C.J. Mahaney Unsurprisingly Re-instated

The man, the myth, the legend, the scholar,
the enthusiast, the high school graduate
 and premier Baptacostalist...a man for the
history books

This is not surprising. Reformation Anglicanism investigated the issue for five months.  This Baptacostalist Apostle, Prophet, Moses, Paul and Emperor was the victim of his own large ignorance like those who followed him.   Many have left SGM. We are not surprised by Baptyerians like Ligon Duncan or Anabaptists like Mark Dever and Al Mohler. Here's a recent lamentation by a former Mahaney-ite, schooled in the authoritarianism of SGM's past, Brent Detwiler.  As an aside, for RA readers, do not waste a penny on any of the books by Mahaney or SGM-teachers.  Consistent with the distinctive of anti-intellectualism in doctrine, worship and piety, those books show it.  Those books won't appeal to "men and women of discerning spirits."  If one has been reared on the Bible, expository preaching, the Reformed standards, including catechetization and memory work, and involved in Anglican worship, one would have--in a nanosecond--sniffed this from 1000 yards out.  But, being a competent mountebank, Mahaney impressed those without discernment or the disciplines of depth.  He would cryingly whisper to the silence of a pin drop, wildly gesticulate, crisscross the stage, invoke wailing hand-waving, and tolerate worship of himself by many.  A word to discerning youth and learners: steer clear and pass the word.  Here's Brent Detwiler's recent lamentation about Mahaney.

http://www.brentdetwiler.com/brentdetwilercom/2012/2/13/reinstatement-of-cj-big-news.html
Reinstatement of C.J. Big News

Monday, February 13, 2012 at 4:49PM

Today I received the latest edition of World Magazine. Here is the write up on C.J.’s reinstatement. I am the sole accuser. No systemic problems.

“The board of directors of Sovereign Grace Ministries reinstated C.J. Mahaney as president of the Maryland based church-planting ministry. Last June, Mahaney began a voluntary leave of absence after former Sovereign Grace leader Brent Detwiler accused him of pride, deceit and hypocrisy. Mahaney said he only plans to resume the role of president temporarily, noting that he would like to return pastoral ministry and the pulpit.” (World Magazine, Feb 25, 2012)

Seven months ago, Ligon Duncan commented on his blog that SGM was taking the high road. Somehow the “outside review” never materialized and SGM ended up on the low road.

“It would have been very easy for the leadership of SGM to ignore and dismiss these charges, because so many of them are so evidently self-serving and spurious accusations. But instead, the leadership of SGM has taken the high road, or rather they have chosen to go the way of self-examination, submission to outside review and correction, self-abasement and repentance. It just makes me love and respect them all the more.” (Ligon Duncan, July 12, 2011)

Al Mohler spoke in similar fashion. Like DeYoung, Ortlund, and Trueman, he found nothing of concern in my documents. We all know what happened to the “independent investigation.” It was killed in its infancy by the SGM Board.

“’I always have had only the highest estimation of C.J. Mahaney as a man and a minister,’ Mohler said in an interview. ‘That continues absolutely unchanged. There is nothing in this current situation which would leave me to have even the slightest pause of confidence in him.’… Mohler said he believes Mahaney and the Sovereign Grace board are being prudent in planning an independent investigation from people outside the denomination to make sure those involved are above reproach…. ‘There is nothing disqualifying in terms of anything that is disclosed in this [the documents]’” (Peter Smith, newspaper reporter, July 12, 2011)

Expect more of this in the days to come. Together for the Gospel is coming up on April 10-12. John MacArthur is no longer counted among the five but expect Dever, Duncan, Mohler (and lesser lights) to heap praise upon C.J. for his humility and the SGM Board for their unbiased investigation.