Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Crazy Crap Pastor Maury Davis Appears On Huckabee's Fox News Show, Fumbles With Truth
Posted by Brantley Hargrove on Wed, Aug 11, 2010 at 11:07 AM
Pith doesn't know how we missed this nugget of dissembling and half truth that aired on Fox News this past Sunday. Oh right, because Pith doesn't watch Fox News. Pastor Maury Davis, a regional religious powerhouse and figurehead of the 3,000-seat Cornerstone Church cult of personality, was on former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee's show, telling his tale of bloodshed and redemption.
Sitting there in Technicolor-pimp finery — a shiny blue suit, a shirt with purple stripes and a purple flower-print tie — Davis held forth on his own salvation. Clearly, he's told this story so many times it sounds utterly rote. Same intonation, same inflection, similar phrasing. It's standard issue for first-time Cornerstone attendees. What is so spectacular about his narrative is its divergence from reality, and his appearance on Huckabee was no exception. Let's explore the chicanery!
A day before the murder, Davis tells Huckabee, he told his deadbeat father he didn't believe in God. His father told him God "will get your attention." Twenty-four hours later, Davis says, he committed a "horrible murder" in the midst of a burglary. (The house he committed the murder in was vacant.) When Huckabee presses Davis for a reason, Davis gropes about at first before landing on the "drugs made me do it" excuse: "You know ... I was so ... when you're on ... when you have not slept, you become emotionally unstable. And I was raised in Texas, with Texas values, and you never hit a woman. There was a problem there. She spilled some paint on some boots [Davis' boots] and I'd hit her. And the minute I hit her I was afraid somebody was going to find out I'd hit a woman and it escalated from that."
So not only was it the meth and sleep deprivation that caused him to commit murder, it was his closely held Texas values. The investigating detective said that when he tossed his apartment, he found only a small amount of pot. Oh, and his victim has a name, by the way. It's Jo Ella Liles, a 54-year-old Sunday school teacher. Davis, of course, doesn't mention this because it doesn't fit his redemption narrative.
Huckabee, God love him, continues to press Davis for answers, noting the murder was "savage." "You know, Mike," Davis begins, "I honestly don't remember the details of that. And I've talked to my attorney and psychiatrists that had worked with me, and your mind shuts down things that are that horrible."
According to the investigating detective, Davis cut her throat so deeply he nearly decapitated her.
Huckabee, to his credit, doesn't let Davis off so easy. "But you've read about it since," he says. "You know it was gruesome. ..."
"Yeah, I've read about it," Davis interrupts. "And some of the stuff I've read according to the police reports are not true. Some of the stuff they write in the papers and stuff, so ..."
There's some awkward phrasing there, but he's claiming the police reports and the written accounts have it wrong. ("Washed in the Blood," Nashville Scene, June 18, 2009.) But didn't he just say "the mind shuts down," and he couldn't really remember? Davis tailors his testimony as slickly as his suits, and his narrative is tidy. Bad man commits horrible, nondescript murder, accepts Jesus, becomes good.
Huckabee asks him if he's made any attempt to contact the family. Davis says he "offered" to speak with the family a few times, but they were unreceptive. Ron Liles, Jo Ella's son, said he's never heard from Davis.
Comments (28)
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Wow! But calling Davis' clothes "Technicolor-pimp" finery is an insult to pimps everywhere.
And Davis should know better than to belittle "Texas values" when Brantley Hargrove is in the building.
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Don't most right-wing religious types believe in the death penalty for murderers? A life sentence is good enough for me, but here Davis is, walking around free as a bird.
All these mega-churches that are unaffiliated with any denomination but the Republican Party (e.g., Cornerstone, Grace Chapel, People's Church) should have to defend their tax-exempt status. Particularly the latter two (in Franklin), both of which seem to be more involved in real estate development than in modeling the teachings of Jesus. I seriously doubt if these churches (or their pastors) could pass through the eye of any needle.
God help Ameria.
Last year Huckabee spoke at Cornerstone, reports were that Cornerstone paid Huckabee's $35,000 per appearance fee. This year on the Fourth of July Cornerstone had a live rodeo and indoor fireworks. Hasn't it occurred to anyone at this church how much they could help the poor and the sick with the money they are spending on fireworks and bull riding? Haven't they figured out that a lot of good can be done with $35,000 besides lining the pockets of an ex-presidential candidate? Where does Jesus tell us that bucking broncos and roman candles are the path to Heaven? I do know that he says it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than it is for a rich man to enter the gates of Heaven and that the meek shall inherit the earth. I just hope his congregation figures out where Maury Davis is taking them before it is too late.
Cornerstone is a part of the Assemblies of God but does not emphasize it or even resemble most AofG congregations.
It tells you a lot about the church that it has an enormous American flag flying outside but there is no visible cross/crucifix/other symbol anywhere to be found.
I visited once years ago. The sermon was deceptive and manipulative. He started off by saying to turn to 2 Timothy chapterverse whatever. After those with Bibles had done so, he laughed and said that it was actually another passage in another book, he just wanted to see if anyone was paying attention. He thought it was funny. I thought it was insulting and condescending.
They were in the midst of fund raising to build the facility they are now in. Davis stated that he wanted to raise one million in offerings that day.
His sermon was all about going the extra mile, doing more than necessary etc. etc.
He finished off by telling people to give more than they had planned. If they had already written the check beforehand, tear it up and write a bigger one.
I left as soon as service was over.
My blood runs cold. Karla Faye Tucker committed her crimes while strung out on meth. She had "those Texas values" this hypocritical asswipe perports to blame for making him lose it with the lady he decapitated. President Bush ridiculed Karla Faye's conversion, her plea, "Please don't kill me." Maury Davis is a poison on the face of Tennessee, an insult to God and to Christians everywhere. He is a hypocrite of rarest form. He should be sitting in a cell somewhere begging for mercy from Obama. Instead, he's preaching hatred and dissent in a big ole mega church, twisting scripture to say we should hate illegal aliens, liberals and poor people. Ugh. I only hope something strikes him soon and he gets to where he has to answer to the people he has wronged in this world.
I have no use for Maury Davis now that I know his story. He belongs in jail.
There is not ONE of you idiots who actually know what you're talking about. Quit being such "small d democrats" and believing everything that Ms. Hargrove writes like it is absolute truth. There is so much ignorance in the blog and in the comments of the readers that I would say it's unbelievable, but I've seen the "Scene" before and realize what its audience is so it's not really unbelievable. Before making your judgments (then comments) find out the facts, take yourself on a field trip to Cornerstone (unless your tolerant self has a prejudice against that) and listen to Maury Davis speak. I still believe there's something that happened to little Brantley when he was a little boy that has him seriously messed up.......he definitely does not know of the one true God's forgiveness.
So, just to get this straight, did the $35,000 fee Cornerstone paid Huckabee include Davis's appearance on the TV show, or was that a separate transaction?
URGullible, the only thing that happened to me as a little boy was the development of an aversion to Sunday school teacher murdering, intolerance, bigotry and hypocrisy.
Murdering, intolerance, bigotry and hypocrisy are all forgiven. By Gaw'd, by God. Not Electric Larry, Brantley, Joe, Sharko, Commentater and whomever else. But, our unforgiveness too is forgiven by Gaw'd, by God. So I guess I'll just go with it, heh, heh.
Mr. Hargrove, I am deeply distrustful of Maury Davis. But I must say that my distrust is more in spite of your story than because of it.
I think your coverage of Maury Davis leads your readers to infer that he is somehow insincere in his repentance or, even worse, that he is a charlatan who is using his story for his own advancement. You seem to be citing his evasiveness about the details of his crime, or his failure to mention his victim by name in media interviews, or the fact that he has not been in direct contact with the victim's family, as damning evidence of his insincerity.
He may in fact be insincere -- who knows? -- but I think that the conclusions you invite readers to draw go beyond the evidence presented. He doesn't mention the victim by name in interviews? So what? He doesn't talk about the particular brutality of his crime? As if it would be some lesser form of murder had he only stabbed her in the throat instead of nearly decapitating her? The rather odd and evasive way he talks about what led him to commit this crime (suggesting he'd rather blame it on drugs, which is easier for people to understand, than on uncontrolled fits of violent rage, which could be scary to parishioners) definitely raises my eyebrows. So does his claim that the police got some of the details wrong. But there's nothing conclusive about these as evidence. The police make mistakes much more often than the US mail. And Davis wouldn't exactly be the first public figure to raise eyebrows because he's evasive about the past. Why wouldn't Gary Hart come clean about why he changed his name from Hartpence? Why wouldn't Garrison Keillor be more straightforward about why he changed his name from Gary? Obviously, changing your name isn't comparable to murder. But that's not the point. The point is that we don't always know why people sound evasive about their pasts. Maybe Davis is simply embarrassed and ashamed, and it shows. Or maybe he's a complete fraud. I just don't think you've presented enough evidence to make a judgment either way. You make a big deal of the fact that he used the word "offered" in reaching out to the victim's family. His use of this word may mean that he's arrogant and insufficiently repentant, or that he made only a token effort. Or it may mean simply that he was guilty of a poor choice of words.
After the cover story on Davis ran in the Scene -- a story that left me wanting to know more about his preaching style and how Cornerstone Church operates than I got from the article -- I started casually tuning in to parts of his Sunday morning broadcasts. I've watched enough to get a flavor. The times I've tuned in, Davis has talked almost exclusively about politics, what the Founding Fathers intended, and blahblahblah, as if the United States represented the fulfillment of something biblically ordained. This kind of dreck can be heard from many American pulpits, and I can say objectively and unequivocally that it's a perversion of the gospel. It is a fraudulent gospel. But it is one that is preached by plenty of other TV evangelists, like Big Fat John Hagee, And there are plenty of other fraudulent gospels being preached by people like Joel Osteen, who tell eager listeners that Jesus wants them to be rich and get that promotion at work.
The fact that Davis preaches such a slick and inauthentic gospel (is it deliberately phony or sincere but misguided?) does make me wonder about the sincerity of the rest of his story. That's why I say I distrust him in spite of and not because of your coverage.
But I don't think there's enough evidence to go much further than suspicion about him. And I certainly think it's wrong to imply, as your story has done, that the heinousness of his crime disqualifies him from being a minister. Such a conclusion would be entirely outside the message of both the Old and New Testaments. Liberal Christians tend to embrace people like Karla Faye Tucker, who also took part in a brutal murder before becoming an evangelizer in prison. (Like Davis, she was a Texan, and unlike Davis, she was executed under George W. "A Charge to Keep I Have" Bush). Conservative Christians are more likely to embrace a story like Davis's. But stories of murder and repentance are as old as King David and the Apostle Paul, and Christians are called to forgive such people no matter and open the possibility of reconciliation and restoration to the community, no matter how heinous the crime.
URgullible!
Had you bothered to read my post, you would have seen that I did visit Cornerstone, Bible in hand, looking for a home church. I was repulsed by his pulpit con games and deceptions. Read it and tell me how it's untrue. I dare you. I double dog dare you.
Bubbadog, no one is saying the police are infallible. There's what Davis says and there's what the police say, and never the twain shall they meet. Though if he claims a drug-fueled, sleep-deprived haze, I might be more inclined to give weight to the testimony of a veteran detective.
"Christians are called to forgive..." Sure they are. But we're not all Christians here, and it doesn't mean that when someone preaches intolerance, makes himself a public personality and uses his story of redemption -- which involves the death of a real person -- as a means to spread that message, that we don't get to talk about it and raise questions, no matter how ugly.
As for your dissatisfaction with the cover, I'm sorry you feel that way, but we did exactly what we set out to do. We incited discussion and, most importantly, held up the vague tale he tells parishioners next to the story that's a matter of public record.
As if on cue, The Onion comes through today:
http://www.theonion.com/articles/if-i-hadn…
The weekend Cornerstone (Assemblies of God Church) had the rodeo there were over 200 people who gave their lives to Christ. The weekend that Governor Huckabee appeared at Cornerstone we filled our sanctuary to capacity, and thousands of souls heard the gospel of Jesus Christ who may never have heard it before. You can make fun of us and you can ridicule us but when was the last time you led someone to the saving grace of Jesus Christ? This man and his testimony has led thousands and thousands of people to Christ all over the world. His is a life of redemption. He has dedicated his entire life to preaching the Word of God and the devil just can’t stand it when someone does something to increase the Kingdom of God. Just to let you know our church is running at about 4000 per week and still growing because of Pastor Davis’ godly leadership. You can call us a cult and make fun of us but we are doing God’s work and you will not deter us. We will continue to take your rag off the stands and throw it in the trash where ever we see it because it’s free and that is exactly what it is worth. Since it is nothing but trash it belongs in the trash can.
While I have no personal knowledge of Maury Davis and Cornerstone, I can definitely refute the comment of Small "d" democrat concerning The Peoples Church in Franklin. At the bottom of the church sign near the entry to the church are the letters SBC. For the uninformed, that means the Southern Baptist Convention. The Peoples Church is actually First Baptist Church of Franklin and the pastor, my pastor, Rick White, is a Godly man who needs no one to defend him as a minister. Anyone who knows him, knows him to be a true man of God. Please do your research before casting dispersions.
I am in aw of all these negative comments from all of these scoffers. Read ur bible to see whatGod has to say about scoffers. I watch pastor Davis on tv and admire his commitment to preaching the truth which is the word of God. Our nation today seems to have a sense of "I deserve". God made each of us and everything we live for. . . Including this glorious free country! Take note that you need to humble yourselves. What are you doing to fulfill Gods purpose for you? And oh yes. . . . He has one. And as for the peoples church. . . .I've been there numerous times and know in my heart that God has his hands directly involved in what is happening there. Please take note of these things and do not be a scoffer!!! Jesus is returning and every knee shall bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord! And to pastor Davis and White. . . . Celebrate the fact that your being ridiculed for following Jesus!
I went to Cornerstone one time for a community event put on by a local radio station and Metro Police. I walked all around the church beforehand and couldn't help but notice the lack of even a basic cross. Plenty of flags hanging around but I thought church was supposed to be about God and Jesus? Suffice it to say, Maury Davis and the building just gave me the creeps. Just another obnoxious mega-church country club with a schister "leader".
We don't care what you one timers think about Cornerstone Church. We who love the Lord and attend this church, see the truth in this Pastor's eyes. You don't know him and I can tell you one thing, anything he did before he knew Jesus is gone once he asked Him into his heart as his personal Lord and Savior. So if you jusge him on his past based on Scripture, you have set yourself up as God!! Are you God? Scarey Scarey to stand in judgement against God's annointed children. Your judgement will be duly rewarded!
I still find it incredible and indefensible that Maury Davis got out of jail in the first place...
I attended Cornerstone Church for 3 long years. I enjoyed the message for about the 1st year and then steadily grew a dislike for Maury Davis. I do not believe he shows remorse for his crime and he absolutely has no compassion for people. Church members call him compassionate because he gives generously to missions, etc. That is not compassion it is generousity... completely differently. He is totally not a people person and is 100% an animal hater. I could go on and on.
I will not deny that there are people out there that need his type of preaching to bring them to Jesus Christ. He comes across as arrogant and having a god complex. I think it was a grave injustice that after such a brutal murder that he was released after only 8 years. He could have still preached the word in prison and saved lives. His release was a slap in the face to the family of the girl he murderd. And let's be clear... he is a MURDERER... forgiven by God perhaps, yet still a murderer.
He does not do any of the counsiling for the church because he is heartless and lacks compassion. I honestly did not feel like he was sincerely sorry for his crime when he preached about it. Instead I felt like his attitude was non- chaliant.
He has some good messages ... but no compassion... and that is not the type of pastor or church congregation that I want to be around. The personallity type of those long standing members are also on the less compassionate side in my opinion ... and I saw members come and go. At first we are all on fire for Christ then the essence of the paster and his unpleasant personality is a real turn off.
I have been free of Cornerstone for 3 years now and am so glad to finally voice my opinion. After the cult like atmosphere of not ever being able to leave Cornerstone and speaking badly about the pastor or church as simply gossip... I truely believe that voicing an opinion is not gossip... it is simply voicing an opinion.
I often wonder about the family of the murdered lady and if they have forgiven Maury Davis. I believe in forgiveness... I just don't think he is truely repentent.
I have trouble with the double standards that our society sets for this type of thing. These days, if a person has a 20 year old conviction for petty larceny or a less than stellar credit rating, they'll be excluded from everything except poverty wage jobs. I'll bet you dollars to doughnuts that this church runs extensive background checks on potential employees or volunteers. Especially for financial or child care related positions.
If the record is to be believed, this guy massacred a poor helpless woman in the vilest and most violent way humanly conceivable. Yet the story remains about HIS transformation, and HIS forgiveness, and HIS redemption. What about the victim's family? Can you possibly imagine laying in bed at night and thinking about your mother or your sister being virtually decapitated in this violent manner? What did she think in her last moments of life? How did it feel for her body to be sliced open repeatedly with a knife? Dear God! Even if this crime happened on a battle field he would be tried for war crimes. How is it humanly possible that this man is free and walking the streets?
I have known Maury and Gail since before they even started dating. I heard his testimony when it was still "fresh." Way back then, I was touched with the honesty and humility Maury exhibited. Perhaps a story like that comes across more unfeeling with repeated retelling, but as a personal recipient of God's grace, I admire Maury's consistency in following the Gospel. And if agreeing that what the Bible calls "sin" is truly wrong makes one intolerant, then all true Christians fall into that category. We don't hate homosexuals, murderers, illegal aliens, or anyone guilty of any other sin. Refusing to embrace or endorse or approve or allow certain behaviors is not intolerance. It's the wisest form of discretion! Furthermore, it is obedience, and Jesus said, "If you love Me, you will obey my words." Christians are certainly not perfect, but Jesus is, and choosing to obey Him is ALWAYS the right thing to do.
I hope to someday meet Pastor Davis. The conversation will go something like this, "Hey preacher, I have the paint if you have the boots." Of course the difference being I'm not some 54-year old feeble woman. Then again, someone who lives in an upscale gated community and drives luxury automobiles probably won't handle a situation like that. He'll have one of his "Cornerstone Cronies" murder me!
I suspect that if Jesus came to visit the Cornerstone "temple", he'd bring a bulldozer. Some cleansings require heavy equipment.
so what he paid for his sin and it forgiven and there others who got away with murder and if they do not qiut they will face me as a judge! mary
