Regarding last night’s Christolaos Talkshoe program (2/2/2010).Download the entire program here, post-show and all! Thank you, Mark III, for capturing this.First let me say that before the program even began, I asked RP to mute me, and I would have been more than happy to work on the Linux Server that I am setting up, or on Eli’s future website, or on a thousand other projects that I have brewing on various burners. But for me the fellowship of our group comes first, and RP did not want to mute me, rather inviting me to participate. So all of those other things can wait, and they will. Now I am catching hell – at least from a few people – for having participated in the program. I am not whining – I am only stating things as I see them. And I can take a little hell.
It should be common knowledge by now that Eli and I – while we are indeed friends – disagree on quite a few things. And when those topics upon which we disagree arise on the programs that we do together we discuss them, or often even dispute them. We don’t beat each other up, but we can disagree and move on. When Eli does a Sunday program, and I know he is going to take a position on a topic that is a cause of controversy between us, such as telegony, I stay away, or at least do not call in and badger him. I do not chase people around that I disagree with: that is what Satan (the jews) does.
But if a topic comes up and I have a disagreement with Eli, or any other speaker while I am on a program, then I must voice my dissent. I see that as an obligation that I must fulfill and I am never going to shrink from it. Yahweh is not a respecter of persons, and neither should we be respecters of persons, as James informs us in chapter 2 of his epistle.
If a man utters something that I believe is contrary to scripture, I am going to object and state my case. If a man tells me that I am uttering something contrary to scripture, I am going to emphatically defend myself by citing the Scripture. You, dear reader, had better do the same thing whenever you can.
Both instances occurred in my discourse with the guest last night. Christians are instructed to reason according to the Scripture. Reason does NOT mean compromise. I will not compromise over the Scripture. Although of course I concede that that there are some things which remain obscure to all of us and we all have room for learning. Yet I generally I make an earnest attempt to recognize and not argue over things which are obscure, things which we cannot know (at least yet), or things which I myself do not know.
There are many things which Jesse said last night with which I had serious disagreement, things which are not obscure. For the sake of letting him make his presentation, I remained silent in regard to most of them. I could have easily challenged his interpretation of the “seven times” of punishment of Leviticus 26, and his putting it off for 2700 years in spite of the fact that Israel was carried off in punishment 2700 years ago, as the Scripture tells us. I could also have badgered him more concerning other of his interpretations of Scripture, or concerning some of his statements in reference to history which I find no documentary support for. In fact, Clifton Emahiser feels that I did not question him enough, and that perhaps I should have been more assertive than I was. I chose my questions – or disputes – with him on selected topics because I could not let him go unchallenged. I do not regret that. It is my obligation. I also believe that if I had remained silent, I would be guilty of having signaled approval of statements which in actuality I disagree with. I cannot leave open the possibility for such confusion.
Discussing Scripture, there is milk, and there is meat. I am not milk. And I am not a choir boy.
Christians are not required to be either. If you would rather have milk, then you probably should not listen to me. But don’t come listening to me and then complain that I am too severe. I am not trying to be unreasonable; I am only trying to tell the truth as I see it.
So from now on I will have a new policy concerning the Tuesday evening Christolaos Fellowship call. I do not want to cause any of our brethren any grief.
I will attend the programs whenever I can, of course, but from now on I will only join the call by invitation. I do not have the sort of ego that requires that I be an active participant in every call, and I am not a self-promoter. If you are one of the hosts of the Christolaos calls, you will get a copy of this in an email. If you want to have a guest and feel that my participation may be disruptive to your presentation, do not invite me.
I certainly will not hold a grudge.
Matt, I thank you for your participation and for your words of support. You are a true brother, demonstrated by both your inquiry and your concern. And you are absolutely correct about Troublemaker (Russell Walker). This morning he purposely twisted what I said last night, and then attributed statements to me which I did not make. I have no shortage of expletives for him.
As for grudges: this so-called “sojourner” woman (also known as “akachristian” and “knowsherplace”, she changes her handle every other week) is a fleshly beast who harbors up enmity towards the brethren, and pounces as soon as she thinks she has an opportunity to sink her teeth into someone. But while she thinks she is a lion, in actuality she is only a filthy old alley cat. Three weeks ago, when Mike (Prothink) said something about her, I really tried to give her the benefit of the doubt, not knowing the situation. Mike, of course, spoke while she was present. But the next evening, a Tuesday, she called in and went on a rant against Mike when he was not there to defend himself, interrupting a program which had nothing to do with her in order to satiate her own ego. I redressed her for that. And therefore she harbored a grudge against me for all of those weeks. I could smell it eating away at her inner parts. And when she got the opportunity she attempted to berate me. She is a fool. This woman talks of herself as if she is a prophet on the level of Isaiah or Elijah, and by that means she attempts to put herself above all criticism. She is a blasphemer and Yahweh shall judge her.
I am going to post this response on the forum, and also send it out to most of the regular program listeners in an email. If I forget anyone, I apologize in advance – it is not a purposeful omission. (I do not apologize to Troublemaker, whom I shall omit). Thanks again, Matt.
May Yahweh bless you all.
Bill
