It hasn’t taken too long for Blogs and Facebook groups to emerge in support of, and denunciation of, former Planet Shakers Pastor Mike Guglielmucci. It was revealed yesterday that Mike’s claims that he was battling with cancer (and subsequent healing) were not true. His actions have deceived many thousands of people around the world and as a result he has been stood down as a Pastor with the AOG. (To read the full story on "The Australian" website CLICK HERE)
What are we to do with such evil actions of a man supposed to be entrusted with the care and concern of Australian young people? For reasons unknown to us, he has, lied, manipulated, and received financial gain from this fraudulent claim. I cannot tell you how angry I am at this.
Over the past twelve months I have buried two people from the same family who died of cancer, within a week of each other. Both died with faith and with dignity. In our church we have other people who are facing the frightening reality of cancer in its different forms. We have others who are battling with sickness and the distress of not knowing what will happen next. Nevertheless they all hold their belief in God closely and trust that God is with them even though they walk through the valley of the shadow of death. What Mike Guglielmucchi did cheapened their (and all of those with cancer) suffering. What he did was repulsive and cheapened the very nature of the vocation I (and many others) have committed our lives to.
There is much more I would like to write about this – I would love to reflect on how something like this can become so big. I would love to look at the culture of Christian celebrity and the idolatrous worship of many Christian leaders around the world. I personally think that many people are to blame for this situation even, in some strange way, myself. I am reminded of how easily Ministers can be aroused by the erotic nature of success; as Eugene Peterson notes, it is easy to go whoring after other gods.
Michael Guglielmucci’s actions have hurt and perhaps destroyed the faith of many. He was wrong! Nevertheless, he is only human and the grace of God is at work in him. That doesn’t mean I will be joining any Facebook group; I think that is just perpetuating the problem. The purpose in exposing this fraudulent behavior was not to expose a fraud but to help a man find true healing!
Thursday, 21 August 2008
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9 comments:
Thanks Mark, it seems we were blogging on this story at the same time. I wrote a pile of random ramblings about integtiry and hurt. However i was probably not as angry in my statement as you (although I am) because all i had to go on was the story written from the perspective of the media whom I don not trust and am just as suspicious of as the celebrity cult mega churches you met=ntion and are now in question. You certianly have more experience working more closely with this culture than I have, although, you are right, we are all at risk of being seduced. i look forward to more reflections from you on this and i'll be coming back for another go after Micheal releases his statement tomorrow.
Cheers mate. Mark
Yeah I saw that. I have been a bit closer previously but we still have many friend who attend these types of churches.
I am angry in a passionate way (I hope that came across). I think this is what I meant when I said the other night that there is nothing in the "face" of the church that we would desire.
I am part of a "mega church" - apparently a swear word in so many circles. I cannot begin to tell you how deeply grieved i feel at what Mike has done. And I agree - Mike was created by a culture wanting superheros and celebrities instead of Christ. But I would also say that most people - whether in mega churches or not have a genuine hunger and relationship with and for God. My heart breaks for the thousands of young people this will especially effect. My prayer is that through is horrific event the community of Christ will be more sober and careful, especially in placing character above any form of charisma. For the community closely affected by Mike's action: I pray for strength and courage as they continue through the maze over the next few weeks, months and even year.
Good thoughts Anon. I do wonder though where the "swear word" comment comes from and what it relates to?
this whole situation is so tragic... i knew (as well as admired) mike when he was pastoring for three or so years over here (perth). he is/was an amazing man. and my heart is grieved.
and i think its all been said...
the only thing i can add that might help us understand how this could happen is to consider the true nature of mike's condition. he didnt lie about about being sick, he just lied about the type of sickness...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Munchausen_syndrome
I agree with the original blog, but you need to take a close look at Mr Petersen's perversion of the scriptures. Who in fact is the "God of Green Hope"? One of the MANY new age terms that are used in the MESSage.
How interesting that I just read the same article on Munchausen syndrome after being referred to it by a friend of mine in medicine.
Certainly we can accept the short falls of pastors when we can comprehend them. We can understand the allure of lust or greed to some extent and the pressure that pastors are under daily that might push them into extreme temptation. Yet most of us would have experienced the pain of someone close to us suffering with cancer and so this seems entirely unforgivable that someone would play on this experience. I feel this as much as anyone having lost 3 of my 4 grandparents to the disease.
We can not understand rationally how anyone could act in such an inhumane and evil way... and perhaps that is the point; not normal, rational, caring human being would do this.
Behind this truth, I believe lies a more important cultural shortfall and that is our desire to delineate between our mental, physical and spiritual beings. Our culture HAS to learn to recognize mental illness for what it is; a physical illness and one that can be as debilitating as any illness that our culture more easily accepted as "physical". I can only hope that this is what comes out of this horrible circumstance.
That said I believe you have made a very valuable assessment when it comes to personality cults Mark
It is also significant for me at times like this to take comfort in the trust Paul had in the Spirit of Christ as the one who does the work of God in the world, not him (Paul), not us, not Mike or any other pastor. If any good has come from Mike's ministry it has always to the praise of the Spirit of Christ and not to Mike's motives.
Philippians 1:8
David - I don't know that they have released details of what might be wrong with Mike. I would like to think there was something else behind this. However, I think it still concerns me that the culture that Mike is in seems to generate certain behaviors and practices that are concerning to me (in my opinion).
Anon - That is your opinion. However, I think Mt Peterson knows a little more about original languages than most. I think it is a very cheap shot to say that the message is a perversion. It is also very dualistic to believe that just because the Message has that reference in it it is somehow perverted. Remember if we truly want 'purity' of scripture we should be reading our Bibles in Hebrew and Greek :-)
Joanna - Well said!
As wrong as this is, who are we to judge..? We're mere human beings too. It makes me just as angry as you Mark, and I can't understand why anybody would do this, I've known people who have/do have cancer, as you know. You're right - it does cheapen it, and wrongly. But as I said, can we honestly judge him for doing something wrong..? No matter what the scale, it's our duty to love him and help him just as Christ would have done. Forgiveness is hard, but in the end it's what we need to do. I heard his brother, Chris Guglielemucchi speak at Shout conference in January, and he made a big point of praying for his brother, and how well his brother was doing through this illness, and that God is a capable healer. While it is true that God is a more than capable healer, I feel sorry for his family being deceived like this. It not only embarrasses him, but them too. The problem with all of this is that it affects not only him, but everyone who has been affected by both his ministry, his family's ministry and the ministry based on his illness.
But I repeat, we cannot judge him for his sin, because we've all lied - albiet on a different scale, but The Bible says that all sin is the same in God's eyes.
It's hard, but we need to do our best to forgive him.. despite the amount of people that he will have hurt, and we all know he will have affected - whether they're close to us or not.
Sorry Mark :p.
Just my thoughts, which you're completely welcome to ignore. :D
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