C.J. Mahaney: Mountebank, Ticket-Huckster, Circus Clown, and Pawn for Mohler, Dever, & Duncan

Notice C.J. Mahaney in this video for Together for the Gospel

The ever-head bobbing, arm-gesticulating, mind-numbling, enthusiast, fanatic, revolutionary, entertaining, amusing and attention-grabbling Circus Clown.  My daughter would say, "Dad, he's EMO." As a certified high schooler, C.J. that is, he's done well entertaining 1000s...except at Sovereign Grace and his home church, Covenant Life, which he founded but from which he's been fugitive.  Appeals from Covenant Life for accountability to the Elders has been rebuffed.

He's a Perpetual Mountebank, but he draws a crowd and drives up "ticket sales," a big plus in American revivalism. 

I spent 6 months studying this Clown. Mahaney is a narcissistic Baptacostalist with Romanizing, Pentecostalist and "Shepherding Movement" roots. A man with a very poor track record...except for sectarianism and enthusiasm...except for hubris relative to other true churches "...we're the best...")...except for alot of abuse, authoritarianism, pride and more....except for entertainment and enlarged ticket sales he affords at his "Freak Shows." His books are positively dreary and shallow.  I knew something was substantially amiss when the research started. Time only confirmed--over and over and over again, and then some more--the initial instinct that he's a Mountebank and Used Car Salesman. As an old BCP man myself, being shaped by its Reformed doctrines, worship, and quiet piety...and instincts that are shaped therein and thereby...you can smell Mahaney at 8000 yards out.   He's dangerous to the naive and gullible. But many Baptists and Baptyerians, like Lig Duncan, like him. 

Watch him work in the video below as he entertains his "Cage Handlers."  It's one specimen and there are worse examples.  One of them in the video, Al Mohler, wonders if they can get C.J. under control.

As a Mountebank, he knows how to work and manipulate his crowd.  He really is good at it, for the naive that is. However, once one "catches on to him," he attempts to drive off criticism, and, failing that, he runs.  Covenant Life got "onto him" and Mahaney was last seen speeding out of the parking lot.  Heading out to Kentucky with few promises of even a "going away party" at Covenant Life.  Doesn't look like old Ceej will be returning any time soon.

The historians, in due time, will catch up with it.  Although, there isn't much of merit or interest on Mahaney or SGM other than as another study of anti-intellectualism in American religious history. Those who know C.J. already have "his number."  For those not knowing about Mahaney, they'll have to suffer from the revivalist judgments of the T4G-leaders.  One can hear the back room comments by the gate-keepers and accountants: "Old Ceejie-boy...he's good for sales and numbers, fellas...we gotta keep em.'"

http://t4g.org/media/2012/02/panels-the-new-t4g-format/