| Letter from Name Withheld (August 13, 2022) |
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| (Parts of this letter that could identify the author have been deleted.) Person writes: I clearly understand Mr. Steven Blackledge’s consternation about the way his work was handled. Laura writes: Using intimidation on people is not an act of fear, it is an act to make people fear the person that is using intimidation to get their way. Intimidation is used in bullying and in domestic abuse. It is an abuse to use intimidation on anyone. Steven Blackledge’s article was not handled any different than anyone else’s article is handled. There is no sugar-coated way to tell someone that what they are teaching is not in scripture. Person writes: The section “Iron sharpens Iron” allows for negative critiquing, which seems to be mostly the case. Darwin & Laura write: Not all “Iron Sharpens Iron” or “Editors Notes” are negative. We agree that many of them are of a negative nature due to the fact that the persons article is being critiqued and is pointed out to be in error. That person won’t see it as something positive. However, all correction proves to be a positive result. Heb 12:11 “At the time all punishment seems to be pain and not joy: but after, those who have been trained by it get from it the peace-giving fruit of righteousness.” (BBE) However, others have put positive comments in “Iron Sharpens Iron” and us in “Editors Notes” at times. Person writes: Yes, everyone has a right to an opinion and to express their opinion. However, to express one’s opinion in a public forum which maybe without merit and cannot be replied to, is in my opinion counterproductive. Darwin & Laura write: On this one we disagree with you. We have seen publications within the Church of God that let anything be published and seldom ever put notes of any kind on any of it. When this happens it creates a great deal of confusion especially for new people and for those who do not do any or very little research. When anyone writes an article or gives a sermon, they are teaching other people. Not all people who write articles or give sermons are of God, which is more than likely why some people go off and create their own doctrines. Instead of doing the research that is needed, some people just read other people’s articles, watch their videos, or listen to their sermons and either follow what they have just learned or use what they have just learned to formulate their own doctrines. But what if what they learned comes from a person who is not of God? It is hard to know who those people are. I do not know where this individual has gotten the idea that people cannot reply to an “Editor’s Note”, an “Iron Sharpening Iron” or an article. Anyone who reads our newsletter can reply to anything in it. That is the way it has always been. Person writes: My thought is that, if you determine a study or an article is worth publishing, publish it, but leave the critique to each reader to do in private. This way you remain neutral and do not risk offending writer or reader. Laura writes: So, in other words, everyone should just shut up and share nothing with other brethren. Most of the people reading our newsletter are probably alone most of the time. This newsletter allows them to share what they learn with others or not share with others, whatever they choose. Most of all it allows them to see how not just us but how others view certain scriptures. Sharing or give and take in a group of brethren is one of the best ways I know of for people to learn what scripture says and at the same time to have others, not just us, guide them in a right direction so they are less likely to make up weird unbiblical doctrines. The shepherds were supposed to feed the sheep, but instead they continue to scatter the sheep. Sheep who are left alone generally end up going off track at one point or the other because they have no one to bounce their ideas off of. It is really easy for Satan to pick off the sheep one at a time because they are all alone. It is harder to get at them when they are in a group and know what scripture says. Granted by participating in a public work you are running the risk of getting hurt at one time or the other but better to be hurt than to miss the first fruit resurrection because you did your own thing instead of doing what scripture says to do. The Great Tribulation is going to hurt many people including those in the Church of God. Many of God’s people have been killed for the Word of God. Why are you the exception that should never be hurt by any of it? As Steven, the one in the Bible found out, when he told people of their sin, they stoned him to death. Telling someone their doctrine does not square with scripture is something that cannot be sugar coated. People invest time and work into making up fictional doctrines and once they do that, they don’t want to give them up. So, when someone challenges it, they get mad at the messenger instead of looking closer at the scriptures they are using to construct these false doctrines. People who get angry when challenged are not willing to learn from others and won’t even look. People who are secure with a challenge will check a new idea every time one comes up because they want to get it right. It is called “Growing in Grace and Knowledge.” You have to be open to learning from scripture, which should be your first choice in learning. |
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