Stanton Blog

9 November

Is There A God? The Moral Argument

By Kevin|2019-04-30T09:44:40-06:00November 9th, 2014|Uncategorized|6 Comments

Once a person sees inconsistencies between what Stanton teaches and what the Bible teaches, it can shake their faith to the core. The church has become an idol that stands in the place of God, so when the church is shown to be fallible, it can cause a chain reaction of questions and doubts about God. If God is not who Stanton says he is, can it be that there really isn't a God at all? I happen to believe there are very strong reasons to believe in God, despite the growing ridicule from the secular circles of society. Christians need not cower in fear of being challenged on matters of faith. They just need to wrestle with these questions themselves, and be willing and [...]

23 September

Rethinking and reframing the Bible the way it was intended

By Kevin|2019-04-11T02:09:40-06:00September 23rd, 2014|Uncategorized|4 Comments

The Bible is not the confusing document that many claim it to be, once it's understood in its proper context. That's because context is everything. A perfectly true statement by a friend can mean something entirely wrong if taken out of context. So it is with the Bible. For example, when you read the advice in the Book of Job to "curse God and die," that sounds outrageously out of place--until you realize that the Book of Job is simply recording the bad advice that Job's wife gave him. When you read in Proverbs, "I will laugh at your calamity and mock when your fear comes," it's important to know that's not God talking, but Solomon writing creatively as "wisdom" personified. Don't believe me? Look it [...]

16 September

Are you Christian or Christlike?

By Kevin|2019-04-11T02:09:39-06:00September 16th, 2014|Uncategorized|3 Comments

As any adult can verify from personal experience, words change meanings over time as their contemporary usage changes. What used to be "groovy" in my older siblings' day became "radical" in mine, then "cool" or "bad," and now "sick" or "tight." As fewer and fewer people use the word "sick" in the way it was used even 5 years ago, so fewer and fewer people use the word "Christian" to simply describe someone who is Christlike. In fact, most of us probably have never considered that the two words should be synonymous. To the English teachers reading this, I know—the former is most often used as a noun, while the latter is an adjective. But think about this for a moment. Wouldn't the term "Christian" [...]

10 September

Procrastinating truth another year

By Kevin|2019-04-11T02:09:37-06:00September 10th, 2014|Uncategorized|0 Comments

Truth is timeless. It is unchanging. It maintains its value through the always-evolving marketplace of ideas, like the gold standard in a world of paper currencies. Trends in human thought come and go, and philosophies rise and fall in popularity like fad diets, but truth is like a rock, never succumbing to the pressures of relativistic philosophies or changing "understandings." It is what it is, and what it always has been. The Truth. It also doesn't need to wait another year for us to acknowledge it, either. Or figure it out, or agree upon it, or agree to teach it. Truth just needs to be discovered and immediately taught. This is why Christianity in the first century thrived and turned the world upside down--because people [...]

28 July

After further consideration

By Kevin|2019-04-11T02:09:36-06:00July 28th, 2014|Uncategorized|0 Comments

After further consideration, I've decided to remove my "open letter" regarding the aforementioned blog. Even though the author remains completely anonymous to me, and I honestly thought I was vigorously protecting their anonymity, I can see how my letter may have discouraged them or anyone else from communicating privately with me. I also made some assumptions about the author's intentions regarding the blog being private. I had no business doing that, and want to apologize on that count as well. I want to reassure everyone that I will not make this mistake this again. What you email to me remains between you and me unless you give me permission to write about it on these pages. #notperfect #willingtoadmitit

23 June

The need for “Pure Doctrine”

By Kevin|2019-04-11T02:09:32-06:00June 23rd, 2014|Uncategorized|0 Comments

Many people can attest to the fact that the church has taught for years that doctrine must be "pure" for it to lead one to salvation. If a person believes impure doctrine, even if it's 99% right, Stanton says they will not be saved. "They can be teaching everything 99% correct, but if salvation is not taught correctly then sin is not forgiven and you are not added to the church of Christ." Source: http://whatisthedoctrineofchrist.blogspot.com/2012/05/church-of-christ.html This is not a straw man that I'm trying to set up in order to smack down easily. This Doctrine of Pure Doctrine is a staple of church teaching, as just about anyone who has spent any time in the group can attest, and it is used to deny that the [...]

16 June

The Suitcase of Books

By Kevin|2019-04-11T02:09:31-06:00June 16th, 2014|Uncategorized|17 Comments

One of the best teaching tools the Stanton Church of Christ had going for it in its old Non-Member Classes was the infamous Suitcase of Books. Eventually the inconvenience of passing it around to the next Non-Member Class Teacher, or perhaps the hypocrisy of it, led to its demise. Nevertheless, The Suitcase of Books played a convincing role in many conversions to the sect, because it truly was a unique and effective visual illustration of the confusion caused by the doctrines and traditions of fallible men. I'm not positive the Suitcase of Books has been retired completely, actually. If it hasn't, it most definitely has lost some of its rhetorical power, because alas, the point made by the Teachers using the Suitcase has come back [...]

6 May

Should Christians go to college?

By Kevin|2019-04-11T02:09:29-06:00May 6th, 2014|Uncategorized|0 Comments

One of the teachings of the Stanton Church of Christ that goes way back to the early days is that Christians should not send their kids to college. The reasons I've heard in defense of this teaching are more practical than scriptural. A verse like 2 Timothy 2:4 might be thrown around to suggest that going to college is "entangling" oneself with the affairs of the world, but this is a tenuous argument at best. Why is college "entangling," but studying to learn a trade and advance through certifications is not? The most common defense of the anti-college teaching I've heard is that colleges promote a lot of anti-Christian rhetoric, and there is a statistically large number of kids raised in Christian homes who depart [...]

23 April

Matthew 5 – Rules and Regulations For The Church

By Kevin|2019-04-11T02:09:27-06:00April 23rd, 2014|Uncategorized|1 Comment

One passage of scripture in Matthew 5 has been substantially misinterpreted by the Stanton churches, in my opinion, and I think it will be useful to provide an alternative point of view here. Matthew 5:23-24 - Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift. Stanton teaches that one must "take care of sin" (meaning confess it privately and/or publicly) prior to partaking in the Lord's supper based partly on this passage, and partly on their out-of-context teaching about taking the Lord's supper unworthily. The passage in question was [...]

5 March

The doctrine on doctrine

By Kevin|2019-04-11T02:09:23-06:00March 5th, 2014|Uncategorized|14 Comments

March Week 2014 delegates: Reaching what you believe to be wise conclusions on the questions you're considering is great. But don't heap error upon error and proceed to bind your opinions, no matter how wise you think they are, on others. This is no different than the Pharisees "teaching for doctrines the commandments of men." doc·trine: a set of ideas or beliefs that are taught or believed to be true teaching, instruction something that is taught Perhaps it's time to consider the Bible's doctrine on doctrine. Before we can teach anything, we should give thought to what can and can't be taught, right? What the Bible teaches about teaching should be what we teach about teaching, should it not? "Doctrine" as used in the Bible [...]

The problem with May Week
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The problem with May Week

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27 February

The problem with May Week

By Kevin|2019-06-15T08:58:03-06:00February 27th, 2014|Uncategorized|48 Comments

The annual May Week (or sometimes March Week, as in 2014) is the third rail of church politics. Touch it, and you are toast. Criticize it, or question its similarity to the Baptist Convention or any other religious body's annual doctrinal meeting, and you'll be promptly corrected, rebuked and/or withdrawn from—and perhaps all three. If your status is high enough in the "brotherhood" upon such an offense, history shows you probably won't even get a chance to defend yourself. You need to be made an example of, quickly and decisively. One would think that May Week, if the attempt is to truly follow the example of Acts 15, should be reserved for weighty subjects of earth-shattering importance to the unity of the brotherhood, i.e. the [...]

Telling your story
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Telling your story

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19 October

Telling your story

By Kevin|2019-04-11T09:35:17-06:00October 19th, 2013|Uncategorized|41 Comments

SCOC references on other sites "My Inner Sanctum" (This ex-member converted to Islam) Who I am and why Islam (Possibly by the same person above) You cannot go to the other extreme to avoid liberalism (From a preacher's interaction with a member) Your Church Too (DC's old site) We all have stories to tell. Outside of the Church of Christ culture, people call it your "testimony." I like that. My testimony has been largely told here on these pages, and others have undertaken to tell their own stories of how this sect has affected their lives, and how they've found their way to a closer relationship with the loving and forgiving God of Scripture (or not). Please use the comment section of this page to share [...]

15 October

Prove it, friends

By Kevin|2019-04-11T02:09:19-06:00October 15th, 2013|Uncategorized|80 Comments

Stanton has altered the meaning of so many words, it's hard to keep track; hence the new glossary. One of the terms that has been severely misused is the word "prove," as in "prove all things." I'm not saying that the word is always misused, because I'm not there to know. But it's apparent that it's at least misused when it's convenient. The following is a portion of a talk at the Labor Day 2013 meeting: "We put a lot of stock in you brethren that are very, very young in faith. Very young in faith. We put a lot of hope in you, that not only are you going to be able to carry the mantle, you're going to turn around and you're going to [...]

12 October

Love and marriage, love and marriage

By Kevin|2019-04-11T02:09:18-06:00October 12th, 2013|Uncategorized|2 Comments

Note: The "a-ha" moment I describe in Turning the Tables on Legalism about what it would feel like to receive legalistic love from my kids first clicked in my mind regarding marriage. This article is the true story of when I first made that connection. I'm thankful for the love of my wife, in part because she exhibits her love for me in ways I neither deserve nor ask for. That makes me feel privileged and honored to be her husband. I know without a doubt that I have her loyalty and affections. I could argue that most everything good in my life flows from the fact that I feel such security in our relationship. That's because love is inherently inspiring, motivating, and empowering, whether it's [...]

9 October

Love is the Greatest

By Kevin|2019-04-11T02:09:17-06:00October 9th, 2013|Uncategorized|4 Comments

Awhile back an anonymous commenter on this blog mentioned that they had prepared a one year study on the subject of love for their congregation after leaving the Stanton sect. I want to thank them publicly and provide the download for others to enjoy as well. I wasn't sure whether I had permission to post it, but was assured in the comments that I did. So to the author: thank you so much for your efforts in writing this, and thank you for your kind words in the handwritten note that was attached. I know nothing about the writer, other than the love that flows from the pages of this study. I received the study in hard copy format after providing my mailing address by [...]

Reclaiming the doctrine of Christ
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Reclaiming the doctrine of Christ

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23 September

Reclaiming the doctrine of Christ

By Kevin|2019-09-27T14:18:36-06:00September 23rd, 2013|Uncategorized|10 Comments

I've realized over the course of writing this blog that the phrase "Doctrine of Christ" has been redefined by Stanton with meanings and connotations that the Bible never gives it. A church member at some point even felt compelled to write an anonymous blog entitled "What Is The Doctrine of Christ?," taking it down after I linked to it. Perhaps you'll find the true meaning of the term rather shocking in its simplicity, as I once did a number of years ago. So let's explore what John was really was saying in this passage: 2 John 9 - Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and [...]

21 September

Teachers in lieu of elders

By Kevin|2019-04-11T02:09:12-06:00September 21st, 2013|Uncategorized|12 Comments

One of the most far-reaching mistakes of church history in the last 2000 years was when congregations started colluding to give bishops influence over multiple congregations rather than over a single congregation, as Paul originally established. Bishops are just another word for pastors, elders, presbyters, overseers, or shepherds. Whatever you want to call these local shepherds, they were a God-given form of church oversight to help keep wolves out of the flock. Paul outlined the qualifications for them, and instructed both Timothy and Titus about those qualifications. The only problem was that human ideas for church management (and control) just seemed so much more practical. The congregation in Rome—not unlike Stanton or Spring Valley—asked for, and received the deference of its peers. Their bishops began to [...]

19 September

Breaking News: Only sin will be forbidden by the church

By Kevin|2019-04-11T02:09:10-06:00September 19th, 2013|Uncategorized|14 Comments

Spring Valley, Calif. - In breaking news from the Spring Valley congregation, evangelist Gary Preman has announced that only sin will be forbidden by the church in the future. At the Labor Day Meeting 2013, Preman said "Our admonition is not to forbid anyone from doing anything, unless it's a sin." The author of the Stanton Church of Christ blog says that this is a significant change from past teachings of the church, which are largely based on 45 years of church tradition. "Church traditions and the opinions of church teachers are not properly called 'doctrines' in church nomenclature," according to the author of this blog, "but are called 'judgments.' So it remains to be seen if this new 'judgment' will work its way through [...]

Love: More than a feeling
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Love: More than a feeling

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18 September

Love: More than a feeling

By Kevin|2019-09-27T09:58:44-06:00September 18th, 2013|Uncategorized|17 Comments

One of the more enlightening moments in the recent Labor Day talk, which I've good-naturedly entitled Not Ready To Give An Answer, was when we were told that those of us who preach incessantly about love have succumbed to a feel-good religion involving no real sacrifice or cost; a cheap gospel that is all about making you "prosperous and healthy and wealthy and wise." "And so as I hear about so many people who were raised in the church, people who are no longer wanting anything to do with the church they were once a part of, seem to have bought into a type of gospel that says "Jesus wants you to be happy" and "Jesus wants you to be joyful" and "Jesus wants you to have [...]

16 September

Labor Day 2013 – Not ready to give an answer

By Kevin|2019-04-11T02:09:04-06:00September 16th, 2013|Uncategorized|64 Comments

How do you defend the Pharisaic rules for travel and the many other unbiblical doctrines discussed on these pages? You don't. You certainly don't want to have any self-reflection, or engage in critical thinking. You assert instead that answering tough questions legitimizes them (although in fact, refusing to answer them is exactly what de-legitimizes your case). And of course you call anyone who dares ask tough questions an "enemy of Christ" for whom you have "contempt" and "disdain." Really? Sadly, there are some for whom that type of response will suffice. For those who question with boldness and search the Scriptures whether these things are so, it's not hard to recognize flowery speeches and empty words without Biblical support. If this talk on Labor Day 2013 is [...]

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"This needed to be said Kevin, thank you. I believe you are getting to heart of the problem in the church. Instead of a Christian being allowed to exercise their own conscience, the conscience of a few people living in South Carolina and California is forced upon the entire brotherhood." ~Anonymous

"Great blog, Kevin. I'm originally from Stanton (I remember you being a young boy there). I Spent almost twenty years in the church seeing many of the things you speak about but keeping them in the back of my mind, and doubting my own feelings that something wasn't right.

"This constant gossiping was so confusing because it was OK for teachers to talk about people, but no one else to even question actions of a teacher. Being outside of that influence and away from the constant intimidation, it is so much more clear. There was no love or understanding. I'm sure most, except for the leaders, know something is wrong if they would just be honest with themselves. I regret so much putting my children through this more than I regret putting myself through it.

"I'm just glad I left. No need for being bitter toward anyone because it was my choice to be there and stay there. Keep up the good work." ~Loraine Forshee

I have read every word of this blog… I spent many hours/days reading… Feeling so sick inside… I felt so grateful to find this blog." ~Anonymous

"I left the group because I realized that what the group taught and what God teaches were often-not always-vastly different. I had to make a choice; stay out of fear, obligation, because of relationships, or leave so I could continue to follow Christ. I left. You know, one thing I heard A LOT while in the group is that “fallen away ones” are always longing to come back into the group.” At the time I believed it, but I just haven’t found it to be true! If it were, there would be plenty of people flocking back, and it isn’t happening. I have been in contact with quite a few who have left, and not one of us has thoughts about going back. Ever." ~Debby Stevens

"What’s ironic is that we point these things out to them only for them to ignore, dismiss and scoff at the blog both publicly in talks or sermons, and among themselves in secret. For you leaders and members of the SCOC who still read this blog, it’s one thing to dismiss the dissenters, but when you have people in your own ranks parroting the SAME EXACT PROBLEMS we talk about here (some of whom don’t even read the blog yet they see the same things we do), it may be time to consider your ways instead of having “unity” (conformity) meetings trying to ignore it." ~Advocate for Peace

"I too am a current member in 'good standing' in the church. I read the blog and I know of two other current members who also read it. I am sure you're wondering why in the world I would still be attending after reading all of this. Honestly, I am weak and just don't have the courage to leave because of family members who are still involved. Because of the threat of withdrawal for murmuring it's impossible to ask others what they think of the blog posts and videos. I am sure I will leave someday, I'm just not quite ready." ~Anonymous

"I'm currently a member in "good standing" in the church. I read the blog, even though its frowned upon. I can't begin to tell you how closely the comments and personal testimonies align and match what's happening in the church. You read something here, and it opens your eyes to that behavior now. so that when you see it happening, you instantly think about who it happened to here on this blog, and you know the damage it causing." ~Anonymous

"I’m not giving up on God like they believe I’m lost now. I’m so glad I found this blog. It helped open my eyes to what I was a part of for TOO long." ~Not going back

“The members of the church have a right to question and ask for Bible answers from those who are doing the preaching. But this is considered almost tantamount to heresy by the preachers of today; and if a member persists in such he is usually slandered and called a trouble-maker… We should know our Bible and we should be ready and willing to take a stand for the truth. We are commanded to ‘contend for the truth.’ But this can hardly be done seeing that the church is ignorant and the preachers are content to have it so. Individually and collectively we should take scriptural stands upon all subjects…” Merie Weiss (Brethren Letter, 1967) More Merie Quotes

“But men cannot give up their opinions, and therefore, they can never unite, says one. We do not ask them to give up their opinions–we ask them only not to impose them upon others. Let them hold their opinions, but let them hold them as private property. The faith is public property; opinions are, and always have been private property. Men have foolishly attempted to make the deductions of some great minds the common measure of all Christians. Hence the deductions of a Luther, and a Calvin, and a Wesley, have been the rule and measure of all who coalesce under the names of these leaders. It is cruel to excommunicate a man because of the imbecility of his intellect.” Alexander Campbell

“If you can’t counter it in your heart, you will be affected. A lot of people say, ‘Gary you’re just trying to censor people from their God-given right to look at whatever it is that they’re going to look at.’ Go ahead and look at it. But I can only say to you, be admonished, and be well-versed. If you’re not having the ability to counter whatever it is that comes your way. Or all of a sudden someone comes and says something, and it hooks you in, you’re lured in with hook, line, and sinker, you have no one to thank but yourself. Our admonition is not to forbid anyone from doing anything, unless it’s a sin.” Gary Preman

Truth Defender on Here’s Joe Gautreau’s letter of withdrawal…where do I start?Stanton is full of feminism. Every woman who speaks in church besides prayers and song requests and who teaches Bible classes is a feminist. And the sad fact is the feminists have complete control of…
Truth Defender on Here’s Joe Gautreau’s letter of withdrawal…where do I start?Yes, and do the women stay silent in the churces? Do they only teach women’s classes and children’s classes under the supervision of righteous men? No, they never have in the history of Stanton. How a…
Truth Defender on Here’s Joe Gautreau’s letter of withdrawal…where do I start?One of the reasons why women speaking in Bible Classes is such a great evil is because the Bible Classes become gigantic Safe Spaces for women’s deceived feelings. So if you say something that the wom…
Truth Defender on Here’s Joe Gautreau’s letter of withdrawal…where do I start?God had very good reasons for commanding women to remain silent in the church. From Robert Briffault’s book, “The Mothers” “Civilisation, as it presents itself in humanity’s power of control over natu…
Truth Defender on Here’s Joe Gautreau’s letter of withdrawal…where do I start?Merie taught women correctly, to stay home, have a lot of children, don’t have televisions in your home, be a dutiful wife. But, she also taught them, by her example, to rebel against God’s order and…
Truth Defender on Here’s Joe Gautreau’s letter of withdrawal…where do I start?“Our whole country stinks of Money, of desire for money and for what money can buy. We even rate the size and worth of a man by the amount of his income. To get money, there are few of us left who wou…
Truth Defender on Here’s Joe Gautreau’s letter of withdrawal…where do I start?Another fabulous article by Lori Alexander. Godly women are QUIET women. One paragraph jumps out. “ How are godly women to behave in the churches? “Let the women learn in silence with all subjection.…
Truth Defender on Here’s Joe Gautreau’s letter of withdrawal…where do I start?On Election Day, let it be noted that women being allowed to vote and speak in the churches has been a disaster for America, and that both ideas didn’t exist in America just 124 years ago. Both partie…
Truth Defender on Here’s Joe Gautreau’s letter of withdrawal…where do I start?Very interesting. I’m reading the 50 volume set of the Harvard Classics, which is better than any college education, and which can be obtained for a fraction of the price, (it includes parts of the Bi…
Truth Defender on Here’s Joe Gautreau’s letter of withdrawal…where do I start?It is difficult to understand. A woman who was a saint in so many areas, yet, who rebelled against God’s order for women. Kind of similar to one of the most famous women from early America, Anne Hutch…
anony on Here’s Joe Gautreau’s letter of withdrawal…where do I start?I have a hard time with this because I feel the examples you gave of righteous individuals that fell into sinful behavior all brought forth evidence of repentance. Meri died in her unbiblical state. A…
Truth Defender on Here’s Joe Gautreau’s letter of withdrawal…where do I start?Thank you for your question. It puzzles me as well. How can a woman who was so good in so many areas be bad when it comes to women speaking publicly? There has been so much damage caused to marriages…
anony on Here’s Joe Gautreau’s letter of withdrawal…where do I start?can I ask you a question truth defender…. you speak soo much about how merie Weiss was sooo contrary and rebellious to the will and order of God for women in his kingdom, yet will call her righteous a…
Truth Defender on Here’s Joe Gautreau’s letter of withdrawal…where do I start?“How dreadful when right judge judges wrong” wrote Sophocles in his splendid and profound play, “Antigone.” Why? Because of all humans, it is hardest to correct a good person commonly. It’s easy to co…
Truth Defender on Here’s Joe Gautreau’s letter of withdrawal…where do I start?It’s sad that not a single woman in Stanton was ever taught God’s order, that she is to remain quiet in the church, and to prioritize her husband, children, and home. They can sing and ask prayer requ…
Truth Defender on Here’s Joe Gautreau’s letter of withdrawal…where do I start?Instead of being a teacher in Bible classes and teaching men, why don’t women teachers in Stanton teach their own children, teach other women under Godly men’s supervision, and teach children’s classe…
Truth Defender on Here’s Joe Gautreau’s letter of withdrawal…where do I start?In 1920, due to Jewish intrigues, women were given the right to vote, which was a disaster for them and America. It was part of a Jewish socialist agenda, which says a woman is a unit of society, NOT…
Truth Defender on Here’s Joe Gautreau’s letter of withdrawal…where do I start?Merie taught me a lot of excellent things. But, she never taught the primary duty of women, to be a Keeper at Home. Merie never learned to be a Keeper at home herself. The paid preacher system was far…
Truth Defender on Here’s Joe Gautreau’s letter of withdrawal…where do I start?Comment on Gab, over 11,000 views. “Consider the thousands of conflicts between men because wives have been asserting their mistaken ideas publicly, and when another man corrects them, the wife goes t…
Truth Defender on Here’s Joe Gautreau’s letter of withdrawal…where do I start?Proverbs 21:19 It is better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and an angry woman. Sadly, a little leaven leavens the whole lump. It’s sad that 20% of the women in Stanton who insist…

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