An open letter to Eastlake pastor Mike Meeks regarding Eastlake Church being a "queer friendly church."

8/1/2015

Dear Mike,

I listened to your sermon on same-sex attraction after the Supreme Court ruling, and then I saw a video (below) of your son Ryan (pastor at Eastlake Church in Seattle) that seemed to conflict with your stated position of the church. I have a few points and questions that I hope you can address. First, can you address the position your son has clarified below. Are you ok with it or not? Why or why not?

I appreciate you clarifying the orthodox stance of Eastlake Church on homosexuality and marriage, and explaining to the congregation that Jesus affirmed marriage as one man and one woman. However, your clarification on Eastlake's position regarding homosexuality/marriage got sort of lost in the constant reminders on how Christians shouldn't talk to/judge homosexuality. You quoted Billy Graham: “It is the Holy Spirit's job to convict, God's job to judge and my job to love.” If you are fine with leaving the task of conviction to the Holy Spirit, why did you find it necessary to convict Christians who might talk in an insensitive way toward practicing homosexual Christians? Shouldn't you have left that to the Holy Spirit? Why are you picking and choosing which sins you point out and which ones you leave to the Holy Spirit? Either we work with the Holy Spirit and affirm what He is working in the lives of sinners, or we never say anything regarding other sinner's behavior. If you want to appeal to 1 Cor 5:11-13 that is fine, that is a verse I will bring up below; but if your reasoning is because you were talking to "CHRISTIANS" not the world, then good so am I! Why don't you talk with that same fervor to "CHRISTIANS" who are practicing homosexuals? You go out of your way to handle their immorality with kid gloves so much that it's questionable whether they are even in need of repentance.

By the way, in my experience over the past few years, the "Christians" who need to learn how to communicate in a Christ-like manner toward those they disagree with/believe are sinning, are "Christian" homosexual advocates and "pro-choicers.” The bullying, harassing, name-calling, and overall vitriol today from Christians is OVERWHELMINGLY from those who support homosexuality and abortion (i.e. the left). So please Mike, if you are going to talk to Christians about how not to communicate, please just look to your nearest liberal Christian demonizing their Christian conservative brother or sister over gay rights, or abortion rights for plenty of examples.

One comment you said struck me as odd: "we are a queer friendly church." There are two ways to interpret this statement:

(A). By "queer friendly" your message was something to the effect of: "If you are trying to detangle yourself from the gay lifestyle (i.e. trying to offer your body as a living sacrifice to God by denying your fleshly desires and appetites, and be led by the Spirit) and wish to turn away from the sexual immorality that all homosexual acts fall under (regardless if you are in a long-term, committed, and monogamous relationship), then we will be your friend here to help you along the way." (But they cannot hold any leadership positions in the church while they are still struggling with being led by their flesh just as those struggling with adultery would not be allowed to hold leadership positions) I have no problem with this, but if this was what you meant you should have clarified it because I am sure a lot of people listening to you interpreted "we are a queer friendly church" the way below (B).

(B). By "queer friendly" you are tickling the ears of PRACTICING homosexuals so that they don't feel convicted (i.e. feel guilt, shame, or be anxious to repent for their homosexual acts) because "we are all sinners" and as you have said before, "it is the Holy Spirit's job to convict." This is a huge problem if this is your motive, because you are enabling practicing homosexuals to continue in their idolatry by continuing to find their identity in their sexuality and be led by their flesh. Additionally, by generalizing such a grievous sin to "we are all sinners" you diminish and confuse the responsibility of the sinner to take action/tackle some of their most damaging sins (to themselves and others). It's hard to imagine what sin is more damaging (physically, mentally, and spiritually) to a homosexual than their sin of homosexuality. I don't think you would treat HABITUAL/PRACTICING adulterers, with that same courtesy would you? I don't think I'd ever hear you say, "We are an adulterer friendly church." And yet you offered that confusing courtesy to (practicing) homosexuals? Odd.

How do you reconcile a message like that with 1 Corinthians 5:11-13?

"I meant that you are not to associate with anyone who claims to be a believer yet indulges in sexual sin, or is greedy, or worships idols, or is abusive, or is a drunkard, or cheats people. Don’t even eat with such people. It isn’t my responsibility to judge outsiders, but it certainly is your responsibility to judge those inside the church who are sinning. God will judge those on the outside; but as the Scriptures say, “You must remove the evil person from among you.”

Lastly, I pray the Holy Spirit will show you how you are doing a disservice to your congregation and to God's kingdom. Please consider the following verse:

"Your prophets courted you with sweet talk.
They didn’t face you with your sin so that you could repent.
Their sermons were all wishful thinking, deceptive illusions."--Lamentations 2:14 (The Message)

Your brother in Christ,

James

39 Comments

Mykel

2/28/2016 10:45:07 am

Did you ever receive a response regarding this? I've been considering attending Eastlake Church in Chula Vista, but it being LGBT accepting and supportive and all inclusive is important to me. I was feeling hopeful when I saw Ryan Meeks statement but now I realize it might not apply to all of the Eastlake Churches?

James

2/29/2016 12:37:48 pm

Hello Mykel, I have not received any response yet from pastor Mike. I am a bit confused by your comment. You said you were "feeling hopeful" over Ryan Meeks' statement. Of the contrasting descriptions I gave between two churches (A. and B.) that are "supportive toward homosexuals" Ryan Meeks' statement appeared more like (B). Are you looking for a church that is more like the description in (A) or (B)?

John

1/9/2017 02:40:09 pm

Ryan never ever reply to his emails. mostly when its about justifying his beliefs that are not bible based.

5/3/2018 01:26:07 pm

While you are grappling with what you will say to the Almighty regarding your beliefs about the Bible, are you prepared to answer for the growing number of suicides amongst young people in the church who feel there is no where to turn? Jesus talked about pulling cows out of the mud on Shabbat and David eating the sacred bread in the temple which carried the death penalty. Both things were clearly spelled out and forbidden in Scripture. Yet Jesus validates both violations.

Mykel Resino

2/29/2016 02:10:12 pm

I took Ryan's statement to mean that he his team A. Which is definitely what I'm looking for. But the statement that came from Mike Meeks and the Chula Vista church is not that. Perhaps I misunderstood. Even if you're a team A, it's not a Christian thing to judge those on team B, or anyone for that matter, I think is what Ryan was getting at.

Esther

3/27/2016 03:29:41 pm

This reminds me of 1 Samuel 3:13. It's so sad that a leader in church can be so besides scripture and I wonder if he reads St Paul's letters to Timothy selectively. Homosexuals should only be welcome to church to help them recognize their sin and repent of it (turn away from it Matthew 3:8) but not to serve. Anyway, all Christians have the responsibility to read their Bibles with the help of the Holy Spirit instead of waiting for "pastors" to read and interpret it for them. Thank GOD, Bibles are not in short supply in this country, so we have no excuse for not digging out the truth for ourselves.

James

3/29/2016 01:04:58 pm

Amen Esther!

5/23/2016 01:59:15 pm

Thank you James for reaffirming what I believe was Mike's direction in leading this church. after he made this announcement my family and I decided we could no longer be part of this church.

James

5/23/2016 08:28:48 pm

You are welcome. May I ask what church you are attending now? I am still looking for a church near Eastlake to get planted.

Judy

8/13/2016 11:50:22 pm

I remember this service like it was yesterday. My spirit was stirred up and grieved as I listened to Pastor Mike's message. He didn't even know what to call "them" and didn't want to offend "them" and consulted with his gay friend as to what to call them! Why would he consult with the ungodly?? He was more concerned about offending man than offending God. He said Christians have been using "clobber" verses against the gay community and apologized to all lgbt for the way Christians have treated them. He called God's word "clobber verses" as if God's very word offends him!!! I don't recall God apologizing to Sodom and Gomorrah. Then he said the Holy Spirit lead him to talk about this. Affirming homosexuality is contradictory to the bible. That is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit and an unforgivable sin (Matt 12:31). He told us we are to mind our business and leave them alone. Yes, we don't judge those outside the church, but when he invites all lgbt and says it's a "queer" friendly church, then I can judge the things inside the church because God's word tells us to (1 Corinth 5:12-13). Pastor Mike misquoted scripture in John 10:10 and said "we are to have life abundantly regardless of our orientation". He closed in saying "And we will be with Jesus and there will be no male or female". Pastor Mike twisted scripture for his own agenda. We never went back to eastlake church. That church is dead to me.

Dr. Bradley Smith

9/16/2016 10:16:39 pm

Thank you for the insight. This is only one of many things wrong with Mike's theology. He's also a bully. When I was a young pastor and of a small church he tried to do me much harm. The Lord protected me and many godly people surrounded me. It was a great experience. He even cussed me, called me names and tried to intimidate me. I pray that he has come to repentance and had a change wrought in him by God.

Lori Denham

10/27/2016 09:37:37 pm

Homosexuality is a sin against God. Pastor Mike & Pastor Ryan are wrong if they teach otherwise. We cannot accept this kind of behavior, because God forbids it. He said it, I believe it, and that's that!

Mark Vilen

2/20/2017 11:49:24 pm

I had Mike Meeks as an associate pastor for a number of years in the 90's. Ryan must've been a kid then. 4 years ago Mike was kind of snotty to me when I questioned some online teaching he made. He must've changed and become rather arrogant. His son Ryan is a false teacher, without a doubt. He's just caved in to the culture of the world, rather than scripture. He's actually embracing the deceptions of the flesh, homosexuality and other flesh patterns. He should not even be a pastor, as he is deceiving many. A very sad situation, to say the least.

Andrea

4/11/2017 01:27:58 pm

The views of Pastor Ryan and Mike are reflective of Christ. Suggest to folks on this thread: focus on spreading love in the world. Focus on improving yourself,not other people's sexual preference. Focus on being the most loving, patient, tolerant, caring person you can be. Love and good works the message of Jesus.

Mark Vilen

4/11/2017 04:44:46 pm

Andrea: I respect your opinion, but I must disagree. Ryan and Mike Meeks, if they endorse homosexual sex, are NOT "reflective of Christ". Now let me explain something ... To feel homosexual urges/proclivities is NOT a sin. We all have things in our flesh that our not in line with God's best. But acting out on those urges/proclivities IS a sin. For either of these gentleman to suggest, for example, that male to male sodomy is endorsed by God is simply WRONG. God did not create a man's body for that. One only need to study basic biology and read the medical data on the dangers of that act. I am in agreement with you that LOVING everyone is good. I have my own issues, my own areas of 'flesh' that are NO better than homosexuality. So I do not condemn anyone, as my own CRAP (flesh) is no better. But what I think some in the LGBT community call "love" is really extreme apathy. If you're unconcerned about the harm of disease and identity deceptions that can harm a person emotionally, then you don't really "love" them. You/me/everyone then are just simply apathetic. Hope I make sense. The real problem is that Christians today are not taught their true identity as holy, righteous, complete, perfected SAINTS ... So they buy into lies. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal your true identity to you ... Blessings.

James

4/12/2017 01:46:52 am

Mark, thank you for responding to Andrea. Your response was balanced with both Biblical accuracy and courtesy. Well done, and thank you!

Eathon

4/19/2017 07:50:39 pm

Dear Andrea, i was attending for months myself and had to leave. Even accepting homosexuality as not being a sin, there is so much more in this church that is false. Please read the comment i just posted below so you see my big concern.

Eathon

4/19/2017 07:46:33 pm

I was attending EL church for a while but i had to leave. This makes me so sad to review this but I need to do this to protect others. Simple: This church is not a christian church. I can't recall the last time i heard the name of Jesus mentioned in a sermon and\or a song. I have not heard anything about sin, the cross, the Gospel neither salvation in any forms for months! This place is getting rooted more and more in new age philosophies by having his leadership team teach us about mantra, meditation and connection with the Force, the Energy and the conscienceness of Jesus. It's leadership team has as their favourite authors, authors such a Deep Chopra, E. Tolle and many others new agers authors. Off doctrines on so many points (ex: The church believes that homosexuality is NOT a sin, Hell to be non-existent, God? maybe not), this church is leading so many people on the wrong path. It is so sad to watch people going there and trusting their leadership without opening their Bible and seeing that what is taught there is just so unbiblical and false. The leadership team needs to repent and go back to the Bible and teach it. Sermons are usually pep talks, filled with story and life applications that are not biblically based at all but more oriented about being "love" and support social justice. The problem is sample: they don't teach the bible. The main pastor Ryan Meeks, does not even believe that the Bible is inspired by God. For him , it is only a guide to help us do life and he says himself (quote): "I don't care about what the Bible says.... (regarding homosexuality on his latest interview online). Keep yourself away from this church. Keep your children away from this church. Run and pray that the Lord closes its doors before it creates even more eternal damage to so many lives and families. Just so you know, I am writting this review in a spirit of Love and care for the Church.

Mark Vilen

4/19/2017 11:03:23 pm

All of your comments do not surprise me. When someone is way off on doctrine that is clear, they are usually wandering way off in other areas. I see more and more of this with believers and their Facebook posts. Very sad.

Jessica link

6/25/2017 01:41:20 pm

To Eathon, I don't understand the lies you are saying about this wonderful church. I attend and serve regularly and they talk about Jesus in EVERY SERMON AND EVERY SONG. WE HAVE BI LE STUDIES ALL THE TIME. So you are lying to people on this post and should be ashamed.

Eathon

9/19/2017 09:04:44 am

Jessica, I challenge you to please listen to the last year sermons shared at Eastlake and please point out to me when Jesus is mentioned, the cross, salvation, the gospel, sin, redemption through Jesus and mostly, when does the Bible is open and truly shared? I come with a spirit of love and care not about spreading lies of any kind. I know the core of this church and that why i am telling you this. Perhaps you only see the surface but i know the root of it. It has changed a lot. It should not be called a christian church anymore because it is not. This "church" is more rooted in New Age and other philosophies then the christian faith. Its leadership do not teach the Bible, never talked about salvation and sin and mostly, has chosen the LOVE card over truth. Thats a danger. Love tells the truth to people in love and respect. Thats what real love is. This so called "church" does not do that. It is sad to say but this following verse is actually what is happening right now at Eastlake :"The time will come when people will not endure sound doctrine; but having itching ears, they shall heap to themselves teachers in accordance with their own lusts." If you are a child of God, please ask the holy spirit to guide you, to give you a humble heart and a submissive heart to follow his voice and tell you if this church is teaching the bible. I have prayed i have research, i have listened and i have found that it is not. Don't trust me, trust the Spirit that will tell you, but be ready to follow his voice, not yours. Blessings!

9/27/2017 08:18:48 am

Eathon, I must agree with you. I attended Eastlake for 4 years and there became a HUGE decline on the name of Jesus being mentioned over time.

By the time I left, I don't think the Bible was being referenced much either. There was lots of new age type speeches and reference of the universe.

It's sad that so many are being lead astray.

Alejandra

12/28/2017 09:43:13 am

Jessica, it is unbelievable what is being said on this thread about Eastlake, these peoples words are defamation to the church and all it does. In every meeting related to Eastlake the word of Jesus and his diciples is mentioned. ACCEPTANCE AND LOVE is preached.

Doug

7/26/2017 11:41:16 am

I was actually flipping through google looking for the Chula Vista Eastlake site I have a friend I want to send there that needs a lot of solid input.

First you need to know Mike served with me as a direct partner/assistant for 14 years. I can assure you that Mike and his son are two different people with different opinions on many things.. I know present and former staff so I am informed. Ryan has ideas I find troublesome and he is also quit ill. I have known Ryan since a baby. So I am likely a bit more careful about what I say.

Mike is not a bully. He is strong. And he is a person who doesn't suffer fools gladly. Mike was one of and I assume still is concerned for lost people.believes in eternal fate to hell without Christ and the bliss of salvation through Christ.

Mike has led 100 times more people to Jesus than anyone writing here. I think Mike is one of the best speakers I know.

We have not stayed in contact I went one way and he another when we both resigned from a great church. Others caused some pain between us really but we are both way off the page consumed with what we do..and I am now on the East Coast.

Mike is brilliant. He is willing to experiment and push innovation. He was with me the most loyal, biblical oriented, family loving person I have ever had work with me. I have a graduate program I have developed and look for message for my students to analyze. So I end up listening to Mike.

There are many things I wouldn't do or react as Mike does or did...but he is a very very person of Christ.... You would all do well to value him.

Crystal

9/13/2017 10:53:26 pm

Doug,
I second that. I've know Mike for 15 years and you described him to a T. He is a good man and a couragous follower of Christ. The motto of his church is "helping people find and follow Jesus Christ". Ryan has always done things differently in his church in Seattle. It has always been a bit worrisome.

Crystal

9/19/2017 10:36:47 am

Crystal, can you please show me WHERE this motto is written ? Show me recent a website, a recent church pamphlet, anything where this motto is written please and i will believe you. Have you seen there website new page on "What we believe"? What is written there is something to worry about with no mention of jesus, bible and God at all and can't find that motto there neither.

Doing things different is great! But doing things different of what the Bible says is dangerous!

Justin

12/12/2017 09:05:46 pm

http://eastlakechurch.com/about/what-we-believe/

Crystal

9/21/2018 02:24:33 pm

Justin, I just came across this thread again and stumbled upon your question. The link you provided speaks for itself. It’s all about Jesus baby!! God bless.

Crystal

9/21/2018 02:28:30 pm

Follow this link to find the statement I previously mentioned in the opening paragraph. https://eastlakechurch.com

Eathon

9/19/2017 09:47:49 am

Doug, honesty, when is the LAST time you have a talk with Ryan face to face?I know the Ryan you talked about was the Ryan we all knew about 10 years ago. But have you had faith and doctrine conversation with him lately? Go and ask him if he believes Jesus is God. Ask him if he believes in hell. Ask him if the Bible is true and should be our authority? Ask him if he believes homosexuality is a sin. Ask him if he believes that Eckhart Tolle and Deepak Chopra and other New age teachers are just amazing and teach truth. Ask him when is the last time he has share the Gospel in one of his sermon, social media or any other ways sharing about the cross, salvation through Jesus, sinks, redemption and mostly, really open the bible to share what it says and not what he would like it to say.

Regarding him leading people to jesus 100 times more than anyone over here, well, how do you know that? How do you know i have done that? And if he did, i hope he did with the platform of people listening to him every sundays for years!

Good speaker or not, brilliant or not, willing to push innovation or not, family loving person or not, this man is NOT teaching the Bible THESE DAYS (like i said, he was in the past but not anymore) and is not biblically oriented at all.

oh and Doug, in all respect, a very very person of Christ like you said would SPEAK like Christ and TEACH Christ. Ryan Meeks 2017 does not, and you know that. Blessings!

Eathon

9/19/2017 10:42:48 am

oh, have you read is blog? Please check it out! Ryan uses profanity, exposes his belief in reincarnation, his love for New Age and other completely unbiblical things he believes in. Please have a look and let me know WHERE you see JESUS in this writings. This blog his alarming. This man needs to repent and turn to Jesus now before it is too late and stop leading others to follow his false teachings.

12/25/2017 11:01:56 pm

Eathon, you speak the truth, brother. Every word. I attended ECC when we started it in 2004-2012. I left for the very reasons you state: The Name of Jesus Christ no longer being said, sung about and to in worship, the Voice translation being introduced, Ryan pulling away from pastoring the church and just being a face/speaking pastor then allowing whackado messages be shared by guest speakers that had nothing to do with scripture nd the character of God and so much more. Just deeply saddening. Now, early 2017, finding Ryan so into yoga (a Hindu religious practice, people!), his thoughts in his blog so New Age and Wicca/Hindu/Chopra influenced...tragic. Praise God prayers for EastLake to close in it's Bothell location have been answered. However, they still practice something in Kirkland and deceive so many into the dark depression and esoteric influence. You are dead on in all you've shared. Stay far away and PRAY for these brothers and sisters in their enlightenment and bent toward oneness.

9/27/2017 08:31:03 am

Doug, you cannot say for a fact that Mike or Ryan have lead more people to Christ and anyone here. That shows a person who is offended and attempting to attack others. I wouldn't say that is Christ like.

I don't know how close you are to Mike or Ryan at the CURRENT moment, but people change. People are not necessarily the same people they were 10/15/20 years ago, especially when more of the flesh is being put on and less of Jesus.

You can attempt to justify Mike and/or Ryan's actions/words. However, you, me, nor can anyone change God's word.

It is HE that we ALL have to pay account to at the end of the day and that is not going to be based on other human being feeling that we are "good people".

Authentic friends tell their friends the truth out of love and in love. We do not want to see anyone end in eternal damnation as its not the Father's will for anyone to perish.

If you are a close friend I pray that you tell them the truth in love and pray they repent for leading people astray.

May the Holy Spirit lead us all!

9/27/2017 08:31:28 am

Ken Klein link

5/8/2018 11:18:25 am

Mike was part of my college ministry and was his wife many years ago. Then they helped me establish, to establish a church as we all went to Seattle. The Lord had me move to San Diego and I left Mike and his family in Kirkland Washington, but some where along the way he got infected with the Seeker Sensitive movement and began to assume that licentiousness is the answer to legalism. Now we have the strange brew coming full blown fruit in his son Ryan. The reality is that we must overcome all these malfunctions in our outer man that have affected our inner man and be renewed daily in our inner man. This is a daily death. To not understand is a terrible miscalculation and to not come to know the power of His resurrection. We must participate in Christ suffering and be conformed to His death. All other methods are vanity. What we are observing in these people is what we must all accept about ourselves which is we all struggle with an enormous identity crisis. Ken Klein

2/19/2018 01:05:53 am

In reading thru this blog trail, it’s easybto get confused which “Eastlake” church is being written about. We attended Eastside foursquare church year ago under Pastors Doug and Mikes preaching, all very biblically based. My understanding (thru old friend attenders) is that Mike has done the same in California, while his son Ryan has taken the path described by Eaton, a more new age/universal teaching, not biblically founded. We need to be clearer on which pastor Meeks is being spoken of.... 2 paths. Also, I don’t think Pastor Doug meant to point out a score card of how many one has led to the Lord. My guess is his intent was to say he leads people to a saving relationship thru the cross of Jesus, and that the number wasn’t the point but rather the route.

ELD

7/4/2018 09:27:21 pm

Bottom line, every church has their own interpretation of the Bible and how it pertains to them or their life whether you agree or not. They have every right to preach as they see fit. They owe you nothing more or less. So choose to either participate or move on but to discriminat what they believe to be their truth makes you no better then the ones throwing the stones. Move on and I will make sure to spread the word of how this family had the courage to do the right thing and accept all God’s children, not just the ones who pretend they are the chosen ones. Good day and put your rocks down🙋🏻

Jon

7/11/2018 04:39:40 pm

Reading many of the above comments remind me of what Jesus said about the Pharisees: (Mt 23) “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier provisions of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others.You blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel! (NASB)
Seriously? I know many gay Christians who are as passionate about Jesus and his good news. It seems like many Evangelicals and going on and on about homosexuality but forgetting the "weightier" matters of justice, mercy and faithfulness. This is absurd! No wonder folks are seeing through this sham and leaving American churches in droves. Not to sound folksy, but Love is always the answer.

Mark Douglas Vilen

7/11/2018 05:00:48 pm

Jon, with all due respect, your post is a bit of a straw man, or at least a common deflection by those defending homosexuality. No one is saying (at least I wasn't) that homosexuality is a greater sin, a greater manifestation of the 'flesh' than any other. Believe me, my 'brands of flesh' are uglier than most. Yet even though we all have false identities of some kind, different brands of flesh, it is quite another thing to declare them not to be sin. That is what Meeks' church is doing. All deserve love and compassion, but just as you wouldn't tell someone with urges to pursue pornography or drunkenness as normal, the Christian with homosexual urges (from flesh) should not be trusted. That Christian more than any other deserves love, and should be taught their true identity in Christ, as we all should.

An open letter to Eastlake pastor Mike Meeks regarding Eastlake Church being a "queer friendly church."

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