(25) F4F | The Fall of JD Hall - YouTube
Chris Rosebrough, Phil Johnson and Justin Peters' recent discussion regarding the fall of their friend JD Hall completely failed to hit the mark. No doubt many who have observed JD Hall's ungodly methods and abusive behaviour over the years are relieved that he has gone ~ but if we say anything about it apparently we are gloating. Really? Gloating has nothing to do with it!
Chris Rosebrough began by praising the elders of JD Hall's church (Fellowship Baptist Church, Sidney, Montana) because they have exercised church discipline. Rosebrough noted that such an occurrence is unusual in our time and that elders rarely initiate church discipline. The general pattern I have observed is that when a church leader is caught out publicly, or when the evidence against him is overwhelming, then, and only then, is church discipline initiated. JD Hall was caught red-handed by the police in May on DUI and weapons charges. Otherwise, I am convinced that no action by the leadership would have been taken. The statement from the FBC leadership refers to an "incident" that took place on Sunday the 5th of June 2022, but they have neglected to apprise the public of any details regarding this. {1} It is alleged that this further "incident" involving Hall on the 5th of June was a physical attack against his wife and ten-year-old daughter. The offense has been described by the Sidney Police Department MT as "Assault With Weapon.. Forces used: Knife/Cutting instrument" and "Strangulation of Partner or Family Member". {2} It appears that the leaders of FBC have attempted to cover up this dreadful incident and that they are not supporting Mrs Hall and her family as they claim! Evidently, Hall is also under investigation for “Theft Exceeding $10,000 By Embezzlement”. {3}
JD Hall has gone unchecked for a number of years, leaving a trail of devastation behind him. He should have gone a long time ago, but he was not held accountable. In effect, the leaders of FBC had little choice but to enforce church discipline following recent events and they have nothing to be proud of. I believe that the leaders of FBC are culpable for allowing Hall to continue in his position for so long.
JD Hall was a cult leader and a bully
The discussion between Rosebrough, Johnson and Peters was all about JD Hall, his problems, his addiction to Xanax and how to "restore" him. Apart from a quick reference to one of his more recent misdemeanors, nothing was said about the people/families Hall has damaged over the years, not least the suicide of Braxton Caner in 2014. Hall was accused of cyber-bullying Braxton Caner, the teenage son of pastor and Brewton-Parker College President Ergun Caner weeks before the youth committed suicide. Although Hall expressed regret, his behavioral problems were clearly ongoing.
Around the same time as the suicide of Braxton Caner, Hall admitted that his overzealous quest to expose corruption in the Baptist church had devolved into an adversarial approach to problem-solving that was downright sinful, and he claimed that he was already in the process of changing his ways weeks before Braxton's suicide.
Hall was the voice of the Pulpit&Pen (later renamed Protestia). Last year, Hall was sued for libel after a story was published in the Montana Gazette about Adrian Jawort, a Native American activist. In that article, Hall referred to Jawort as a “transvestite Goth” and accused him of threatening a state senator.
As part of a settlement, Hall admitted that the story was fabricated and apologized, according to the Great Falls Tribune. (1 Corinthians 6:10). The libel suit was dismissed with the agreement Jawort will be able to make a claim of $250,000 against Hall, who is currently in bankruptcy.
Hall's gutter press tactics against Servus Christi (Joshua Chavez) and his accusations of "human trafficking" were insupportable. {5} Hall renamed Chavez "Servus Diablos". He also referred to Chavez as "Servetus" which was a reference to Michael Servetus, the man who was murdered by John Calvin. {6} I viewed this as a veiled threat against Chavez. Chavez himself voiced concerns that there was a potential threat from Hall in January 2019. (1:14:00 mark) (26) Pulpit & Pen Founder Finally Critiques John MacArthur? - YouTube
Hall reportedly bullied his own congregation to the degree that those who came into conflict with him even feared for their physical safety!
Garrett Mullett: "Never before JD Hall had I encountered attendees, members, or leaders of a church – past or present – afraid for their physical safety or that of their family after conflict with a pastor. Yet I have heard such concerns more than once with regards to Jordan and his church." {7}
These are not the actions of a born-again Christian, much less a pastor! ..not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. (1 Peter 5:3).Hall has stated that unless a person is in "covenant membership" with a local church then they are not a Christian! Our covenant is with Jesus Christ, it is not with bullies, liars and revilers masquerading as leaders. (1 John 2:4). Is it any wonder that true believers are leaving the churches en masse, even those churches claiming to have "sound doctrine"?
After so much damage and so many red flags, most of us would have learned a lesson, but Hall did not. He was left unchecked until his arrest in May.
When the fruit of the spirit is so glaringly absent from the life of an individual, then we need to question whether he/she is in fact a saved believer. (Galatians 5:16-24). To refer to Hall as a "Christian" on the basis of doctrine alone is questionable. In my view, the term "Christian" cannot be applied to someone who claims to have faith but has no works. (James 2:14).
Does JD Hall have sound doctrine?
The Reformed (Calvinist) limitation of salvation (limited atonement) to the chosen few is a perverted doctrine. Jesus came to offer salvation to the whole world. (John 3:16; Matthew 11:28). Orthodoxy and orthopraxy are essential biblical requirements for believers and Hall has failed to demonstrate either of these. (Philippians 4:9). The Protestant tyrant John Calvin ran Geneva like a gulag from 1541 to 1564. Hall became Calvin's disciple indeed, but he has certainly not exhibited any evidence of being a disciple of Jesus Christ! He has made a mockery of the noble calling of a pastor. (1 Timothy 3:1-3).
For an overseer, as God’s steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it. (Titus 1:7-9).
This is a trustworthy saying: If anyone aspires to be an overseer, he desires a noble task. An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not dependent on wine, not violent but gentle, peaceable, and free of the love of money. (1 Timothy 3:1-3)..png)
(29) The Jordan Hall Story - Corruption, Cover-Up & Abuse - YouTube
(Update #2) J.D. Hall Is Accused of Domestic Violence with a Weapon as well as Embezzlement. He Also Has Had A Lot of Guns. What Did the Church Know? | The Wartburg Watch 2022
2. Protestia Founder Jordan Hall Attacks Wife & Daughter | Servus Christi
3. Protestia Founder Jordan Hall Investigated For Embezzlement | Servus Christi
4. J.D. Hall, pastor and founder of Pulpit&Pen, admits fabricating story about trans activist (religionnews.com)
5. WOLVES IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING: FALSE PROPHETS AND BIBLE TEACHERS IN THE LAST DAYS: PULPIT AND PEN'S BIG SCOOP ON SERVUS CHRISTI: GUTTER PRESS TACTICS (bewareofthewolves.blogspot.com)
6. Servus Christi's Life of Sin to Be Exposed on Monday (pulpitandpen.org)
7. Empowering JD Hall Hurts Good People and Worthy Causes (onthe.rocks)
Very good assessment of the situation Treena.
ReplyDeleteI once heard JD state that anyone who did not believe in limited atonement is an apostate!?
I believe the OPPOSITE is true as a Christ who did not die for all of humanity is clearly ANOTHER Christ , not the one Paul preached to Jews and Gentiles.
I am sad to learn that he has addiction issues and it would appear his marriage has suffered horribly. But his abrasive and at times devastating attitude and behaviour has done much harm to the cause of Christ and to certain individuals.
I also like much of what Peters ans Rosebrough do and say, but their toxic errors ie baptismal regeneration and limited atonement, are Antichrist and work against what they are attempting to do for God. So many fall out of charismania and Catholicism into Calvinism or Lutheranism and fail to see the serious errors in both theologies. I am very glad that you expose BOTH in your articles.
I also agree with you that if one cannot find a Bible-teaching church, one is better off NOT going to a church which promotes error in major areas. After realising how serious the errors of Calvinism are, I left church for good as EVERY church I have been involved with since childhood taught a false gospel. Although I heard enough to get saved in a Pentecostal church environment, I was swiftly catapulted into a belief system with a false Christ and spirit which ruined my life for over 30 years. I am still recovering from the damage. So I empathise wirh any believer who has reached the point where they feel safer NOT joining a church for the sake of doing so.
My best to you, Mike
Thank you Mike.. Very sadly Rosebrough and Peters react very differently to those in their own "camp" (whether it be Calvinism or Lutheranism). If a charismatic leader had done half the things that JD Hall had done I don't think they would be nearly so understanding. Although there have been some difficulties with Joshua Chavez (Servus Christi), at least he separated from Jacob Prasch which was a huge thing to do. It appears that Chavez was quite literally on Hall's "hit list"!
ReplyDeleteI have also heard that Hall's marriage has broken down.
My prayer is that JD Hall will turn away from his deviant beliefs and find the REAL Jesus Christ.
God bless.