An open letter to Mark Sharpe
Mark,
Since there is no other way you've made available to get in touch with you, this is going to have to do. I'm aware that you and yours stop by from time to time, but rarely, if ever, leave responses. Perhaps that will change.
The so-called "Saving Bellevue" site has a new entry: "Mark Sharpe asks Steve Gaines to resign." Such a National Enquirer-esque advertisement brings to mind the danger of believing one's own press clippings. You've been quoted in the paper, and mentioned on a few websites, so now it's news that you are asking Pastor Gaines to resign?
Not hardly. Your pastor and three others cared enough about you to come to your house and try to talk with you. That's something to be blessed by, not complain about. Yet you wear it as a "red badge of courage," talking about how you've been intimidated and harassed.
But let me examine a few choice quotes from your "epistle." Speaking of fences, I quote you thusly, and like so:
Steve Gaines, you mentioned Sunday evening that you and the others “were so desperate to try to protect Bellevue – we were so desperate”. What were you desperate about protecting?
The answer, which should be obvious even to your own group, is to protect Bellevue--"saving" it, if you will--from the type of gossip and antagonism you and yours dispense.
You misled the church by inferring that the website had stated that the Bellevue 4 jumped over the gate. Nobody has ever stated that you or others jumped over the gate.
(I must say, referring to the "Bellevue 4" is absolutely hilarious... in a pitiful way...)
Mark, let me be blunt here: You are representing part of the truth as all of the truth. How did Pastor Gaines begin his remarks regarding the vaulting of fences? Why, you can read it in the transcript savingbellevue.com used to have posted, and which this site still does. I quote it thusly, and like so:
We've already talked about the fence, and I want to join Brother Chuck and we're representing the others that were involved- the four of us- we absolutely.. that was a mistake obviously, we shouldn't have done it.
In case you've had trouble finding that quote, it directly precedes your referenced quote regarding Pastor Gaines desiring to protect Bellevue from the bile your group dispenses.
By the way, Mark, have you called the sheriff's department yet? Trespassing is something they're interested in. No? You haven't reported this heinous trangression of county law by that gang of scofflaws, the "Bellevue 4"?
Hmm...
After reading your missive--which, apart from the rumor-mongering, reads as self-aggrandizement and resumé-touting--there really isn't much else to comment on. Except, of course, to note that the analogy you and yours inspired with your opinion-laden accusations, "more 'I's' than a sack of potatoes," is the new catchphrase for the 21st century.
Please, post a comment or three here, Mark. Your opinion is just as important as anyone else's.
Not more, though.
--Mike
EDITED TO ADD: A commenter made an excellent point, Mark. Your proclamation calling for Pastor Gaines to slink away into the night mists is from you.
It wasn't even from the prestigious law firm of Sharpe, Saba, McClerkin, Benson, Bobbitt, Haywood, and Manning. Just from you.
Why is that?
EDITED TO ADD SOME MORE: Once again, Mark, you've made it into the Commercial Appeal. Do you have James Dowd on speed-dial?
30 comments:
I guarantee you had the Ember's been there, they would have pressed charges on those 4 men.
He also applaudes those that break national laws in smuggling Bibles into certain countries.
Tom
Here, now...
Let's keep this focused on the issues. No personal disparagements directed to Mr. Sharpe, Mr./Ms. On Lyam Ember, or any other Embers.
Thanks in advance.
--Mike
Would it be considered a "disparagement" to say that Mark Sharpe and his "flock" have definately crossed a line and if anyone should leave OUR church, it should be them?
No, that would not be a disparagement.
As I've stated previously, the group crossed a line when they began to wield Scripture in a disingenous way. To date, they appear to be doing their dead-level best not to get back on the right side of that line, but to put that line in their collective rear-view mirror.
--Mike
Yes, I would like to send an open invitation to Mark Sharpe to resign as being a member of BBC. He doen't even need to give a two week notice, he should leave immediately.
Rick
I see you won't post this message. Little too close to the "truth", huh?
Mark Sharpe's tone is one of humility, honesty, and simply asking for truth.
Your tone, Mike Bratton, on the other hand is pompous, arrogant, and smart alec right down to your picture being posted on every comment. Is this about you?
You try to sound clever, but don't know what you're talking about.
As you can see, I do post every comment--even those which disagree with my viewpoint. Uniformly, those antagonistic posts (including your most recent one) don't stop at the issues (or even start, sometimes), but roll right into what I prefer to refer to as "personal disparagements."
You know--the sort of schoolyard name-calling that attacks the individual? Off the top of my head, such posts usually include words like "arrogant," "pompous," "smart alec"... things like that.
My picture is attached to my profile as a way to stand behind what I write, thanks. I note you can't say the same thing about what you wrote; you didn't give a first name, or even a pseudonym, for me to work with.
And if I don't know what I'm talking about, perhaps your next post could, oh, I don't know, contain some specific examples of just what it is I need to know?
Mr. Sharpe and his cadre have spent the past few weeks and months attempting to destabilize Bellevue Baptist Church by using lies and half-truths, all of which have been documented and soundly refuted. His, and their, "tone" pales in comparison to their actions--which are disappointing, to say the least.
--Mike
At least you do allow and post comments Mike...Thanks!! Asking for our pastor to resign doesn't seem very humble to me.
I can't think of anything MORE arrogant and lacking humility than to ask a man called and confirmed by God to lead our congregation to resign because a) he doesn't preach on Wednesday nights, b) there are at worst conflicting reports about his alleged "dream", c) he personally tried to visit MS and d) allegations of credit card misuse have been refuted (oh, I'm sorry, they are still valid allegations because the answers are not what the Sharpites and Sharpettes want to hear).
Yeah, that reeks of humility, doesn't it?
All members of BBC should invoke Titus 3 against MS and RM and the libelous blogger:
v9. Avoid foolish arguments, genealogies, rivalries, and quarrels about the law, for they are useless and futile. 10 After a first and second warning, break off contact with a heretic, 11
realizing that such a person is perverted and sinful and stands self-condemned.
MS and the 'ites and 'ettes have been warned more than twice. The reason why Titus 3 says to break off contact is because the lies and deceit of a heretic are cunning and if you continue to make contact, the heretic will cause you to slowly question what you know is truth. Eve didn't set out to eat the apple--she was lied to and listened to it instead of walking away--and then she started to doubt the truth that she knew.
It actually grieves me to see the comments (yeah, the very selective comments since only pro-MS comments are allowed on the access controlled site--they killed the open comments when they saw that there was an overwhelming backlash) on the libelous blogsite and by so many people and the letters by people who I once found respectable who have bought into the deceit and are literally GRASPING to find fault with anything. If you are looking to find fault, you will.
I recommend that we all do the following:
1) pray that MS and the 'ites and 'ettes do not sleep, nor their spouses, until they have humbled themselves and come to repentance. If you don't sleep, you can not function.
2) pray that libelous webmaster and blogster also do not sleep until they are convicted and take down the site and blog. If they do not, pray that the server crashes beyond repair so that the heresies stop spreading around the world.
Thank you Mike, for having a site that allows truth.
Oh yeah, and to libelous webmaster--I have personally sat on your site and clicked refresh hundreds of times to rack up the numbers just for funsies. Seems that your website does not track individual IP address hits, but every time someone opens your page. So, YOUR numbers are WAY inflated by those of us who go there all the time just to see what mistruths are propagated next.
I hope all those who are impressed by your numbers will read this and see that your numbers are grossly, grossly overstated. In fact, I added about 50 or so while I was typing this. Just for fun.
Heh heh.
Yeah let's see if we can cause their site to hit 1 million, then they can go to the Church and say that since the entire Memphis Metro area has been on the site that everyone in the city agrees with them. Haha
Mike, you forgot "Emerson" as one of the partners in that firm. For some reason, and it just floors me, Richard Emerson fails to have his name plastered around like Mark. He is one of the driving forces behind this, but somehow his name isnt in lights (but yet he was one of the key speakers at that off-campus meeting).
You can make Hathcock a partner, too. He is a conspirator and was taking notes with libelous webmaster 2 sunday nights ago. These purveyors of division should not be allowed to shrink in the shadows but should be called to account.
If I can't point to someone's name publicly claiming participation in this anti-Bellevue garbage, I am loathe to include them in anything.
Pity that more of us weren't invited to the off-campus soiree. I wonder if they taped it?
--Mike
I can really sense the fruit of the Spirit with you all.
MIKE
You are a bully, and damaged at Bellevue. You need to check what your saying with God. If you have a relationship with him, listen.
"MIKE
You are a bully, and damaged at Bellevue. You need to check what your saying with God. If you have a relationship with him, listen."
This is precious. It deserves more than just to lie here in the "comments" section. It deserves its own post in response.
Thank you.
--Mike
Satan's greatest weapon against the church is division. How come so many people can't see that's what is going on here? And the division is NOT coming from our pastor and staff, but from a FEW people with an agenda, as has now been revealed.
We must counter this by showing unity. As long as people keep following and supporting MS and haywood, this illness will not go away. People--stop giving them any credibility and just ignore them so we can get back to the business of reaching lost people.
I wonder how many people who WOULD have come to BBC and WOULD have been saved but now will not because of this? They will think that from the paper and other sources that there is this big divide at our church--which there is NOT--it is only a few. So they don't come and here the gospel and spend eternity in hell. I hope they know that the blood and souls of those will be on their hands.
why was Steve Gaines fired from West Jackson Baptist Church????
I don't know why he left, or the circumstances of his departure from West Jackson.
Did you call and ask anyone before you tossed that anonymous brickbat?
--Mike
you act like you have all the answers. this in the commercial appeal today. See now you try to bully me.
"Anonymous said...
you act like you have all the answers. this in the commercial appeal today. See now you try to bully me."
If you're the same "Anonymous" who posted the question regarding West Jackson (and honestly, it's getting hard to keep up with all you anonymous people), I'll have to take your response as "No, I didn't try to talk with anyone, but thanks for asking."
Or words to that effect...
--Mike
To the West Jackson poster,
No specifics have been listed about Gaines tenure in West Jackson, including in the Commercial Appeal commentary poll. I've already stated this elsewhere; you're engaging in libelous behavior without evidence.
TO --- JS
you need to read the comments, twice West Jackson has been mentioned
Mike,
I have been in ministry many years. The things that have been mentioned concerning the pastor should not be dismissed so quickly. You would be shocked to hear what many pastors say behind closed doors. Sadly, big salaries and arrogance usually go hand in hand. However, Bellevue will survive. Just a general observation.
Taylor
It is curious to me that all of the mudslinging and accusations (especially those from Mark Sharpe), appear to mirror the same types of ploys the Democratic party uses against it's counterparts. Many of the items in question are so ridiculously nitpicky. Oh no! Dr. Gaines led a revival and he so happened to preach on a Wednesday night at another church. He is such a hypocrite! God forbid there be exceptions to the rule. The ONLY reason why these allegations are so big is due to the powers of the internet and media. Over 4,000 members participated in numerous standing ovations two weeks ago, and the media wasn't in on that.
Based on the commercial appeal online pool it appears more than a few people think something may be going on. Why not have a meeting with Q & A to air this thing out?
Ex-deacon accuses the new Bellevue pastor of misleading church and misusing finances. Is he correct? See related story
(1) Yes 44.0 % (385)
(2) No 38.9 % (340)
(3) Undecided 17.1 % (150)
Total: 875
I was told by Chuck Hannaford that the best predictor of FUTURE behavior is PAST behavior.
"Slippery Steve" can't fool all the people all of the time. Dr. Rogers has labelled many a preacher with the title, "Crooked Arrow." Bellevue deserves better.
To the "Slippery Steve" poster, what past behavior are you specifically referring to? You presume to have knowledge that the rest of us aren't privy to.
Dear Mike and the rest of the gang, pro and con. Please, Please stop all this. It is way past time for this to stop. What may have or may not have been legimate concerns have gotten way out of hand. Can't anyone see what is going on here? Satan is winning. Pride has entered the picture on boths sides and we are making a mockery out of it. The "Saving Bellevue" side has their position, Mike, you have yours and Dr. Gaines has his and I must say this, neither side is right or wrong. I do have some issues about the methods of Dr. Gaines but I do feel he is the right person for Bellevue. When we allow pride to enter our lives, trouble is just around the corner. My beloved Pastor Rogers preached that so many times.
It is time for this to come to a end. I have pleaded with several of my deacon friends to get all sides in a room, spend a time of prayer and work this out. Good people on both sides are being trashed and when God's people stoop to name calling, trying to destroy each other that is not right. I am reminded of the old poplar phrase: "WWJD." Certainly not the way it is being done now. To trash Dr. Gaines and the staff is wrong, to trash Josh, Mark Sharpe and others is wrong. Folks wake up they are all children of God. WWJD?
It is not going to go away and more feelings are going to get hurt, innocent people are going to be hurt. It must stop. And stop now.
How long do you think this would have gone on if Dr. Rogers were alive today? Well he is not. So we must follow his example, lets resolve this in love.
Mike once again I beg you to make the first move. You have the means with this blog. I am going to send this to Josh's blog and savingbellevue. I just wish more would stand up and urge the parties involved in this to work it out. Did the apostles agree with each other. Do we see examples of pride among them? Some how we have managed to quite the Holy Spirit. But remember when they became focused and truly Spirit Filled? How many were saved in those days? Folks that is revival and we can get there again.
I have posted my name. I hate it when posters will not identify theirselves. I am a long time member of Bellevue dating back to the early 80's. It is grieving me to see how our church is being torn apart by something that started out as genuine concerns by some very Godly men has gotten so out of hand. I am reminded of a prayer that Dr. Rogers used so often, Lord please help me forget about me and focus more on HIM?" What about it Mike? I am in prayer for all sides. Will you join me in praying that we have some real healing as Christ would have us? Please we must rebuke Satan and do it now.
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