[Vision2020] An Open Letter

[keely emerinemix]

Ahhh, yes -- wooden Biblical literalism, the favored harbor for those 
rebuked and scorned.

No one would argue that the testimony of two or three witnesses isn't better 
than a singular "he said, she said" accusation/response, and even though 
Scripture doesn't say it, I'd feel comfortable suggesting that four, 17, or 
349 witnesses is even better than three.  However, charges of being 
"unloving" are rather difficult to substantiate in a court of law, which is 
why our courts don't entertain such charges.  And as aliens and strangers in 
the land, as we Christians are supposed to be, we wouldn't ask them to.  
Rather, we take seriously the sincere, concerned rebuke of our brothers and 
sisters, among whom there is ample evidence of unloving, smug, arrogant, 
cutting and childish behavior coming from Doug Wilson and the leadership of 
Christ Church.  If even one person leveled similar charges at me, I would be 
stricken and humbled, I would search my heart and seek the counsel of the 
Spirit, and I would repent if I had truly sinned.  I wouldn't pull out a 
Bible verse like a fleshy beef bone offered as a distraction to a 
persistent, snarling pit bull.

But that's just me.

I did not write the letter -- yes, I've been asked -- and if I had, I would 
have signed my name.  But I confronted Doug with many of the same concerns 
in May, 2003, in a face-to-face meeting he granted me after I wrote to him.  
I was grateful for the meeting, chagrined at his demeanor during our time 
together, and appalled at his continued actions and attitude afterward.  I 
would suggest, in all humility, that Doug concern himself less with the 
anonymity of the writer, and Dale less with Biblical prooftexting, so that 
if the message received is truly light shining in the darkness, they would 
be able to step into it.

keely emerine mix


From: DonaldH675 at aol.com
To: dmcourtn at moscow.com, vision2020 at moscow.com
Subject: Re: [Vision2020] An Open Letter
Date: Fri, 10 Jun 2005 20:30:54 EDT

Visionaries and Dale,

Actually, Dale, I am aware of the scriptural requirement for witnesses when
an accusation is made.  Perhaps you are referring to Deut. 17:6

"On the evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses he that is to die
shall be put to death; a person shall not be put to death one the evidence 
of
one witness."

Of course, the author of the open letter was not asking for the death
penalty, but rather, repentance - which I believe you would understand is 
the  gift
of eternal life.

At any rate, I think, that you, as well as your elders, pastor, and
congregation members, are far more aware than those of us outside Christ  
Church that
there are a super-sufficiency of witnesses to the sins discussed in  the
letter.

As you know, I always sign my letters (typos, skipped words, and  all).  I 
am
in a position to do so because I do not have to worry about  employment, how
my children might be treated in school, or being shunned by  other church
members.  As I understood it, anonymity was chosen so  that the messenger 
was not
the focus -  the message was.   Clearly you and Doug don't share my
understanding.

I am sorry that the letter did not resonate with you in the way that it did
for me.

Rose
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