https://pulpitandpen.org/2020/08/24/servus-christi-imports-bride-fakes-marriage-sends-her-back-after-consummation/
JD Hall's article and associated video above amounts nothing less than degenerate tabloid newspaper style gossip, supposition and speculation. The scoop was preceded by a tacky countdown clock to "The Terminus of Servus Christi" (aka Joshua Chavez) promising to reveal his life of sin ~ or in JD Hall's terms “beating the weeds”.
I do not dispute that Joshua Chavez is a wily character and is someone to be avoided. His dogged support for Jacob Prasch is insupportable. He willfully ignores Prasch's theological errors and abuses while at the same time mercilessly attacking others. Chavez's support for Prasch may benefit him in some way, although ultimately I believe it will prove to be a snare. (Jeremiah 5:31). Do you suppose, O man—you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself—that you will escape the judgment of God? (Romans 2:3).
Despite his double standards, his obvious anger issues and his dubious motives, Chavez's exposure of various Calvinists has been accurate on many levels. Although I am convinced that Chavez is not approved by God, it seems clear that God has used him in a certain way to expose many things that have gone unchecked in the Calvinist camp. These recent exposures of the double standards and rank hypocrisy of the Calvinists are not before time!
JD Hall has Chavez down as a "sectarian minimalist heretic". While that may be true in Chavez's case, Hall is wrong to condemn countless numbers of Christians worldwide who have given up on their "local church" due to blatant apostasy. In my own immediate area there is a choice between various ecumenical denominations, including the Anglican Church, Pentecostal (AG) and a Calvinist church who teach against eternal damnation amongst other heresies. In other words there is no choice! My own understanding of a valid church: For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.” (Matthew 18:29). What does Hall suggest these countless numbers of Christians do for fellowship without compromising the gospel? What does Hall define as "heretical" when his own camp are so very far off the mark? I refer to John MacArthur's advice that people can take the mark of the beast and be saved.. and Phil Johnson's waffling on the subject. I refer to Doreen Virtue's demonic vision of Jesus which was accepted by Lutheran pastor Chris Rosebrough and others until Chavez challenged it. Chris Rosebrough's heretical beliefs and practices include infant baptism, baptismal regeneration, consubstantiation, amillennialism, confession to a priest ~ and yet he is unquestionably accepted by the Calvinists. The Calvinists are a bit like the Freemasons, they always back each other up irrespective of the truth, and they never admit that they are in the wrong. {2} Justin Peters is the only Calvinist I have known to admit that he was wrong and I exclude him from these remarks.
AND SO TO THE BIG SCOOP
Let's examine the details:
JD Hall has made full use of the woman's testimony that Chavez is a human trafficker.
JD Hall: "Little did any of us know that amidst these videos and tirades, Chavez was trafficking in humans, using women for sex and money.." Notice that JD Hall uses plural nouns (i.e. humans ~ women). In reality Hall has ONE woman's own perception of her experience. We need to see solid evidence that Chavez was actually involved in human trafficking rather than basing our opinion on the negative experience of one woman and the suppositions of JD Hall:
"The woman is currently seeking to restore their marriage, even if it can be rightly characterized as 'human trafficking.'”
Hall: "While rumors have circulated for over a year that Chavez recently had a live-in girlfriend (while working for Moriel) with whom he soon eloped and then immediately divorced, we were unable to verify that information. That is, we were unable to verify the information until her concerned friends from various support groups reached out to us with their desperate pleas for help. We have since been able to verify their accounts through various sources to the best of our journalistic ability. And we have cross-referenced those accounts with correspondence sent us that originated directly from his female victim. But the story is even worse than has been whispered."
JD Hall has obtained his information from various "support groups" whom he describes as "concerned friends" rather than from the woman herself. I believe the purpose of JD Hall's "countdown clock" may have been to draw her out, but as far as I am aware she has not contacted him personally. It appears that this woman has been abused by two predators, once allegedly by Chavez, and once by JD Hall, who has published this information without her consent.
The woman would have a very difficult time legally proving a charge of "human trafficking" against Chavez. According to the Human Rights Commission the three most common types of human trafficking are sex trafficking, forced labor, and debt bondage. "Some survivors are 'mail-order' brides who believe they are going to a new country for marriage, but instead are enslaved." {1} This woman was not "enslaved".
JD Hall says that the woman had professional job in South Africa.. and then he contradicts himself saying that her job was not that lucrative.
Apparently Chavez's motive apart from sex was "desiring that she work in a professional field in order to finance his ministry", but her three month visa did not allow her to get a job in the US. This does not make sense. Why did the woman obtain a temporary visa if she intended to marry Chavez and stay in the country?
JD Hall: "Reportedly, Chavez’s mother is overbearing and 'controls him.' " (this is gossip ~ 2 Corinthians 12:20).
JD Hall: "Allegedly, the young woman had a fair amount of financial savings."
If this allegation is correct, then the woman was by no means vulnerable or in a position of powerlessness.
So essentially we have an attractive professional woman with a fair amount of financial savings travelling to the US from South Africa on a three month visa to marry Chavez after a short internet romance, knowingly participating in a fake marriage, going on "honeymoon" and sleeping with Chavez, and then playing the victim. The woman says that Chavez has the "Jezebel spirit" and is "an evil man". And she wants to reconcile with him! What woman in her right mind would want to restore a fake marriage with an evil man and a human trafficker? Why would an attractive professional woman with money be so desperate or stupid to do such a thing? The whole thing is totally bizarre! This woman's story would not stand up in court.
When I mentioned these things to JD Hall on his website comments he responded by calling me a "victim blaming sycophant" and then followed up with a GIF saying "I'm your Huckleberry" (whatever that means).
Tim Wirth obviously agrees:
WHERE ARE THE FACTS JD HALL?
Hall: "While rumors have circulated for over a year that Chavez recently had a live-in girlfriend (while working for Moriel) with whom he soon eloped and then immediately divorced, we were unable to verify that information. That is, we were unable to verify the information until her concerned friends from various support groups reached out to us with their desperate pleas for help. We have since been able to verify their accounts through various sources to the best of our journalistic ability. And we have cross-referenced those accounts with correspondence sent us that originated directly from his female victim. But the story is even worse than has been whispered."
Every charge must be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. (2 Corinthians 13:1).
To conclude: JD Hall has scored an own goal in his self righteous exposure of Chavez. As Christians, we need to see provable facts before we make any kind of judgement in this matter. (1 Peter 2:1).
2. http://johnmacarthur.forumchitchat.com/post/is-john-macarthur-a-master-of-the-craft-10065826
