Tom:
Your comments suggest the absence of an objective standard. Is the adduced condemnation based on violation of the clear teaching of Scripture? If it is, whence the charge of moral superiority?...All have sinned...
Verne
Well Verne,
Lets take the standard, "Thou shall not steal".
If I take it upon myself to inform the world that Joe Blow is a thief, I think that anyone who read my post would be quite reasonable in concluding that I am against stealing. In other words, that I am condemning Joe's behavior.
If I were to feel that Joe's actions were normal and acceptable, why would I be motivated to report them?
For example, regarding Tim Geftakys, who was the subject of the "accusations"; I didn't notice anyone posting that Tim Geftakys is a dirty rotton low down BREATHER!! He has been seen BREATHING by multiple witnesses! Its not news. It doesn't really tell you anything about the man's character at all.
But if I call a man a thief, I am acting as an exposer of evil, an agent of righteousness who wishes others to join me in condemnation of the guilty one. I am raising a public outcry against the man.
When Tim is called a "snake" or "rat" or whatever, I think that that is dirty pool.
Even the Pharisees had to meet minimum standards of justice. "Does our law condemn a man unheard?", "In the mouth of two or three witnesses let every word be established."
If a poster has an accusation against Tim G., they should step up to the plate and say what it is. If they don't like the man, they should say so AND say why with some specificity.
But just standing back and hurling nasty names and insults at people is nothing but reviling.
In saying this, I don't mean to say that I think Tim G. is an innocent victim. I just mean that people who undertake to remove the mote from Tim Geftakys' eye should make sure that they themselves are acting properly.
Thomas Maddux
