On Monday, October 8, 2018, Beth Moore shared an image on her Twitter profile. The image was of a man on his knees, repenting on behalf of all men to a group of Native American women.
“The most powerful moment at our event for Native American women: This is Kevin Jones on his knees, our drummer & as Christlike a man as you’ll meet, asking their forgiveness for all hurts & harms they’ve ever received at the hands of men,” Moore wrote in the Twitter post.
Beth Moore and The Living Proof Live Event
The kneeling occurred at a Living Proof Live event in Chinle, Arizona, on October 6, 2018. Chinle is a town in the northeast corner of Arizona and home to a majority Native American population. Moore traveled to Chinle two years ago to minister to the population there, and she was excited to return this year.
Humility can usher in tremendous healing. The most powerful moment at our event for Native American women: this is Kevin Jones on his knees, our drummer & as Christlike a man as you’ll meet, asking their forgiveness for all hurts & harms they’ve ever received at the hands of men. pic.twitter.com/4nxkOFCogp
— Beth Moore (@BethMooreLPM) October 8, 2018
Moore went on to explain the reason Jones, who has traveled with Moore’s Living Proof Live (LPL) events for several years and plays in their worship band, kneeled before the group of women. In a thread, Moore wrote:
I don’t know a man who’s more of a gentleman than Kevin Jones. But he humbly & gladly stood before those women and on behalf of all men who had hurt them, voiced words like these: “I am so sorry. Would you forgive us?” He told them of their worth and prayed on his knees for them.
The tears flowed like rain. I was told again & again that most of them had never EVER heard these things addressed & had certainly never heard anyone say I’m so sorry. Many hurts also come through other women & I addressed those next but this was when the Holy Spirit fell on us.
How much more Christlike could this brother have been? He had committed no such sins against women. But he stood before them representing those who had. It was one of the most powerful things I’ve ever seen. We have done this several times in past events. Holy, healing moments.
Sometimes healing starts just by hearing “I’m so sorry that happened to you.” I wish my life had been different. I often wonder what I would’ve been like w/out victimization but with much empathy & love I can say this: I am so sorry that happened to you. There’s healing in Jesus.
After the event, Moore said her team traveled to a nearby church, Memorial Baptist, to baptize those who wished to respond to the gospel.
https://www.facebook.com/BethMooreMinistries/videos/676253189427897
Cue the Backlash on Beth Moore
Jones’ action and Moore’s endorsement of it come at a time when some are calling into question the efficacy or even the biblical fidelity of one person asking forgiveness on behalf of others (who are not present and/or consenting). Recently, John MacArthur published a series of articles criticizing so-called social justice and the church’s involvement in it.
One of the points MacArthur addresses is the victimhood mentality that he believes has overtaken culture and elbowed its way onto the church’s agenda. The problem with the victimhood mentality is that it gives people an excuse not to deal with their own sin, according to MacArthur. In a sermon on the topic, MacArthur says:
