Greetings Dan, Buddy! This is your Uncle Chuck!
Sorry, did I blow your cover? ...Great to hear from you! - Excellent points! You know Dan, you'll see "some shots" at things on this site, but I think most of the people here are committed to bringing things that are hidden in the darkness into the light, to expose evil, and to seek reconciliation, hope and peace. There is tons of goodwill here, mercy and love, too. The man who runs this site, Brent, is a wonderful guy I met in SLO last Saturday. He's an inspiration...He's strong, but not afraid to say he's wrong - Godly!
However, if you hang around long enough you'll find some very bitter people as well. Many folks have been hurt and injured through the years...Some of that hurt has turned to anger and that anger to bitterness. It's wrong, but I do understand it. I remember once coming upon a dog that had it's back legs run over and it was dying. When I got close to try and help it, it tried to bite me. I understood why. Needless to say, we're battling it on the Web site. It's not edifying. It's sad, but true and real.
However, just as people who have been hurt by some of their experiences in the assembly need to not be bitter...So, those who are in the assembly or who were formerly in the assembly need to realize is that where there is sin and hypocrisy it must be exposed and hopefully repented of! People who expose sin and the deeds of the darkness are not against the assembly - They are for it! They are for it in the best possible way. Just like a mother who spanks her unruly child. She loves her child. When sin is exposed and turned away from, there is a victory and we get reconciliation. And, the grace flows! Lives are changed...If you hang around you'll see lots of changed lives. This is what Christianity is all about. I've seen more REAL Christianity on this site in the last week than I've seen in many, many years as a believer. It's so encouraging.
The issue that will be addressed increasingly, I believe, on this Web site will be the issue of idolatry. Idolatry comes when we put a man or his offspring on a pedastal. I believe this is where all our woes have come from. Yes, I said we. I'm an outsider to the assembly, but not to our family. I've eaten deep and long at the bitter trough of Idolatry's fruits. And, this man that has only three days ago been exposed, sat as a fraud in a place that no man should have ever sat. Judgement will continue until we repent.
Dear Nephew, Dan, that is and was the problem - Idolatry. This is the warning given by so many, so often through the years to the Assembly. Your own grandfather warned us with much emotion. It was hard to hear.
Much repentence needs to be made concerning the sin of idolatry. All of us need to look deep into our hearts on this one.
Blessings, Dan...I love Dear Nephew. You're a godly, young man. Run the race and win the prize, sweet Dan!
Your Uncle Chuck
chuck@vanant.com
