Gracetruth,
I presume your post is in defense of George Geftakys. After reviewing your other verse-filled posts, it seems like you are defending George and so I will proceed in my response to that end. Your use of the scriptures is very much in keeping with the Geftakys style. I’ve noticed your first nine postings quoted verses for the most part. It has been said before, but I will repeat it, your verses are quoted out of context.
He who is without sin among you, let him cast the first stone at George Geftakys.
John 8:7 But as they continued to ask Him, He lifted Himself up and said to them, He who is without sin among you, let him cast the first stone at her.
No one is throwing a stone a George. However, George needs to step down from leadership. In the context of this passage, the woman was certainly not a leader of the synagogue. Neither should George be of any assembly.
Mat 7:2 For with whatever judgment you judge, you shall be judged; and with whatever measure you measure out, it shall be measured to you again.
That is quite true. If one man is an adulterer and he condemns another, such as George Geftakys, the first will be judged by the measure he judged George. Your argument is pointless! Do you know of adultery by leaders who condemned George? Their adultery needs to be brought to the light then. However, to carelessly throw a verse on the bulletin board in order to imply something or, perhaps, condemn others is an erroneous and careless way to handle the Word of God. Indeed, every careless word will be judged. (Matthew 12:35-37
“The good man out of his good treasure brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of his evil treasure brings forth what is evil. And I say to you, that every careless word that men shall speak, they shall render account for it in the day of judgment. For by your words you shall be justified, and by your words you shall be condemned.”) I know I have been careless in the past, but I have also repented of it, have you?
John 16:2 They shall put you out of the synagogue. But an hour is coming that everyone who kills you will think that he bears God service.
Can you explain this? Who are you referring to? If to George, well no one has killed George! Regarding his sins, he has invalidated his position as a shepherd of God’s people. In Titus 1:5-9 it says, “For this reason I left you in Crete, that you might set in order what remains, and appoint elders in every city as I directed you, namely, if any man be above reproach, the husband of one wife, having children who believe,
not accused of dissipation or rebellion. For the overseer
must be above reproach as God’s steward,
not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not addicted to wine, not pugnacious, not fond of sordid gain, but hospitable, loving what is good, sensible, just, devout,
self-controlled,
holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, that he may be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict.”
Dissipation
n The state of being spread thin. Dissolution (the act of lacking restraint;
esp: loose in morals).
1 Peter 3:9-10 Never give back evil for evil, or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, giving blessing, knowing that you are called to this so that you might inherit blessing. For he that wants to love life and to see good days, let him restrain his tongue from evil, and his lips from speaking guile.
It also says in Zechariah 8:16-17, “These are the things which you should do: speak the truth to one another; judge with truth and judgment for peace in your gates. Also let none of you devise evil in your heart against another, and do not love perjury; for all these are what I hate,’ declares the LORD.”
I would say most ex-members on this bulletin are not paying evil for evil but rather are speaking the truth in love. Personally, I would rather that all involved would repent and be fully restored as well as those who have been hurt. I would like George and his family to repent. I would like for everyone who has been stumbled to be restored.
Now to address you, Gracetruth. Who are you? Are you afraid to reveal your identity? In I John 4:18-19 it says, “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love. We love, because He first loved us.” God loves you and you can post, with your identity, without fear. (I am supposing you are not in fear of judgment) It also says in, I John 1:7 “but if we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.”
