Open Letter to the Business Leaders at City Bible:
Posted on February 17th, 2006 by catalyst into the City Boobie Church categoryDear BWAP:
It has come to my attention that despite the satan-esque writings of this website, many of the Business Leaders at City Bible Church continue to read our blog. And since I have their attention, I would like to say something directly to the Business Leaders of City Bible.
Here it goes:
You are wealthy and successful because you work hard and are smart, not because you tithe.
(Let me say this again, since I know some of you are confused.)
You are wealthy and successful because you work hard and are smart, not because you tithe.
I know the Pastoral Staff makes you feel special. I know they put you in positions of leadership and shower you with attention. But trust me, that is not love, that is manipulation. Stop giving them money and see what happens. Try it; I dare you.
Your giving to the church has little to do with your current financial situation. God rains on the just and the unjust. (Matthew 5:45) God may spite you, (Read the Book of Job) or God may bless you. (Read Song of Solomon) He is God. It’s His world, you just live in it.
Your Faith should be based on more than just being blessed. Real Faith is knowing that rain or shine, God still loves me and I will continue to serve Him.
So please, I beg of you, stop being manipulated by your church. Stop believing that somehow your attendance or tithing is responsible for your success. You are successful, despite tithing to City Bible Church, not because of it.
Lastly, don’t stop giving. Give because giving is the right thing to do. Give, because a giving attitude will bless you spiritually and make you a happier person.
Remember, God loves a cheerful giver.
Sincerely,
Senior Pastor at City Business Church
Catalyst
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February 17th, 2006 at 8:12 am
I’d be curious if any other BWAP members have experienced what is now being called the “Joel Fahndrich” treatment?
If you’ve been JF’d and would like to talk about it please let us know. OR if you have a positive story about your treatment from CBC leadership we’d like to hear that as well.
We don’t mean for this blog to be so one sided; we just haven’t found anyone willing to write in CBC’s defense yet.
February 17th, 2006 at 9:12 am
I thought the “Joel Fahndrich Treatment” was when you post on this blog and then the CBC elders harass your mother. Or is that just to be expected?
February 17th, 2006 at 9:17 am
It’s kind of their M.O.
When this blog first started, the pastors were like, “Justin is writing a lot of bad things about us, and causing our members to question us.
You know what we gotta do.
Yep, we’re suing Johnpaul.”
Same thing:
“Hey, Joel wrote something honest, what should we do?
Let’s call in his mother and harrass her.”
February 17th, 2006 at 9:56 am
hey church,
I’m really disillusioned with City Business. I thought pastor Catalyst would speak about something other than City Bible, but he doesn’t. He’s like a guy that I know from high school who got dumped after a two week relationship his sophomore year and never recovered.
Stop talking about her dude…it’s over.
It’s always normal to make jokes about her to make yourself feel better, be cynical of her boyfriend current, make fun of him…make fun of her some more….or even whine once and a while.
You’re the kind of sick slant that would call her boyfriends up and tell them her crap. That’s exactly what you’re doing here.
Stick to the funny stuff. Don’t be an ass.
blessings (financially, of course)
February 17th, 2006 at 10:06 am
The is the nature of the beast that is CBC. In the 70’s when Bible Temple had a fairly small membership, whether the members had problems or not was not a big issue. That’s why they were at church. So this group are the 1st generation members.
As these 1st generation members began having kids and these kids grew up in the BT enviornment. Attending the nursery, grade school, going to “Action,” Jr. High, going to Trek, High School, and whatever else. These 1st generation people spent most of their (Born-again, Christian, Church) lives essentially raising and being apart of these kids lives in some shape or form.
In BT, if you were a kid and asked an unorthodox question (legitimate or not) you were labeled rebellious. You were MARKED! Thinking outside the box of the BT doctrine was a “no-no.”
What happened, is these 1st genr’s never accepted that these kids they had spent so much time with, actually grew up. The second and third generations haven’t gotten the respect or credibility even though they are in their twenties and thirties.
The exception to that is if these 2nd and 3rd generations grew up not asking questions and were for all intents-and-purposes “carbon copies” of their parents. (who in most cases were part of the leadership or endorsed by the leadership.)
So when a Joel Fahndrich or a John Paul stand up and raise questions. These 1st gen’rs say, they learned nothing and view you as a child and talk to your parents or condemn your parents for the actions of their 27 year old son or daughter. Which is halacious but true.
Whether or not I agree with all the posts or comments on this site, it’s necessary to raise questions. CBC and other church’s need to embrace these questions as well as the youth. If the youth becomes disenfranchised from the church like it is to varying some degree, soon their will be no church, CBC is failling to realize this. They’re failing to realize that these “kids” are older than they (parents) were when they started going to church.
Joel Fahndrich’s mother will not be the last parent they call. They’ll call several parents of twenty and thirty year olds, “asking while their child is mis-behaving and being “rebellious.”
CBC has and is set up an enviornment that hinders growth, spiritually, mentally and emotionally. As the new people enter the doors of the church for the first time will not experience this, but their kids will and the cycle will continue.
Note: it works the other way around as well. No matter how you followed the church’s guidelines, if your parents F’d up, you were marked and essentially ex-communicated. Unfortuntely this has happened to so many kids as well at BT.
February 17th, 2006 at 10:08 am
FB,
What you don’t understand here is that Catalyst’s imaginary girlfriend, the Bible Church, got pregnant with his love child and Cat just wants to be there to help.
He’s just trying to be a loving father, cut him some slack.
February 17th, 2006 at 10:09 am
Hey, I am glad that Catalyst wrote what he did. Someone has to tell it like
it is. The teaching and life at CBC is so murky that you lose your way,
If you question the teaching you’re sowing discord, and gossiping, and
not being in unity. Before I went to CBC I thought it was called discernment, and wisdom, but I soon learned to keep my mouth shut and just tell myself that I was being critical.
So I for one am glad that someone has the guts enough to say what they
are teaching and living is full of crap.
February 17th, 2006 at 10:10 am
To the person who emailed me and requested that I stop blogging here, sorry for the length of the last entry… and to those of you who emailed me, who enjoyed my blogs and encouraged me to continue blogging here - sorry for the length of the last entry.
February 17th, 2006 at 10:13 am
For those of you who skipped the King’s post, allow me to sum up:
For years BT/CBC has been using basic manipulation tactic’s to get their way…if they don’t learn to change and respect the individual members of their community, they shall ultimately lose the church.
Thank you King, I appreciate your thoughts.
February 17th, 2006 at 10:15 am
Well I just recently found out that I have had the worst Roll Models ever as parents, so that makes sense. Good thing I had Dougie to guide me a long the way or I don’t know where I’d be.
February 17th, 2006 at 10:24 am
So CBC is pregnant with Catalyst’s love child, she hit him up for 10% support, and he bailed?
February 17th, 2006 at 10:28 am
Locutus has to be my favorite none Morton blogger. Short Sweet and Funny.
February 17th, 2006 at 10:29 am
That’s what she said
February 17th, 2006 at 11:42 am
financialblessings
Your crack me up
February 17th, 2006 at 5:40 pm
I think the challenge for CBC “leadership” to stop tithing to CBC is a good one. Of course, they should continue to tithe… but do it elsewhere for a while.
Especially the Rich People Who Are In Leadership.
Let’s see how long you last when those big paychecks you’ve been handing over to Frank start drying up.
I guarantee (prove me wrong!) Frank will find other Rich People to fill your place.
That’s the nature of the corporate church.
February 17th, 2006 at 5:42 pm
Good word and good advice! A word VERY fitly spoken!
A word to the wise should normally be sufficient but, in many instances, will likely NOT be sufficient!
I hope the leadership of CBC will be humble and sensitive before the Lord and “have an ear to hear” what the Lord Jesus Christ may be saying to the church! At this late stage in the life of CBC, If the leadership will be honest and open before the Lord, the Chief Shepherd of His church, there may even yet be hope for CBC to be restored to a right relationship with Him! Otherwise, the downward path will most likely continue, ending in undesirable consequences!
February 17th, 2006 at 8:12 pm
well since everyone else is telling a story let me share mine. A few years ago my husband was very ill,needed a transplant. Of course i was very upset, so i went to pastor frank after a service and was quite upset. well not only did he help me to feel better about everything but the church also provided meals for weeks, we had to tell them to stop, but several people also sent money,after we had the surgery, to help us out financially. what a GREAT church. Is the church perfect? NO ! but what church is? you let me know.
February 18th, 2006 at 5:17 am
Dear ilovepastorfrank,
That’s wonderful! I’m glad that CBC was able to help you guys out in such a real and useful way. Excellent!
February 18th, 2006 at 9:57 am
That’s all you guys have to say? I thought i would get a little more of a response than that I thought you could not stand cbc and only wanted to hear bad stuff that they did. guess i was wrong?
February 18th, 2006 at 10:07 am
I guess were not as bitter as everyone makes it sound???
Well, maybe that Joel Fahndrich is, but the rest of us are really glad to hear that the church rallied around and helped you out in a time of need.
That’s exactly what churches should do.
Thanks for sharing.
February 18th, 2006 at 11:00 am
Let me just make an observation about financial blessings post. Recently I was watching the Oprah show, and the topic of the day was date rape. One of the conversations between Oprah and a young lady involved her experience being date raped and being silent and not telling anyone. As the story continued, 3 months later her close friend was date raped as well. Come to find out it was the same guy. Her friend made an impactful statement which was, “why didn’t you say anything? Maybe this wouldn’t have happened to me if you would have just told somebody.”
Consider this! If so many people keep quiet about their experiences at CBC how many others will continue to be affected by your silence? I know that comparing rape and religion is intense but is it really that much different? You have a responsibility to be open about the church you may have issues with, and this forum is the best opportunity to do so. If you really think about it your contribution may actually inspire others and affect the church in such a way that creates improvement.
February 18th, 2006 at 11:05 am
Thanks reformed pope for your comment. i guess you aren’t as bitter as i thought.
February 18th, 2006 at 11:30 am
former cup bearer
I think you might need to go on Jerry Springer
February 18th, 2006 at 11:50 am
I am Jerry Springer!
February 18th, 2006 at 12:56 pm
Makes sense
February 18th, 2006 at 3:34 pm
I’m funnier than everyone on this site. Thats why I’m always on top. I date the hottest women, make the highest salary, and drive the fastest cars–all because I’m funny (and I tithe).
blessings (financially, of course)
February 18th, 2006 at 4:00 pm
ilovepastorfrank wrote:
>> That’s all you guys have to say?
>> I thought i would get a little more of
>> a response than that I thought you could
>> not stand cbc and only wanted to hear bad
>> stuff that they did. guess i was wrong?
Your experience is exactly what part of the church’s function should be, and it’s excellent to hear that CBC was able to fulfill that part of its mandate.
Not *everything* about CBC is bad. They have nice washrooms, and I really like the color of the carpet even if it is a bit “trendy” for the time, and apparently they occasionally help those who really need it. That’s good!
But that doesn’t mean we can’t still recognize the “bad” things they do, like totally overemphasis tithing, teach various “philosophical” viewpoints based on mis-used scripture, and things like that.
:)
February 26th, 2006 at 2:53 pm
i recently had a friend who was seriously in trouble in a relationship. i spoke to a pastor on staff about it. the response was that i should deal with it myself since i knew the whole situation. i was so bummed and truly concerned. it was something i could not counsel on. when i went back and said that my friend is now going to a different church and is looking for help there. the response was…good that is probably what needed to happen. apparently, friend was not a big tither. i think that the church gets involved when there are BIG issues, life or death illnesses etc. but on the day to day life issues that we all deal with at some time or another, they would really rather not get their hands dirty.
April 17th, 2006 at 9:28 pm
Sofa King Happy, I know alot of the kids you’re talking about and hated watching them try out the world in search of acceptance because they couldnt find it at CBC. I remember in the late 80’s when I worked at CBC, there was a newly saved guy coming out of homosexuality - he had long pretty curly hair and would wear barrettes in his hair. Instead of praying for him and meeting any needs he may have had, people harrassed him so much about that hair of his - “GET IT CUT - then maybe God will change your sinful ways”. He of course left and I’ll pray for him tonight since he’s brought to mind.
My heart bleeds as I read posts from this blog - I’ve definitly have had my problems with CBC and cant pinpoint them on anyone since I grew up with everyone there and love them - It’s just huge bureaucracy (sp?) and it needs tons of free labor and money to keep it going.
Since I’ve left - I’ve learned all about grace - Wow the Sovereignity of God (Sorry for my spelling - I went to TCS
, How my performance has NOTHING to do with God’s opinion of me - only the Blood of Christ has made me worthy to stand before my creator.
By HIS grace alone have I finally made peace with my sin. I am a sinner - I will continue to sin but His blood has paid the price. So I dont volunteer hours and hours and hours “Sorry honey no dinner tonight, I made a million phone calls today”.
I dont have to feel guilty anymore because i’m human. I started going to a new church a year ago and have closer, stronger friendships here than I ever did in 25 years at CBC. While in leadership, we were too busy to just hang out and get to know people. Gotta build the church…
Anyway, just imho
Trix
April 21st, 2006 at 12:31 pm
Note - the comments above were not posted by me but by someone pretending to be me.
I don’t get to watch Oprah.
So do I have to get a new name because someone is pretending to be me?