ArchivedRogers at it again. :: ReplyReply
The ironic thing is, Roger was always the one who told me that Satan was trying to divide us. When I pointed out that same truth in the last email I sent him, he wrote me and threatened to call my mother if I didn't stop writing to him. I was tempted to write back to him and say, "Go on. I dare you. She'd love to talk to you." Let's just say Mama Bear doesn't take too kindly to people treating Baby Bear #2 like dirt. Anyway, I didn't give in to the temptation, and I'm leaving it in God's hands. If Roger wants to behave this way, fine. Hope he's willing to face the consequences of his pride. I'm just not going to be the butt of his abuse any longer.
Here's an exact copy of the final email I sent to Roger. Please let me know if I was harsh, or if I could have said things differently.
James 4:11-12
Brothers, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you--who are you to judge your neighbor? (cross-reference, James 2:8 - If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, "Love your neighbor as yourself," you are doing right.)
Psalm 15:2-5
He whose walk is blameless and who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from his heart and has no slander on his tongue, who does his neighbor no wrong and casts no slur on his fellowman, who despises a vile man but honors those who fear the LORD, who keeps his oath even when it hurts, who lends his money without usury and does not accept a bribe against the innocent.
He who does these things will never be shaken.
Job 18:2 - When will you end these speeches? Be sensible, and then we can talk.
Luke 6:43-45
"No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the good stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks."
Ephesians 4:29-32
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
1 Corinthians 13:4-13
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. When I was a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
Romans 13:10 - Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
Romans 14:9 - Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.
Matthew 15:18-20
But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man 'unclean.' For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. These are what make a man 'unclean'; but eating with unwashed hands does not make him 'unclean.'"
Matthew 7:12 - So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.
2 Timothy 2:22-26
Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. Don't have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. And the Lord's servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.
When you are ready to act like a Christian by displaying the fruit of the Spirit, and when you are willing to stop yelling at me and start expressing your views in a calm and non-abusive manner, I am ready to listen. But if all you're going to do is scream, swear and make false accusations, then don't write me, call me, or send me anything in the mail. No communication, whatsoever. Because I'm tired of being screamed at and verbally abused. If you do not think that you are being abusive, I'd be more than happy to send you one of your most abusive emails.
I am not afraid of sharing the gospel, and I am not afraid of people who will hate me for it. In fact, I've put up with enough verbal abuse from non-Christians and so-called Christians to last me a lifetime, and I've still shared with them the truth. I'm tired of you sending false accusations my way, and what you said about my "fear" was a false accusation.
The reason I deleted your post was because it defied list rules by being rude and vulgar. It wasn't because I disagreed with the Scriptures. (BTW: I didn't disagree with them.) I disagreed with your attitude. I thought that I could ignore the fact that you'd been abusive in the past, and had hoped that you would be a helpful list member who would treat the other Christians with respect. I was wrong.
It's the same thing with your emails. I'm not going to respond to the points you make when you're screaming and swearing at me, because that's all I see: screaming and swearing. I don't see you gently and lovingly confronting me, which is what Christians are supposed to do. I see nothing but abusive words and a lot of yelling. Unfortunately, you remind me a lot of how I used to be before I knew Christ as Lord and Savior of my life. And that is why I questioned whether you're a Christian. I shouldn't have to do that, Roger. I should know. But going by your attitude, I'm not so sure. Right now, going by your hateful, slanderous emails, you are (to me) the equivalent of Fred Phelps and his group, who -- instead of being loving and kind to other people -- are rude and abrasive. The thing that worries me most is: Is this how you treat non-Christians, when they refuse to listen to what you have to say? If so, how many people have been completely turned off to the very idea of salvation through Jesus Christ?
I suggest you think long and hard about what I've said, and that you seek some help. You have an abusive personality, and I'm not going to be the butt of it any longer. I meant what I said in my last email. You scare me, and I can't be in communication with you, so long as you do that to me. And I will not allow you to abuse my friends, which is why you were removed from my list. In the future, if you have decided to stop this nonsense and treat me the way you'd like to be treated, great! Contact me. You have my email address. But if you're going to continue to yell and swear at me, don't bother.
The Spiritual Warfare CD you sent me says that one of Satan's greatest tools is his ability to divide and conquer. Guess he's succeeded, huh?
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