Your comments are welcome and appreciated. All first-time comments are moderated. Please read the commenting rules before commenting.
You can email Bruce via the Contact Form.
