Phil Johnson has been an ally to G3 Ministries from the beginning, and the latest scandal for G3 has him pulling no punches about what he thinks of the organization and the leadership behind it. On Monday, Protestia broke the story of a behind-the-scenes shadow campaign that G3 had launched against a former board member, Tom Buck. With the reputation of G3 reproached once more, Johnson has called for the organization to be put to pasture in an article aptly named, “Haman’s Gollows.”
Johnson discloses his involvement in the ordeal:
I shared my concerns about the proper use of commentaries with Tom Buck, and I candidly told him he needed to adopt more careful methods in his preparation. He agreed and assured me he had already changed his study habits and was eliminating the use of any verbatim quotations without attribution. When I met with the Lindale elders and deacons, I was likewise completely candid about my concerns and convictions, and I offered to answer their questions regarding how they should handle their pastor’s case, and how (if at all) they should respond to these anonymous mailings. The elders were receptive to my counsel and as far as I know implemented all the corrective measures I recommended.
Tom asked if I thought he needed to make a public statement of confession and repentance to his congregation. I thought it would be good for him to do that, but it should come from his own heart and his own conscience, not from anyone’s mandate.
Tom did make such a statement. It was clear; it was candid; it was thorough; it was penitent. He described to his congregation what he had done, acknowledged the wrong in it, and outlined what he and the elders had done and would do to address the issue. In all of this, Tom Buck never pushed back, never made excuses, and never tried to argue that he wasn’t doing anything he shouldn’t. He embraced the criticism completely, admitted where he was wrong, and adjusted his approach immediately.
Johnson was on the ground working with FBC Lindale’s elders through this situation, and probably found more issue with Buck’s actions than anyone in his congregation. Nevertheless, Johnson tells that numerous G3 speakers received a suspicious letter attacking the elders of FBC Lindale. He also affirmed that there were witnesses to the packets being at Pray’s Mill Baptist Church.
More significantly, they did not deny their involvement.
The similarities between this episode and the issues that forced Josh Buice to step out of public ministry last year are too stark to ignore. One wonders how this itch to discredit or destroy their adversaries by anonymous dirty tricks crept into G3’s DNA. This will be another scandal G3 did not need, and it is one they probably cannot survive. The organization frankly should not survive if anyone on the inside who knew about or participated in this plot remains in leadership. These are men who have refused to accept Josh Buice’s expressions of repentance and want to dictate for him what his repentance should look and sound like. This case shows they are not qualified to make judgments like that.
No one loved and promoted G3 with more enthusiasm than I did when the organization’s focus was clear and singular. So it pains me to say this, but frankly, it is time for G3 to dissolve and go away.
Phil Johnson points out that G3 Ministries and PMBC do not deny the allegations, and reiterates that this reproach ought to be the final straw. He also alludes to the church mishandling the Buice situation.
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