Pastor Paul Chappell is a Media Whore

Pastor Paul Chappell of Lancaster Baptist Church is a people-pleasing, watered-down attention whore. He's a spineless coward of a Christian, unfit for being pastor. His attempts to please both man and God reveal how he is not instant, in season or out.

In Palmdale, California, a seven-year-old boy in first grade at Desert Rose Elementary was reprimanded for bringing printed Bible verses to the lunchroom during school hours. His mother had been sending him to school each day with Bible verses packed inside his lunchbox. The boy would share these verses with other classmates. A deputy sheriff visited the home of the 1st grader and told him that he was not allowed to do that, citing separation of church and state as a justification for shutting him down.

Of course, none of us should be surprised at this. The government school system is not particularly hospitable to Christianity or the Bible. This should be expected. However, seeing an opportunity for his fifteen minutes of fame, Paul Chappell thrust himself into the public spotlight to present himself as some kind of principled defender of the faith. He ends up making a contradictory, foolish mockery of himself, whoring himself out for the attention rather than for true biblical principles.

Paul Chappell the Hand-Holding Ecumenical

Paul Chappell began his press statement,

On Tuesday, I gathered with community leaders and local pastors to stand in support of a seven-year-old boy who was told he could not give Bible verse cards to his friends at lunch time. I am thankful for the spirit of the press conference and feel that the Lord blessed this opportunity for us to be salt and light in our community. I encourage my fellow pastors across the country to continue to stand for the freedom of religious expression in your community as well.

Remember that time Jesus gathered together with community and religious leaders? Me neither. And of course many politicians were on scene at this media circus, likely shoring up their religious credentials to get out the Republican vote. I like how he vaguely stated: "freedom of religious expression in your community." Oh, you mean like reading the King James Version, going soul winning, preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ to the lost - that kind of religious expression, right Paul Chappell? His intention with this statement was to be vague and encompassing.

In an article from the Baptist Press,

Chappell expected to be joined at today's press conference by the Zavalas' pastor, Sean Appleton of Hope Chapel in nearby Lancaster; elected officials; educational leaders and others.

Chappell invited the boy's pastor, Sean Appleton, to join him in his press conference. Pastor Sean Appleton of Hope Chapel (the boy's pastor) in Lancaster, CA, is a heretic. Hope Chapel is a church that is part of the Four Square Pentecostal denomination. Of course, this denomination teaches some strange things, such as "speaking in tongues" and other charismatic doctrines. They were founded by a woman, which is another red flag. But the worst heresy is that they teach salvation by works. Pentecostals, including Sean Appleton of Hope Chapel, believe that salvation can be lost after having been obtained once. This doctrine falls flat on its face since logic, over and over again, proves that you cannot lose your salvation. It's like becoming physically unborn, which is a preposterous idea. So, too, is becoming spiritually unborn. The gift is eternal life promised by the Word of God to all who simply believe. Pentecostals, like Sean Appleton, are guilty of calling God a liar for claiming that He can renege on the promise that He made unto us. As 1 John 5:10-11 states:

...he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.  

Who exactly is Chappell keeping company and unity with? For the sake of community spirit, he's willing to forsake the very gospel of Christ to fellowship with unbelievers. Pastor Sean Appleton is not a believer, by any stretch of the imagination. He preaches works salvation and other insane doctrines. Who are these other people he's holding hands with? Elected officials? School teachers? What kind of Bible-believing Baptist preacher holds hands with homosexual-loving, thieving government officials and atheistic, God-hating public school teachers? Having unity with unbelievers is not biblical. The Bible exhorts us in 2 Corinthians 6:14,

Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

Chappell is quoted in the Baptist Press,

If in fact this 7-year-old child was reprimanded for sharing his Bible verses and notes, we believe the staff involved need training regarding the educational codes and a reminder that we do not bully or demean students... As faith and community leaders, we believe it is vital for people of all faiths that the district provide assurances that the children's constitutional rights are upheld. (PaulChappell.com)

 

What does all faiths mean? Who holds fellowship with people of all faiths? The Roman Catholic Pope does. And now Paul Chappell is dropping all boundaries to unite behind the cause of religious freedom. Notice, here, that Chappell didn't say Christian but rather opted for a more inclusive term: faiths. Avoiding divisive titles was the best way to avert any criticism or controversies so as to stay perfectly balanced on the tight rope of tolerance and diversity.

When did Jesus ever hold hands with the Pharisees, Sadducees, or other false prophets for the sake of community unity? Oh, that's right. He didn't He called them vipers and children of Satan.

The Undiscerning Paul Chappell

It's hard to say if Paul Chappell is truly as stupid as he appears to be, or if he's just a conniving gainsayer. Investigating what this first-grader's pastor believes didn't take but two minutes to Google search. I doubt the man is stupid; he likely knows that Pastor Sean Appleton is not Baptist by any stretch of the imagination. Again, it's about forsaking principle to earn an ecumenical spotlight in Christian circles. Here are some quick, easy facts we can deduce from this story.

Firstly, the boy and his mother attend a charismaniac, Pentecostal church. There is no salvation in this church. Their doctrinal statement is riddled with false, modern Bible versions and a false gospel of "repent of your sins." There is a high chance the boy and his mother are not saved. This is because they are under a false teacher at a false church. If I were Paul Chappell, I'd be more interested in getting the correct gospel to this boy and his mother. That's the first thought I had when I came across this story. But that might cause strife and tension, not giving Chappell the proper gain he wants out of this media exposure stunt.

Secondly, the boy's mother was likely giving the boy uninspired, non-KJV Scriptures, likely out of ignorance. Paul Chappell has been on record defending the King James Version as inspired and preserved - and he has promoted distribution of the KJV throughout his community. That is the only version his church uses. Did he do some fact-checking to see if the mother, the boy, and their church use the KJV? If not, perhaps he should stand a little firmer and grow a spine by offering the boy a quality King James Bible. He could explain why the KJV is such a solid English translation. But alas, no mention of the Bible versions at stake here.

And lastly, does Paul Chappell know the government school system is atheistic?

As pastors, we will continue to pray for and support our public school personnel.  It is our prayer that good will come of this incident and that we can all work together for the betterment of the next generation. (Baptist Press)

"Support" our public school personnel? In what way? Should we still support our public schools even when they teach ideas and knowledge contrary to the Bible? The boy got reprimanded for bringing Bible verses to school. Whether the verses were KJV or not, it makes no difference to the "public educators" because they have an intolerance for everything that is or seems to be Christian. I love how he describes the government schools as our public schools. How inclusive of him! That's exactly what Christ strove to be... inclusive. If the public education system stands against Scripture, against creationism, and against Jesus, what fellowship hath Belial with Christ? Have the battle lines not been divided enough for Chappell to see the difference?

How can Christians work together with atheists for the betterment of the next generation? Yes, kids, we'll teach you how the earth was made according to Genesis when you're here in church on Sunday, but make sure you listen to your teacher at your godless elementary school as she teaches you that you were birthed from pond scum five billion years ago, ok? Oh, and kids, sodomy is wrong and homosexuality is an abomination, but make sure to bring your rainbow shirts to celebrate gay pride week at school this week! And lastly kids, remember that we want to dress you modestly and appropriately, but your school doesn't mind how you dress. How are young people supposed to react when they are receiving contradictory teaching at both the government school and in church? Not to mention, they're getting five times more government indoctrination than they are biblical teaching. Right. Betterment.

Paul Chappell the Appeaser

Pastor Chappell wants to make sure he tries to appease all sides in this incident, the politicians, the police, the government schools, and the Christians - of all stripes, faiths, and denominations, of course. Can you imagine him getting up in front of people, while on camera, and railed on the godless government schools, the perverted politicians, and false Christians? Everyone would run! He'd be a hateful man!

The first group of God-haters Chappell would like to appease :

We appreciate the concern and ongoing investigation of Superintendent Maldonado as well as the district web statement affirming the district’s respect for religious liberty to the fullest extent of the law. I appreciate the good call I had with school board member Nancy Smith, as well as the school board’s commitment to transparency. (PaulChappell.com)

The school district did not, in fact, respect the religious liberty of the boy. Does Chappell have Stockholm Syndrome? This is the whole point that you're having this little press conference in the first place - the fact that the boy did not have his religious liberties respected.
Has it occurred to anyone yet that Paul Chappell has absolutely nothing to do with this entire incident. The boy does not go to his church, they never knew each other, and he has no reason to be involved with this. So why is he calling school board member Nancy Smith? Publicity!

Wasting no time to get around to some good, ol' fashioned boot-lickin':

We also want to emphatically state our support for the Sheriff’s department service to our community, and especially the excellence displayed by the deputy who was requested to visit the student’s home. 

So not only would he like to suck up to the school that reprimanded the boy, but he'd also like to lick the boots of the officer that told the boy to basically shut up at school lunch time. Later in the same press statement, Chappell said that he wants to remind them that they should not "bully or demean students of faith." So which is it, Paul? Did the sheriff display excellence or was he a bully? That's a very narrow line you're walking, trying to placate both the authoritarian police department and the Christians.

 

And not wasting any breath, Chappell goes on to read a letter from their esteemed Congressman:

...The deputies in the Antelope Valley are the finest in the county and perform their duties with honor and integrity. As the school board’s investigation moves forward, it is imperative that the constitutional rights of the student be upheld and protected. Free speech during non-instructional time should not be censored or prohibited. I hope this matter is handled carefully and with utmost regard to the Constitution.

Non-instructional time. So when you are being instructed to believe that you evolved from stinky pond scum, keep your Christian beliefs to yourself. Chappell reaffirms the Congressman's statement:

Nevertheless, the Constitution clearly protects a child’s right to religious expression at his lunch time and other non-instructional time such as recess or after school.

Chappell would also like to let you know that you can be a Christian during non-instructional time, but it would be inappropriate during classroom time. You need to just swallow all your convictions so you can grow up to be a good American citizen like Paul Chappell one day.

 

Then Paul Chappell went off script and let loose this wildly contentious demand:

If, in fact, a student’s opportunity of religious expression at lunch time was discouraged, we request that an appropriate apology be made to the child and his parents for violation of his religious freedoms. (PaulChappell.com)

Shots fired! Kidding aside, this is probably the weakest I've ever seen this man. What a pathetic pansy. Of course his religious expression (whatever that means) was discouraged at lunch time...

THE POLICE SHOWED UP AT HIS HOUSE TO TELL HIM TO STOP BRINGING VERSES TO SCHOOL.

 

That's cute; you requested that an apology be made after the conclusion of their investigation. I can see the sheriff and those teachers now, quivering in their boots. Paul Chappell is like a modern-day Jeremiah! Or Ezekiel! Or even John the Baptist! Calling out the sinners and wicked God-haters!

 

Actually, those prophets never attempted to appease anybody. John the Baptist had his head removed from his body for calling out the sin of adultery. What if John the Baptist behaved like Paul Chappell? "Excuse me, Lord and King and Mighty Herod, I may not have all the facts here, but it appears you may be with your brother's wife. I'm not one to judge, for who are we to judge? But perhaps it's not the best way to go about being with your brother's wife. I'm not condemning you or anything of that nature, because I do appreciate your service to our nation. And I just wanted to conclude by saying I meant no disrespect at all."

 

Paul Chappell is a whore, through and through. The Bible commands us to be separate from the world, which includes politicians, government school teachers, and false prophets. Luke 12:51 says,

Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division:

Jesus did not come to bring peace, but division. So why is Paul Chappell trying to bring peace and stop division? If we're to be Christ-like, then we should be divisive people. We should not keep company with these kinds of people that he is holding hands with. He tries to please both man and God with this vain attempt of a press conference to address an issue he has no personal stake in. This is Paul Chappell's lame attempt at staying relevant.