By Rick Hiebert. All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission.
Faytene Grasseschi, in a recent internet interview, offers some fine advice on how Christians in public life should reply to being critiqued.
Great advice. I hope that she turns over a new leaf and starts to practice it, as her graciousness is very much at odds with things she has said in the past.
The evangelist and Canadian political actvist who is well known to BDBO readers, conducted a two part interview with the Guarding the Heart blog three weeks ago. It’s interesting stuff.
Canadians might be intrigued by part one of the interview in which Faytene discusses her poltical activity up here.
Faytene relates that one of the most important things that she believes she has done is to encourage Canadians to “honor” their leaders, contrary to what she sees as an evil impulse to tear poltical leaders down. [I would disagree to the extent that leadership should not get catre blanche approval for what they do. Paul's references to how Christians were to live under the Roman Empire come to mind.]
A question and response in part two of the interview jumped right out at me. I think it merits a closer look. [When you read it, I don't think I'll have to explain why why I was especially interested by it. 
]
The exchange reads like this on the blog:
[Question] 8. As a local, national and international leader with a heart to effect change for the glory of God, how do you handle critics and criticism?
[Faytene's answer] The Bible makes it really clear: Bless those who curse you and pray for those who despitefully use you. Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount: Blessed are you when people insult, falsely accuse and revile you, and do all these kind of things to you for my Name’s sake – for righteousness’ sake – for great is your reward in Heaven. For me, I actually get excited now.
In some nations, persecution is unto death. Other nations – like my nation – you might have the national media saying stuff that isn’t true. But if we keep our eyes on Jesus and we remember that great is our reward in Heaven, then it actually puts you in a position where you can get excited about it.
When stuff starts coming against us, I see that as an opportunity to show God’s love and to grow in authority. Every time we forgive; bless when people are cursing us; focus our eyes on eternity instead of on ourselves and our reputation; choose to go higher and fix our eyes on Heaven and eternal things, we grow in the Spirit, in authority, in Christ’s likeness. It is an incredible witness to those around us.Fix your eyes on what the Word of God says, but also knowing that you have an eternal reward if you walk it out in love and humility. I have never in my whole journey so far seen a Christian leader that walked in love, humility and forgiveness and didn’t increase in authority in the Spirit realm, as well as in favour and influence in ministry.
When you are walking in God’s way – whether it’s glorious, easy and full of favour on this side of Heaven or brutally hard at times – if you live for the other side for His pleasure, then you will grow in authority and gain treasure on the other side.
I’d have liked to see her acknowledge. “Hey, maybe I am sometimes bring criticized because I am wrong.”, but I’d also like to acknowledge that she is trying in her own way to say “be nice”.
I would say that this is a wise and gracious answer by Faytene. This would be an answer that reflects a growing maturity on her part, if she is carrying this out.
Why would I write this? Well, Faytene has a long history of citicizing her critics.
That’s her right, of course, but it doesn’t jibe with what she is saying now.
An example that comes to mind is Faytene’s declaration in a 2010 sermon before a church audience that bloggers are, like the Pharisees and Scribes of Jesus’ day, in league with Satan.
(It’s on a CD called Honor, or The Spirit of Honor that she used to sell on her website.)
In that message, she was talking about how Christians treat their “leaders”. As she defines herself as one, she started to discuss how she and others were treated.
And then she lets her gripe, with a lack of respect for leaders such as her, rip:
“….We now live in a culture that is so self-focused and so unrighteous in this matter, that as soon as somebody as the reformer bringing change we hearld them and cheer them on. And then, as soon as they actually get set into a place of leadership or authority, we now think it is our God-given mandate, to bash them to, really to, the point of death and to criticize them so much, that we end up destroying the very thing that we just loved over on a few moments ago…If life and death is in the power of the tongue—If you were the Devil and if all power and all authority has been gien to the church and if is in the power of the tongue. If you were the Devil, don’t you think that it would be kind of sneaky to trick those [in the church as a whole] who have been given authority into cursing the very ones who have been set into leadership over a nation, or over a church, or over a city or of a region?
‘Cause if the Devil can get us speaking this stuff. Guess what? Landing pad, baby [for the devil], ’cause if there’s any power in what we speak…you know one of the scriptures that actually strikes the fear of the Lord in me because I’m a verbal processor, is where it says that “every single word we speak will be judged”. Every single idle word that we speak will be judged. It also says “woe to you Scribes and Pharisees…” You know, I have a spiritual father that said “In 2010, those are called bloggers.” [Faytene laughs] So woe to you who slap your opinions all over the place, you know. Anyway, I’m just verbally processing here.”
In the same message, she tries to make up for this by praying for bloggers and journalists. When she mentions the journalists, though, she says that they need “deliverance” which would mean that they are not merely perhaps liberals that she can disagree with but people needing to have devils cast out of them. [Her quotes are also in the post I link to above.]
Faytene has had a policy where possibly critical reporters are technically not allowed to cover her events without her permission.
My friend Bene D wrote an excellent post documenting how Faytene was mean on Facebook to someone who was trying to ask some questions of her that could be precieved as coming from a critical point of view. The lady exhibited good manners, but that didn’t count with Faytene.
A little later, when Faytene allied with some of her friends who were talking about trying to take over Twitter and Facebook for the Lord, I worried that “If Faytene thinks that she can do this, what will happen after the social media “mountain” is taken for the Lord?”
Well, Faytene might rightly say, the past is the past. One reason behind the purge of materials avaiable on faytene.ca is that Faytene may have sat down and realized, “My goodness, is this what I sounded like. I don’t want to give that impression at all.”
If that is the case, that would be a laudable sign of maturing.
But if she is pretending that she never said these things through throwing these materials away would be sneaky. Never referring to them again–pretending that she never said these things–would be a dubious start to this progress.
I hope and pray that Faytene is in earnest when she made her most recent statement on ciriticism, as what she says now strikes the right note.
I would say though, than maybe if Faytene apologized for what she has said and written that she believes was her either incorrect or intemperate response to criticism would be an excellent step.
Until she says sorry, there will be the nagging suspicion that Faytene believes that when she put the boots to her critics, she did the right thing. And, if she is really trying hard to be kinder and gentler in this matter, that would be a shame.
PS… Regarding Faytene’s point about media saying “things that aren’t true”. I presume that she has relevant copies of letters that she has sent to the media outlets correcting these items. Ones that she can put on her website?
Because saying that people lie, without showing how they may have, leads you open to the charge that you are being untruthful about them.
Question 8 Faytene’s answer, ‘Bless those who curse you…..’
Yes, she does practice that part after she acts nasty first then again.
2004 Cordial Hall, ‘John Paysar, I don’t like you, (God Bless You, God Bless You, God Bless You), ‘
Then for a final parting shot says, ‘I rubuke you in the name of Jesus’, as she tries to shove me down the sidewalk.
She mentions the ‘Bless those…’ but does not mention the other things before and after.
They’d made some natural mistakes at The Cry Lumbermens Arch that I took notes of and typed in to this blog.
Faytene covered up the mistakes and treated me like the media implying that what I typed was not true but it was.
She did not have the scruples and accountability to own up to the mistakes that we all make
She replied -at great length, I might add- by correcting them on the spot claiming that was what was said in the first place.
The Media is untruthful but Faytene is not?
‘Things aren’t true’, ‘people lie’
But Faytene is truthful and does not lie?
She’s nasty then said. ‘Bless you’ I my case was three times. This was followed by turning more for the worse.
In this case she claimed, ‘not able to remember because she’s so busy….’
There is no way she could forget such a thing!
It is not in her best interests to remember such a thing either is why she doesn’t!
If this is not lying and don’t know what is?
Face it:
Faytene Kryskow Grasseschi is New Apostolic Reformation
She denies things
She feels persons are against her so she retaliates back
As long as she can will come across as a non-denominational Evangelical Charismatic Christian
There are others too
They stick together
Worship Invasion is one of the others as well and are secretive in the same way Faytene is
Moderator is Ed Rubuliak and his wife is Wendy
Have Venue events once a month caters to the 18-25 crowd
They’ve downsized their staff quite a lot
Todd Bentley Fresh Fire Ministries was another one as well
Full of the Spirit and Full of Nastiness at the same time.
I would simple question what ‘spirit” it is, that they are full of???,
But then again,there are NO checks and NO balances and NO authority in place…
So ,it all becomes something like a,Hairy Carry, Texas scramble…of sorts
Brano
They could be full of a certain amount of human anger & confusion
And the way they are into this Charismatic Christian sort of stuff who knows whatever else they’ve opened themselves up to?
Well said John,
I would strongly agree that they have “opened” themselves up to a multitude of things!
They need their feet held to the coals!
Continued Expose’,is always needed…
Cheers!
By the way, Brano, they sure didn’t like me.
Why do you think that is so?
Meaning Worship Invasion Moderator Ed Rubuliak and his gang of thugs as well as Faytene Kryskow Extreme Prophetic Vancouver and her ally
If that defensive must have something to hide I became more suspicious since
John,
They don’t like anyone because they operate in a very different “spirit”
Their “spirit”, is one of control,manipulation,intimidation….self recognition…etc
The Spirit if God shines the Light…which pushes them to hide,be defensive,nasty…
If one is truly in the Light of God,there is nothing to hide.
I question and wonder, if I see the Nature & Character of the Holy Spirit,{God} in these people?
….Therefore,I conclude,It is indeed a different spirit{s} that are in play!
Pingback: Do as Faytene says, but not as she did | Bene Diction Blogs On – Charismatic Feeds
Brano
There was a little subtle difference in the atmosphere and personality entities with these persons.
Cedar Grove Baptist is a great advocate of Worship Invasion as well as The Cry Lumbermans’ Arch.
John,
So true about the subtle differences…
This would be indicative of a cult,sect,movement,and or an AMWAY meeting,lol
Either way,”Clones”and or “Robots” are dangerous!
*As a side note,These people are totally unteachable and lack humility!
John,
Have a look at this website http://www.revivalnow.com/eyesandwings/cpc/
….little subtle difference in the atmosphere and personality entities with these persons.
“*As a side note,These people are totally unteachable and lack humility!”
Brano, with all due respect, what differentiates you from them? Reflecting on many of your comments over the past year kind of paint you with the same brush.
Let us be careful how we criticize, or in other words as someone once said, make sure we have removed the beam from our own eye. We must judge our own actions and motives before we can speak from a pure heart and be taken seriously, especially if we claim to be prusuing truth at all cost, without compromise.
Hapy New Year to all and hope everyone had a Merry Christmas!
Tim,
Thank you for your comment
One of many distinctions between myself and the NAR crowd is that I am under authority,that being my pastor and elders
I have and continue to study the Word,as I have a Degree in Theology
Contrary to what you may think or feel about me,I have numerous checks and balances in my life….so that” I don,t go out on a limb”,with Shirley Maclean and the NAR crowd
My Pastor,Teachers,Friends….would prove your statement to be erroneous
Brano
Thanks for the websight helps breaks down the numbers and names.
Many of them am already familiar with as well as the other newer names and info.
Salvation Army Vancouver War College has been under suspicion of Bene Blogs on for ties with New Apostolic Reformation
Last time I checked Jonathan Evans was in charge of the Vancouver War College
Last time I was looking at their websight saw Wes & Stacy Campbell, Faytene Kryskow.
Brano
Salvation Army:
War College:
Vancouver:
Faculty:
Visiting Faculty:
Faytene Kryskow
http://www.thewarcollege.com/?page_id=2
Brano
Back in 2004
Cordial Hall 2215 E Pender & Templeton was owned by Killarney Community Center
They rented out to the Salvation Army War College Vancouver run by Jonathan
Evans; furthermore, he, in turn, allowed Faytene Kryskow, Extreme Prophetic,
Vancouver to use the building for their Venue event.
Cordial Hall is around a somewhat dwindling numbers of Ball Rooms around the City of Vancouver.
Killarney Community Center is one of the Charities supporting Planet Bingo on Main
& E 10th Ave also in Vancouver, BC. owns the building had Cordial Bingo there.
Planet Bingo started to run the Cordial Bingo has since closed down
John,
I found your link: http://www.thewarcollege.com/?page_id=2,rather interesting!
More of the NAR crowd to be found and the Bio descriptives are most amuzing….
The verbage is laced with NAR superlatives,half truths and double speak,Utter nonsense!
The scripture that continues to come to mind is:
*Judges 17:6 In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes.
*Proverbs 14:12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
*Galations: O foolish Galatians, by what strange powers have you been tricked, to whom it was made clear that Jesus Christ was put to death on the cross?
…..and now we have the “young Todd Bentleys” to contend with aka..Joshua Mills…etc
They get around
Seems they very much want observers to think that they’re non-denominational Evangelical Charismatic Christians
This is how they get into everything
They do Venue events here and there, etc
Jonathan Evans from the Salvation Army seems to have bought into this.
He needs prayer !
I’ve prayed for him before as well as others
I just had a great talk with a good friend from Bible School….as He was starting to drift into “the stuff”
Surprisingly he listened to what I had to say and really appreciated my concerns and words of caution…..AMAZING
Just found out that all the people from my church were invited to go to a Joshua Mills meeting in a few weeks!?…..GAG
A graduate of Bentley’s Supernatural school,and buddies with Cocking…etc
Very Sickening indeed!!
There is no doubt in my mind,that the NAR crowd is operating in a very different,”spirit”
Brano
‘Keep one’s eye on Christ’
‘Let the Holy Spirit reveal’
John,
One revealing question that I ask,these “folks”is…..Who do you say Jesus Christ is?
Most tend to get rather nasty and tongue tied at this point…
Not that surprising,When you get down to it!