Planetshakers Placing Son On Stage Too Young?

Received an interesting message via SMS.

Tomorrow’s Father’s Day church service at Planetshakers will feature 3 generations of the Evans family… Including Russell Evans’ eldest child, Jonathan (still primary school aged).

I wonder to myself… Is this appropriate?

Obviously it would be inappropriate to have Jonathan delivering a message, because 1 Timothy speaks against promoting novice pastors.

But is it also inappropriate to be placing the child on a pedestal alongside his revered father and grandfather?

I can’t help but think of Mike Guglielmucci, and the shame and torment that began for him at a slightly older age. Surely some of this was caused by the expectations he felt he had to live up to, as we heard that he bottled his sins up inside, put his best foot forward – while suffering horrible physical and emotional symptoms.

While every good parent (and I don’t doubt Russell Evans is a good parent) wants to build their child’s self esteem, and lift up their son and say “This is my son, in whom I am proud” – it seems unnecessary and potentially harmful…

… And yet again, it takes the focus off Jesus and places it on the Superstars of Planetshakers – in this case, the Evans Family.

The Blessings of Prominent Pastors, Todd Bentley, and Mike Guglielmucci

I saw this image today on the blog of prominent Hillsong/Pentecostal critic,Tanya Levin:

The picture of Mike Guglielmucci being prayed for by the AOG Executive reminded me of the prominent pastors who blessed Todd Bentley, just prior to his incredible fall from grace after the Lakeland Outpouring, as a result of adultery issues (which were known among his senior leadership):

I’m not going to comment on this beyond saying that one reminded me of the other, and it’s amazing how two men who had the blessings of so many prominent pastors, fell at roughly the same time.

I’m reminded of Dutch Sheet’s comments, following the Florida Outpouring:

We, the leaders of the charismatic community, have operated in an extremely low level of discernment. Frankly, we often don’t even try to discern. We assume a person’s credibility based on gifts, charisma, the size of their ministry or church, whether they can prophesy or work a miracle, etc. (Miracles and signs are intended to validate God and His message, not the messenger; sometimes they validate the assignment of an individual, but never the person’s character, lifestyle or spiritual maturity.)

Just for the record… I disagree with most things that Tanya Levin says on her blog, believe she’s wrong and defamatory in her views that liken AOG leaders to the mafia (although her testimony of Hillsong does include stories of abuses of power and thuggery of Hillsong leaders, which is the likely reason). However, that’s beside the point…

By the way – who are the pastors interceding for Mike Guglielmucci? It looks like – Brian Houston, Alun Davies (or possibly Wayne Alcorn), Ashley Evans (Russell Evans’ brother and son of Andrew Evans), Steve Penny, and (judging by the bald head, which is our only clue) Ian Woods.

Edit: It’s obvious that in the Mike Guglielmucci photo that they’re praying for healing from cancer – but this isn’t a crippled man (Acts 3:1-10) laying at the gates of the temple – this on the stage, at the Assemblies of God in Australia National Conference, and a certain level of endorsement comes with this type of display.