The Sin of Revilement: Part 2

Yesterday I wrote of how pastor Tom Ascol, President of Founders Ministries, reviled another person by calling him μαλακοὶ (malakoi), one of the Biblical Greek words for homosexual. Since then, Ascol has responded to this accusation from me and others, warranting a brief update.

---

Firstly, Ascol claimed that he wasn’t calling Mike Cosper, Director of Media for Christianity Today, the equivalent of a slur that starts with the letter F, but that μαλακοὶ generally means an effeminate man (as if that’s any better). In his defense, he posted a screenshot of Bauer’s Lexicon, while continuing to revile his critics using immature internet lingo.

Most notably, Ascol cut off his screenshot right before the second meaning of μαλακοὶ, as it is used the only time it appears in Scripture in that declension, and the only time it describes people and not “soft clothing.”

It’s also of note that μαλακοὶ is the nominative plural form of the root word μαλακός, meaning that Ascol, by his own reasoning, technically called Cosper “effeminate men,” which adds a layer of irony to his claim that others never learned Greek. It also is another piece of circumstantial evidence that he haphazardly lifted the word from 1 Corinthians 6:9, again, the only place it appears in that declension, and in which it carries that very specific, cultural meaning. To make matters worse for Ascol, the most studied Greek scholars disagree with his interpretation of the word, as journalist Janet Mefferd showed in an extensive thread on X.

On top of that, even Ascol’s own allies originally interpreted his post as meaning this standard interpretation of the word, including his own son, Joel.

“Unnamed Sources” is open that his real identity is Joel Ascol. His account used to be @joelascol until he changed it to @unnamed_sourc3s several years ago. X (then Twitter) users noticed that the “new” account had the complete post history of Joel Ascol and he was forced to admit who he was. He’s well known as one of the most vitriolic Christian Nationalist accounts on the platform.

Ascol continued his reviling behavior throughout the day, often jumping in to agree with his allies and fans who derided those criticizing him. Then Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church pastor Matt Carr, who had publicly rebuked Ascol, revealed that Ascol had responded by antagonistically adding him to a list called “Malakoi bois.” This is a common tactic of the most debased anonymous accounts on X, because it doesn’t show up publicly, but appears in the target’s notifications.

Take whatever strained, reductionist definition of μαλακοὶ you want. If someone did this while representing a secular business, they'd be fired. That's not “woke” cancel culture. That's what would've happened half a century ago. It's shameful and disqualifying from a pastor. If the Southern Baptist Convention was a healthy ecclesial body, their messengers would refuse Ascol a seat at the national convention in June. I’ll eat my hat if that ever happens.