The latest: On 12-27 we received this.
You know, sometimes you receive an e-mail that is so incredible and so unbelievable, that it deserves its own 15 minutes of fame. I've received a series of e-mails from a woman who identified herself as "SendTheLight50," aka Billie, that is unlike anything I've ever read. (I won't publish her last name here in the interest of privacy.) I've been accused by some of suppressing the ideas of those whose ideas aren't in line with those of the "anti-Bellevue" crowd, so in the interest of openness and fairness, I hereby give "SendTheLight50" the stage.
She first wrote me on 11-25-06, apparently in response to the Purpose Driven thread, but didn't sign her name. Here are those exchanges.
I thought that would be the end of it, but on 12-19-06 I received these letters which had also been cc'd to a long list of people along with the request they be forwarded to as many people as possible.
This was Karen's response to "SendTheLight50" the next day. (Reprinted with Karen's permission.)
That same day I (and a lot of other people) received this.
On 12-22 even more people received this.
On 12-23 we all received this.
On Christmas Day, we received this.
On 12-26 we received this.
As I stated last week I have no intention of responding to any more of these letters.
Note: I would like to ask that any comments be directed at this person's comments and not at her personally. Try to keep the discussion focused on ideas, not personalities.
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Why don't we leave the legal matter to the legal people and get down to brass tacks and deal with the Spiritual matters at hand? The worldly laws will follow their course in due time. The Church as a whole most definitely has a responsibility to deal with the matters at hand quickly and scripturally. You can not deny the fact that SG has admitted to having a discussion with PW 6 months ago concerning a "moral failure". You cannot deny this because it is a fact that SG admitted to infront of the congregation and has been documented. Just strictly based on that one undeniable FACT alone we know what exactly? Let's examine his actions for a moment or lack of action as it were.
1. The senior pastor finds out that a longtime (34yrs) well respected pastor has committed some sort of past "highly concerning moral failure"
2. He "acted out of a heartfelt concern and compassion for this minister because the event occurred many years ago; he was receiving professional counseling; and I was concerned about confidentiality."
Please note, he at no time says that he prayerfully acted or prayed to God for guidance on the matter. He clearly and undeniably says "I acted out of a heartfelt concern."
What the church needs is NOT heartfelt concern it is pure prayer for God's guidance. SG let his own heart guide him. Look where it's taken us. These facts are undeniable.
What is this ridiculous obsession with Calvinism that has crept into this conversation (well, at least in earlier posts)? It is nothing more than theological hair-splitting. This debate over Calvinism is nothing more than man's little brain trying to grasp what he cannot understand.
If you don't think so, then go to Spurgeon.org and read In Defense of Calvinism. It's a rather lengthy article, but well worth the read. My favorite quote from it is this:
"That God predestines, and yet that man is responsible, are two facts that few can see clearly. They are believed to be inconsistent and contradictory to each other. If, then, I find taught in one part of the Bible that everything is fore-ordained, that is true; and if I find, in another Scripture, that man is responsible for all his actions, that is true; and it is only my folly that leads me to imagine that these two truths can ever contradict each other. I do not believe they can ever be welded into one upon any earthly anvil, but they certainly shall be one in eternity. They are two lines that are so nearly parallel, that the human mind which pursues them farthest will never discover that they converge, but they do converge, and they will meet somewhere in eternity, close to the throne of God, whence all truth doth spring." - C.H. Spurgeon, from "A Defense of Calvinism"
Now, if someone can tell me WHY it matters whether or not a person is a Calvinist, then we may have a point of discussion, but I have yet to hear or read WHY it matters in day-to-day Christian life if one is a Calvinist or not with the exception on the theoretical impact on evangelism. Is there ANY other significant issue between "Calvinists" and "non-Calvinists" that should cause all this uproar?
And what misinformed goober called Calvinism a "cult"? More laziness in the use of words.
Ed Thompson
P.S. Just a note to other posters. If you want to post a link, I suggest you see this web page for how to do it. Not much to it at all. Otherwise, the link you post will most likely get truncated and either be useless or you'll have to break it up into pieces to make it fit in your post correctly.
ezekiel said...
Thanks for the post Lindon! You state so clearly the need to get into the Word and then live it!
For those interested in a scriptural set of events that IMHO mirror todays events at BBC, you may want to read Judges 18,19,20,21.
Judges 21:25 In those days [there was] no king in Israel: every man did [that which was] right in his own eyes.
I can't believe you posted this! For the past few days this verse has been in my mind regarding our church right now. I honestly believe we are in the Judges era right now. Thank you for sharing this...you said it so much better than I ever could!
Joshua David Whitmire,
Thank you for your courage, brother. It is a shame you have to stand up for your dad. I have a sense of what you are going through. A few years ago I went through something similar, only on a smaller stage.
Try to remember this, your father's life stands as a testament to his godly character. He is a humble, gentle man of tremendous integrity. We know that. We love him for his talent and his service to our church. It will not be forgotten. But most of all we love him for the man he is. Your dad need not worry about his reputation for it is secure.
I will continue to pray for you and your family as this Bellevue ordeal continues. If anything I believe it is just getting started, so I will pray for strength and longsuffering. I will also pray for God to comfort your soul and give you His peace.
I would appreciate it if you would email me at westtnbarrister@yahoo.com.
JU said...
4545,
You can not deny the fact that SG has admitted to having a discussion with PW 6 months ago concerning a "moral failure". You cannot deny this because it is a fact that SG admitted to infront of the congregation and has been documented. Just strictly based on that one undeniable FACT alone we know what exactly? Let's examine his actions for a moment or lack of action as it were.
1. The senior pastor finds out that a longtime (34yrs) well respected pastor has committed some sort of past "highly concerning moral failure"
2. He "acted out of a heartfelt concern and compassion for this minister because the event occurred many years ago; he was receiving professional counseling; and I was concerned about confidentiality."
I would like to add something to your comments, Ju. With 25+ years' experience (Ordained to the Gospel Ministry by the First Baptist Church, Dyersburg, Tennessee, 1980;
Licensed to the Gospel Ministry by the First Baptist Church, Dyersburg, Tennessee, 1977), SG can't legimately use the excuses he has put "out there". SG didn't get this far by "acting out of a heartfelt concern and compassion"; i.e. conducting his professional life by his feelings. To advance in any profession usually requires a well-thought out plan.
4545 said....
"Bought off? WOW"
Or threaten to take your business elsewhere as some did on the first CA article..don't kid yourself...it has happened before and can very well happen again. Unless of course, our DA is not as gullible as the leadership thinks.
Joshua,
Thank you for writing. We love Dr. J and miss him tremendously.
Dr. Mike Spradlin will be on the radio with Dick Bott this afternoon at 3:00. They will be discussing characteristics of Godly leadership.
radio: WCRV-AM (64.0) or
live stream:
http://www.bottradionetwork.com/splashFlash.asp
Some of us are tied up this afternoon @ 3pm and are relying on those of you that are available to post the substance of this program for us. Thanks in advance!
Also we are fast approaching the 500 post mark.
New thread
New thread
New thread
ed_t wrote:
"If you want to post a link, I suggest you see this web page for how to do it. Not much to it at all. Otherwise, the link you post will most likely get truncated and either be useless or you'll have to break it up into pieces to make it fit in your post correctly."
Thank you. There's been a link on the front page of this forum for quite a while now that contains those same instructions. Ed's right. It's not difficult once you get the hang of it, and it makes reading a lot easier.
NBBCOF
P.S. Hang on, bin wonderin. One's comin'!
Ed Thompson said...
And what misinformed goober called Calvinism a "cult"? More laziness in the use of words.
Didn't Benjamin Franklin Pierce call Frank Burns a "misinformed goober" once? :) Obscure MASH reference - me and Ed go WAYYYYY back!
karen
4545
I agree that comment about the D.A. being "bought off" might have been a little extreme. However, it's clear by now that this pastor, as well as the people that surround him, view money as not just a tool to reward loyalty, but a weapon to control behavior and "punish" real or percieved disloyalty.
I might add, this is evidence of an abusive and "cult like" ministry.
-FG, who knows that the blind can't see no matter how bright the light is.
fedup,
please email me.
The Mike Spradlin interview will not be available on the internet. It will only be available live on WCRV AM 640.
The internet feed will be Bott Network programming not the Spradlin interview.
Andrew
I have heard that the interview is going to be about ethics in ministry. If you tune in and like what you hear, Dr. Spradlin teaches a 7:00 A.M. Bible study every Wednesday at MABTS. It is open to anyone in the community and he has just started teaching the gospel of Mark- good stuff! It starts back on January 10.
Wonder where "heartfelt compassion" could possibly come from? We cannot feel that apart from our hearts beating in synch with that of Christ. Altogether different from "being led by your feelings."
MJM,
This is not an attack on you please realize that. I don't read into anything he said I don't assume anything other than the spoken words. As Josh Manning so often has said here words mean things.
Main Entry: heart·felt
Pronunciation: 'härt-"felt
Function: adjective
: deeply felt : EARNEST
synonym see SINCERE
Main Entry: com·pas·sion
Pronunciation: k&m-'pa-sh&n
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French or Late Latin; Anglo-French, from Late Latin compassion-, compassio, from compati to sympathize, from Latin com- + pati to bear, suffer -- more at PATIENT
: sympathetic consciousness of others' distress together with a desire to alleviate it
synonym see PITY
Another way to say exactly what SG said according to Webster's Dictionary above is I acted out of Deeply Felt Pity. Don't you think as a Pastor if he had prayed on the matter he would say I prayed about it or the Lord led me to make decision x,y,z. What it says to my heart is that he didn't consult the Lord over the issue and this is why the problems are as great as they are.
Billie, have a big'o drink of truth
(AoG, you'a love dis)
When you and I shall go up the celestial hills to the gates of Paradise, those last steps shall be of God as much as the first steps. And when we shall stand upon the golden streets and wear the white robe, I am sure we will not have a word to sing about free-will, or about self, but our cry shall be, “Unto Him that loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood”- unto Him be the glory forever. Men may hold what doctrine they like on earth, but they cannot hold any doctrine in heaven but that of free, rich, and Sovereign grace. The song was never yet divided, it never will be. There shall be no selfishness to mar its melody, but every heart shall send forth the same melodious notes of music, and every tongue shall mingle in the same undivided song, “Thou hast done it O Lord, Thou has done it”.
Charles Spurgeon quote from his sermon “HIGH DOCTRINE”; Sovereign Grace Sermons, Calvin Classics, Vol. 3, p. 26
Andrew said...
The Mike Spradlin interview will not be available on the internet. It will only be available live on WCRV AM 640.
The internet feed will be Bott Network programming not the Spradlin interview.
Dick Bott's The Complete Story airs at 3PM on WCRV and will be streamed on the website at 2PM CST.
psalm 43:3 wrote:
"Dr. Spradlin teaches a 7:00 A.M. Bible study every Wednesday at MABTS."
Did you say 7:00 A.M.? Wow.
Sorry NASS,
One last entry to follow up on the Mike Spadlin interview...
I called WCRV again, and reconfirmed that the interview will not be on the internet.
The interview will RE-AIR locally this coming Saturday at 7am, 6:30p and then Sunday at 2pm.
Hope this helps everyone who was attempting to hear it for themselves.
Andrew
OKAY, FOLKS! A NEW THREAD IS NOW UP. GO FORTH AND COMMENT (NICELY, OF COURSE)!
Thank you,
NBBCOF
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