fornication – Protestia

We had high hopes for Kayne. When we first covered his supposed conversion in 2019, he was in good hands and was being taught and discipled by pastors who were theologically sound. Over the years, he showed some good fruit, such as Kanye West Talks Expository Preaching and Jesus on Joe Rogan Podcast and Kanye West Talks Faith In New GQ Interview, sayin things like:

One of my pastors, pastor Adam, the way he preaches is called expository. It’s like one-to-one by the Word. I like all different kind of preachers but there are some type of preachers they get up, they have the bible in their hand, and they close the bible and they just talk for two hours.
And some do have anointing, but expository preachers go line for line, and for me it’s like I come from entertainment. I got so much sauce, I don’t need no sauce on the word. I need the word to be solid food that I can understand exactly what God was saying to me through the King James version, through this, you know, this translation or the English Standard Version.”

At the time we were encouraged but were realists, with JD Hall urging back then:

INSTEAD OF GIVING VOCAL SKEPTICISM, TRY PRAYING IN HOPEFUL OPTIMISM
I am perfectly willing to concede that Kanye may brush off his Biblical counselors, jump back into a Hillsong-style Christianity, and become some kind of weird hip-hop antichrist. I am making no definitive claim that I know his conversion is real.
However, I also know that if all you can do is voice concern and not be hopefully optimistic that God can save the chief of sinners, we might have more hope that Kanye is saved than that you are.
Do not be the Prodigal’s older brother, with folded-arms, huffing and angry with snorting, cynical skepticism. Have your doubts, while you hope and pray for the best.

Unfortunately, since then the fruit has lessened and started to rot. His behavior has gotten more and more erratic, a mix of ego and mental illness which has harried West for years. A messy public divorce, frequently bad theology, inexcusable actions and statements, and now racially charged comments that echo what you might find flying from the mouth of Black Hebrew Israelites suggest that Kanye has definitely lost his way. Now, he writes:

“I’m taking a 30-day cleanse. A verbal fast. No alcohol. No adult films. No intercourse. In God we praise. Amen. But my Twitter still lit.”

The fact that Kanye is taking a fast from watching porn and fornicating suggests that it’s something he’s actively been engaged in, and the other fact that it’s only going to last 30 days and not forever is even more an indictment on the state of his soul.

We’ve always taken a sit and wait approach with new believers, and Kanye is no different. After 3 years, we now have our answer.

Sye Ten Bruggencate’s recent confession of a moral failure that saw him stepping down from ministry entirely is “more serious than simply a broad moral failure,” according to the elders overseeing his care.

In a series of statements, Aaron Koning and Steve Richardson, writing on behalf of the Session of Faith Presbyterian Church, explain that a widely-shared story by the Roys Report claiming that Bruggencate engaged in a “troubling circumstance” with a congregation member was false and that no other member was involved. [Letter posted in full at the end]

Instead, they explain:

Following admissions by Sye Ten Bruggencate of fornication with a vulnerable woman, and following a formal complaint (with evidence) by the woman concerning the particular admissions given by Sye, the Session has begun a full and thorough investigation. Sye has been suspended from all privileges without limit of time while the church judicial process is followed.

From what we know, a third party found out about Bruggencate and this woman and threatened to expose him and make the sin public, which is what prompted his public confession.

Upon confession of sin, the “vulnerable woman” brought forth more and new information about the sins that Bruggencate indulged in that were previously not mentioned, filling in the breadth and scope of what it means to have a “moral failing.” In response to her series of accusations, Bruggencate has admitted to some so far, but not others, and this has prompted the session to investigate further.

In an ominous move that does not bode well, Richardson told the Roys Report that “the concerns from the woman are more serious than simply a broad moral failure” and suggested that the woman go to the authorities for help. The reporter covering the story, Jackson Elliot, writes:

Richardson said he does not see anything that suggests that what happened was against the law. Even so, he said he has suggested that the woman go to the authorities for help.
‘Sye has confessed to moral failure, and that is a fairly broad category,’ Richardson said. ‘We want to do the right thing, first of all for the complainant, and also for Sye. If we need help from outside, we will be seeking it,’ he said.

Faith Presbyterian Church Statement regarding Sye Ten Bruggencate

(March 04, 2021) I had hoped it would not be necessary to use this blog for this purpose, but I am told that already speculation is swirling because of an error made by The Roys Report. The article reports, “In a statement to The Roys Report, Faith Presbyterian pastor Steve Richardson said that Bruggencate confessed a ‘troubling circumstance’ to the church on Sunday, involving Bruggencate and a congregation member.” This statement is false.

I have written to Jackson Elliott (of The Roys Report), and he has told me the correction will be made. I can say categorically that the “troubling circumstance” did not involve a congregation member.

Here then is our statement regarding Sye Ten Bruggencate and his public confession: Our church leadership became aware on Sunday evening of a very troubling circumstance involving Sye. We acted upon the information swiftly and had ample cause within 48 hours to take essential action. By Tuesday, we had asked Sye to step away from ministry and placed him under the process of church discipline. We directed him to make public his confession to us that he had acted far beyond the boundaries of acceptable conduct.

Our inquiry has not stopped there. As a church, we are investigating further to make sure we have all necessary information to make decisions about additional steps. We have a rigorous written process for dealing with such matters and we will be following that process scrupulously.

To respect laws governing privacy, we cannot, as an institution, disclose personal identifying information at this time.

We are extremely mindful that many institutions, churches but also schools, sports teams, political organizations, media outlets and others, have failed to act swiftly or seriously in the past. By their delay, they have made worse the suffering of one or more parties. We will not be rash, but we will not make that error, either. We will be making further public statements when and as the situation allows.

Aaron Koning and Steve Richardson on behalf of the Session of Faith Presbyterian Church

Note: As of 00:25 Friday March 5, The Roys Report has made the necessary correction.