[Vision2020] Wretched, helpless, and distrest

[Captain Kirker]

Visionheads:

 

As previously noted, in 1991 the Wolfman wrote an article where he posthumously disqualified John Wesley from the ministry because of his transgressions. Today I would like to note another point where the Wolfman condemned John Wesley, and then observe another striking similarity between the two men.

 

Regarding “sloppiness” in the ministry, the Wolfman wrote:

“Academic rigor and precision is not manda­tory for all those in the pew, but it is essential for those who preach and teach. The Scriptures tell us that to whom much is given, such as teachers, much is required (Luke 12:48). We know that teachers will be judged more strictly than others (Jas. 3:1). When this higher standard for teachers is applied to John Wesley, I believe that an honest examination reveals him to have been sorely deficient. . . . Tragically, when it came to certain topics, Wesley was also gifted with an extraordinary, and culpable, sloppiness of mind. . . . Godly controversialists are required to work with greater precision, not less. The greater the controversy, and the more important the issue, the greater the necessity for accuracy.” (Wolfman, Greyfriars Covenant: Essays on Evangelism & Apologetics [Moscow, ID: Greyfriars Hall Press, 2001] 166, 169)

However, after the Wolfman got caught plagiarizing, he uploaded the following excuse on his web splotch:

“The upshot is ‘sloppiness, yes, plagiarism, no.’ . . . This was a competence issue. . . We were guilty of embarrassing and inexusable [sic] sloppiness in the citations of Time on the Cross. Inexcusable, and therefore no excuses. (Wolfman, Splotch & Maysplotch, August 4–5, 2004).

Memo to the Wolfman:

Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting. You declared that academic precision is essential for those who preach and teach. In the case of John Wesley, you drew the line at sloppiness and declared him guilty—sorely deficient for the ministry. But now we see that you waxed sloppy too. You slopped so much that you declared yourself incompetent and without excuse.

 

The rule that you measured has been meted back. Resign from the ministry at once. Do unto us, as you would John Wesley to have done. Spare yourself any more misery. Spare us any more of your ministry. Put down Tom Petty so that you may pick up your own written standards. Then join the Captain in song:

 

Wretched, helpless, and distrest,
Ah! whither shall I fly?
Ever gasping after rest,
I cannot find it nigh:
Naked, sick, and poor, and blind,
Fast bound in sin and misery,
Friend of sinners, let me find
My help, my all, in thee!

 

I am all unclean, unclean,
Thy purity I want;
My whole heart is sick of sin,
And my whole head is faint;
Full of putrefying sores,
Of bruises, and of wounds, my soul
Looks to Jesus, help implores,
And gasps to be made whole.

 

In the wilderness I stray,
My foolish heart is blind,
Nothing do I know; the way
Of peace I cannot find:
Jesu, Lord, restore my sight,
And take, O take, the veil away!
Turn my darkness into light,
My midnight into day.

 

Naked of thine image, Lord,
Forsaken, and alone,
Unrenewed, and unrestored,
I have not thee put on;
Over me thy mantle spread,
Send down thy likeness from above,
Let thy goodness be displayed,
And wrap me in thy love.

 

Poor, alas! thou know'st I am,
And would be poorer still,
See my nakedness and shame,
And all my vileness feel;
No good thing in me resides,
My soul is all an aching void
Till thy Spirit here abides,
And I am filled with God.

 

Jesus, full of truth and grace,
In thee is all I want;
Be the wanderer's resting-place,
A cordial to the faint;
Make me rich, for I am poor;
In thee may I my Eden find;
To the dying health restore.
And eye-sight to the blind.

 

Clothe me with thy holiness,
Thy meek humility;
Put on me my glorious dress,
Endue my soul with thee;
Let thine image be restored,
Thy name and nature let me prove,
With thy fulness fill me, Lord.
And perfect me in love.

 

Attention Kirkers: You can examine the Wolfman’s plagiarism at this link:

http://www.tomandrodna.com/notonthepalouse/Plagiarism.htm

 

And you can read his entire essay on Wesley at this link:

http://www.reformed.org/webfiles/antithesis/v2n1/ant_v2n1_Wesley.html

		
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