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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Oops. I offer my sincere apologies for cluttering up this list with the
ecclesiastical formalities between myself and my elders. I’ll offer
a brief self-justificatory, groveling explanation and then I’ll go away
and get off the internet: <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>A friend called, and he wanted to see Jones’ letter to me while
we were on the phone; I pasted into the response I was writing up for Aaron—I
think anyway. “Hey, it is still not coming in,” my friend
explained. “Really? That’s strange…..Ah, I’m
afraid you’ll have to see it on Vision 2020!” Sensory
overload or something like that; time to go read a book….<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>At least note that I had permission to post this letter in anyway I saw
fit : -)<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Last time this happened, <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Wilson</st1:place></st1:City>
said that it was not funny, not funny at all. For those of you interested
in scanning this letter, please note the good news: excommunication won’t
do me any good, so nobody is going to bother. Whew! <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Hey, and I think I’ll just go ahead and copy my response
below. We’re all big one happy <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Moscow</st1:place></st1:City> family by now after all.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Michael<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:14.0pt'><font size=4 face="GoudyOlSt BT"><span
style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"GoudyOlSt BT"'>May 4-th , 2006 </span></font><font
size=4><span style='font-size:14.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=4 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
14.0pt'>Dear Mr. Jones,<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=4 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
14.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=4 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
14.0pt'>As I anticipated, my request for the elders to ‘pace’
themselves was not headed. Chris Schlect and Doug Wilson have both
recently leveled numerous and wildly false accusations against me. I
therefore need to offer a strong defense. Further accusations from you
and your new ultimatums is further exasperating my ability to offer my defense
before the elders. This is actually not surprising, since this action of
yours, seen properly within the broader story line, is clearly an attempt to
keep me away from expressing my concerns to the elders. I have already pointed
out beyond a reasonable doubt the deceit in your claims about a full
‘open door’ for me—whether formal or informal. This
letter from you is further proof of just this. I finally begin getting a
hearing or interest from elders after 5 months, and your response is to
immediately clamp down on my ability to continue explaining my concerns and
answering wildly false accusation against me. The session of <st1:PersonName
w:st="on">Christ Church</st1:PersonName> has been seeking to bring “some
level of closure” in their interaction with me for the last five months,
beginning with Wilson’s refusal to speak with me normally many months
ago, following up with your disparagement of my desire to meet with the elders
at the time I started Pooh’s Think. I find it strange
therefore that you would say now that “</span></font><font size=4
face="GoudyOlSt BT"><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"GoudyOlSt BT"'>The
session of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PersonName w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Christ</st1:PlaceName>
<st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Church</st1:PlaceType></st1:PersonName></st1:place>
is interested in bringing some level of closure to our interaction with you.
Humanly speaking, for a long while now, we’ve obviously ceased to be any
pastoral help to you.”<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=4 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
14.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=4 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
14.0pt'>In this letter to me, you make a series of claims that are not only
false, they are calling black white and white black. Your claims about
me, my intentions, and what and how I have actually been addressing the elders
and posting on my web site are backwards. The claims you make of me apply
to you, not me. I will therefore, in a way that permits of robust
‘falsification,’ answer your fresh claims one by one:<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=4 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
14.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=4 face="GoudyOlSt BT"><span style='font-size:
14.0pt;font-family:"GoudyOlSt BT"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=4 face="GoudyOlSt BT"><span style='font-size:
14.0pt;font-family:"GoudyOlSt BT"'>DJ: We had hoped you would join us in
trusting in the Spirit’s work in the Supper because <b><span
style='font-weight:bold'>any attempts at interaction with you</span></b> only
created more tangled layers of misinterpretations.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=4 face="GoudyOlSt BT"><span style='font-size:
14.0pt;font-family:"GoudyOlSt BT"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=4 face="GoudyOlSt BT"><span style='font-size:
14.0pt;font-family:"GoudyOlSt BT"'>MM: This is a wild revision of history, Mr.
Jones. I have vigorously interacted with all communication you have been
willing to throw my way, and yet each time you refuse to continue any sort of
dialog. You send me authoritative utterances, I attempt to interact,
agree, or challenge these utterances, and then I either hear nothing in return,
or else you just glibly pronounce that I’m just
“psychologizing.” For the last five months you have refused
any of what would be considered the most basic expression of human
communicative dialog. You refuse to hear my replies; you refuse to answer
them; you refuse to so much as have a ‘conversation’ with me.
Not once over the last three months have you attempted to demonstrate that you
have attempted to understand a concern of mine, and your refusal to answer my
arguments or criticism continues to this day. Instead, I have been
belittled and disrespected to a severe degree: I am losing it, I am
spiritually imploding, I don’t know what I am talking about, I
don’t care about the truth, I am confused, I know what I am saying is not
true, I’m losing my grip, I can’t handle the truth, I am not
qualified to make a judgment about Wilson’s false accusations against
McLaren, etc. Mr. Jones, this is classic, text-book, SPIRITUAL ABUSE, not
pastoral ‘interaction.’ <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=4 face="GoudyOlSt BT"><span style='font-size:
14.0pt;font-family:"GoudyOlSt BT"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=4 face="GoudyOlSt BT"><span style='font-size:
14.0pt;font-family:"GoudyOlSt BT"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=4 face="GoudyOlSt BT"><span style='font-size:
14.0pt;font-family:"GoudyOlSt BT"'>DJ: But now you’ve stopped communing
with us. At the same time, you have continued to make public accusations and
have declined to submit any of these accusations to us to evaluate in a
biblical, accountable, orderly, and responsible manner. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=4 face="GoudyOlSt BT"><span style='font-size:
14.0pt;font-family:"GoudyOlSt BT"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=4 face="GoudyOlSt BT"><span style='font-size:
14.0pt;font-family:"GoudyOlSt BT"'>MM: We leave town every other weekend.
I therefore believe it has been two to three Sunday’s in town since our
last meeting with you at <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PersonName w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">Christ</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Church</st1:PlaceType></st1:PersonName></st1:place>.
We have communed at other <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Christian</st1:PlaceName>
<st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Churches</st1:PlaceName></st1:place> during this
time. I have submitted accusations continually in an accountable and
orderly manner; given your character assignation, unaccountable arrogance, and
refusal to respect my desire to express concern, my web site is fully
‘biblical.’ And I would think that my attempt to offer a
judicious and rational (i.e. evidential and argumentative) display of my
concerns once you refused to take them ‘in house’ has certainly
been done in a responsible manner when contrasted to your irrational,
authoritative, belittling responses to me. Mike Lawyer expressing his
confidence that I don’t have any more Christian friends is an example of
the level of contrast I see between the elders’ willingness to engage in
rational conversation and my own. </span></font><font size=4><span
style='font-size:14.0pt'><br>
</span></font><font size=4 face="GoudyOlSt BT"><span style='font-size:14.0pt;
font-family:"GoudyOlSt BT"'> </span></font><font size=4><span
style='font-size:14.0pt'> <br>
</span></font><font size=4 face="GoudyOlSt BT"><span style='font-size:14.0pt;
font-family:"GoudyOlSt BT"'> </span></font><font size=4><span
style='font-size:14.0pt'> <br>
</span></font><font size=4 face="GoudyOlSt BT"><span style='font-size:14.0pt;
font-family:"GoudyOlSt BT"'>DJ: This option would include taking down your blog
(for your sake), remove yourself from all <st1:PersonName w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">Christ</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Church</st1:PlaceType></st1:PersonName>
disputes, seek forgiveness, and begin attending <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PersonName
w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Christ</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">Church</st1:PlaceType></st1:PersonName></st1:place> again
regularly. Nothing we’ve seen in your correspondence suggests that you
are in any way inclined in this direction.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=4 face="GoudyOlSt BT"><span style='font-size:
14.0pt;font-family:"GoudyOlSt BT"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=4 face="GoudyOlSt BT"><span style='font-size:
14.0pt;font-family:"GoudyOlSt BT"'>MM: Notice here that the path of
‘repentance’ is to basically ‘shut up and sit down.’ I
am to remove myself from all disputes. This is an amazing admission to
what your attitude has been all along. When we met privately many months
ago, I was to either forget everything, shut up, and go silently on my way, or
else there was going to be a nasty fight. Actually considering my concerns or
leaving the mere possibly open to the fact that I might provide some kind of
laymen spiritual gift for the edification of the body was rejected a
priori. A Greyfriar student with gifts like I have is simply not allowed
to express criticism or concern? This is outrageous, and one of the very
justifications I providentially received for continuing Pooh’s Think.
I’m sorry you have not been able to silence me as quickly as you
did other dissenting kirkers. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=4 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
14.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=4 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
14.0pt'><br>
</span></font><font size=4 face="GoudyOlSt BT"><span style='font-size:14.0pt;
font-family:"GoudyOlSt BT"'>DJ: Your blog should be much more of an
embarrassment to you and your family than to us. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=4 face="GoudyOlSt BT"><span style='font-size:
14.0pt;font-family:"GoudyOlSt BT"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=4 face="GoudyOlSt BT"><span style='font-size:
14.0pt;font-family:"GoudyOlSt BT"'>MM: The logical options here seem to be the
following: you are either self-deluded or else you are putting on a rhetorical
magic show for the other elders. There might be another psychological option,
but I’m not sure what that would be. I would say that about 9 out
of 10 of those people without an identity attached to Doug Wilson in any way
find my web site to be largely sound and cogent. And I would guess, from
the vast correspondence my web site has created, that about 7 out of 10 are
glad I have done what I have done. Of those individuals who would like to
see me go in a more ‘positive’ direction or else just stop
blogging, none of them (but for one odd fellow I think) find my web site an
“embarrassment.” Even Wilson-defending critics on the
‘outside’ of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PersonName w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">Christ</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Church</st1:PlaceType></st1:PersonName></st1:place>
usually do not see my site as an “embarrassment.” No, only
those ‘inside’ kirkers express this sort of cognitive and emotional
response. And there are even local kirkers who are listening with agreement and
mild approval. If this is not rhetorical deception, then you need to get
out of your bubble Mr. Jones. What you say here is clearly false by the
only possible standard to which to test it. This further reveals that the
people living in non-reality currently are those loyal members of the Kirk. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=4 face="GoudyOlSt BT"><span style='font-size:
14.0pt;font-family:"GoudyOlSt BT"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=4 face="GoudyOlSt BT"><span style='font-size:
14.0pt;font-family:"GoudyOlSt BT"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=4 face="GoudyOlSt BT"><span style='font-size:
14.0pt;font-family:"GoudyOlSt BT"'>DJ: A faithful church is supposed to
generate this sort of false accusation, and when we compare its bizarre
disconnect from reality, it only confirms that we’re doing something
right. When we cease provoking sentimental men, then we will have failed in our
calling.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=4 face="GoudyOlSt BT"><span style='font-size:
14.0pt;font-family:"GoudyOlSt BT"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=4 face="GoudyOlSt BT"><span style='font-size:
14.0pt;font-family:"GoudyOlSt BT"'>This “bastard apologetic”
[penned by another local pastor] has been fully illustrated and refuted in the
Wood; you simply refuse to acknowledge it. This is one of the ad hoc
developments of the Kirk’s unique imprecatory, Enemy Theology. To
normal Christians who understand our current culture, it is basic common sense
why so many people have taken offense from our behavior. We have been
non-missional, arrogant, insulting, and rude. We have not extended a
culture of love and grace to outsiders but rather journalistic satire. We
have even done many very silly and stupid things, like writing positive remarks
about the happiness of the ‘interracial’ mixing of blacks and
whites before the civil war, and throwing around a static, ugly, theonomic
position in the face of refined liberals with a good taste for social justice.
(The property ownership and voting thing is really cute. Ah, the founding
father’s agreed! All legal regress here in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region
w:st="on">America</st1:country-region></st1:place> the last 200 years.) The
smugness and irrationality that many kirkers have consistently expressed on
Vision 2020 is simply an embarrassment. In fact, our behavior has been so
unwise and arrogant that I have marveled at how judicious many on the outside
continue to be. No sir, a faithful Christian church in our society is NOT
supposed “to generate this sort of false accusation.” As you
and others at the Kirk have revealed over and over again, it is you and not
people like me who have a ‘bizarre disconnect from reality.’
And you, Mr. Jones, will one day have to answer for your arrogant dismissal of
concerns expressed by numerous men with hearts and personalities more in
conformity to those of the characters we see in the bible. If Jesus,
Paul, or David were at <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PersonName w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">Christ</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Church</st1:PlaceType></st1:PersonName></st1:place>
today, you would have certainly labeled them as “sentimentalists”
and told them to take a hike. I’ve seen you play this game with
other godly men, such as Jon Amos. That was really your only way of
defending the serrated edge: anyone who disagrees is just a
sentimentalist. This is subterfuge, Mr. Jones. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=4 face="GoudyOlSt BT"><span style='font-size:
14.0pt;font-family:"GoudyOlSt BT"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=4 face="GoudyOlSt BT"><span style='font-size:
14.0pt;font-family:"GoudyOlSt BT"'> </span></font><font size=4><span
style='font-size:14.0pt'><br>
</span></font><font size=4 face="GoudyOlSt BT"><span style='font-size:14.0pt;
font-family:"GoudyOlSt BT"'>DJ: You’ve created a web of unfalsifiable
accusations and psychological conspiracies in which you are always the victim.
With God as our witness, our consciences are clean in regard to your
accusations, and we unhesitatingly believe that you will be terribly surprised
and ashamed of your claims when we sit as brothers on Judgment Day. You clearly
have no idea how far from reality your vision is, and we clearly lack the means
of persuading you otherwise. </span></font><font size=4><span style='font-size:
14.0pt'><br>
</span></font><font size=4 face="GoudyOlSt BT"><span style='font-size:14.0pt;
font-family:"GoudyOlSt BT"'> </span></font><font size=4><span
style='font-size:14.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=4 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
14.0pt'>MM: With God as my witness Mr. Jones, I want to charge you with lying
here. You know fully well that I have addressed you with arguments and
evidence. I have given you almost nothing but the ability to provide
‘falsification.’ You consciences’ are not clean, as
your behavior towards me for the last 8 months has been screaming loud and
clear. But you are right that you clearly lack the means of persuading me
otherwise; you lack the means of persuading any rational independent onlooker
to this. In fact, you simply refuse to even attempt a falsification to my
arguments and claims, arguments and claims that would be easily falsified if
they were entirely incorrect. What seems very apparent to me and many others
on-looking all this is that you don’t have any good reasons for thinking
that my claims are not true. What is easily falsifiable and yet also
clearly demonstrated beyond a reasonable doubt is the fact that <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Wilson</st1:City></st1:place> misrepresented
Brian McLaren’s book, to give just one example. So did <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Wilson</st1:City></st1:place> do this or
not? Most on the outside think he did to some degree. For anyone
that rigorously compared his ‘review’ with the actually book, I
think the results would be staggering; Wilson’s actions against McLaren
are atrocious, and I labored with a dozen lengthy and scholarly posts
demonstrating just this. So just how is it on this one particular claim
of mine (for mere illustration) that my vision is “so far
reality”? <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=4 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
14.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=4 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
14.0pt'>Excuse me Mr. Jones, but you are simply revealing the fact that you are
not an honest man; you are not demonstrating a ‘clean conscience’
at all. Just look at your very claims here. You call white black
and black white. Who’s claims are really unfalsifiable here.
Mine or yours. You hide behind a wall of ad hom remarks and subterfuge
whereas I want to get right down to business and lay the fact out on the
table. Can’t you see how silly it looks from the
‘outside,’ when after all this you cannot even provide and argument,
and explanation, or any evidence to your strong accusations against me?
What about just one example Mr. Jones? Just one. Can you come up
with at least one illustration? <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=4 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
14.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=4 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
14.0pt'><br>
</span></font><font size=4 face="GoudyOlSt BT"><span style='font-size:14.0pt;
font-family:"GoudyOlSt BT"'>DJ: The second option urges you to take
responsibility for your accusations, justify them coherently, and allow them to
be evaluated and cross-examined in an orderly manner before our session
immediately. As always, we’re far from perfect and always open to
correction. We now lack, however, the confidence that you are any longer able
to discuss these items with us informally, and so this option asks you to
justify your accusations carefully and precisely. At the same time, this option
includes taking down your blog and removing yourself from other disputes as
evidence that you are willing to pursue these issues in an orderly manner. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=4 face="GoudyOlSt BT"><span style='font-size:
14.0pt;font-family:"GoudyOlSt BT"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=4 face="GoudyOlSt BT"><span style='font-size:
14.0pt;font-family:"GoudyOlSt BT"'>MM: Mr. Jones, why the procrastination
and all the time spent on this long letter to me? Let’s get started
right now. Structure it any way you like. Who goes first?
Let’s dance man. For heaven’s sake, after five months, will
the elders finally start “evaluating and cross-examining” me?
Go for it. I’m tired of cross-examining <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City
w:st="on">Wilson</st1:City></st1:place>, since he turns up more guilty than I
even imagined every time—and it has now been four times. So now
your turn. Please, present some kind of reasonable argument or counter
claim. Pick a topic; ask for clarification on something. Why is it
my responsibility to figure out how to get my concerns voiced? Of course
I’m able to discuss all this informally with the Session; I discuss
difficult and controversial subjects with all sorts of people on a weekly
basis. Why do the elders get in the way of this by merely maligning my
character and declaring that I’m simply living in a fantasy world?
Who is it really getting in the way of rational discussion here? Of
course I’m not going to take down my Blog right now; I’ve got too
many character attacks coming out to defend myself about. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=4 face="GoudyOlSt BT"><span style='font-size:
14.0pt;font-family:"GoudyOlSt BT"'> </span></font><font size=4><span
style='font-size:14.0pt'> <br>
</span></font><font size=4 face="GoudyOlSt BT"><span style='font-size:14.0pt;
font-family:"GoudyOlSt BT"'>DJ: Given that you have declined to follow your
membership vows to submit to our government and discipline while pursuing
purity and peace, as evidenced by your refusal to worship with us or heed our
counsel, this option has us confirming your actions by immediately releasing
you from your membership vows and our obligations to you.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=4 face="GoudyOlSt BT"><span style='font-size:
14.0pt;font-family:"GoudyOlSt BT"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=4 face="GoudyOlSt BT"><span style='font-size:
14.0pt;font-family:"GoudyOlSt BT"'>MM: I do not have a clue to what you are
talking about. I have headed every exhortation that the session has given
me. Have I not? When have I not? I even asked further many
times if there was anything additional and particular that the elders would
require of me. Unfortunately, I have to once again follow up and accuse
you of lying here Mr. Jones. You have no authority or right to declare that I
have refused to head the Session’s demands after I have just headed every
one of the Session’s demands. That might look like psychologizing
to you, but most human beings call it straight forward logic. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=4 face="GoudyOlSt BT"><span style='font-size:
14.0pt;font-family:"GoudyOlSt BT"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=4 face="GoudyOlSt BT"><span style='font-size:
14.0pt;font-family:"GoudyOlSt BT"'>I “refuse” to worship with
you? Two or three in-town Sundays is a “refusal”? The
elders are on record encouraging and then refusing to discourage another
‘kirker’ brother who was hatefully and irrationally threatening me
with litigation. Doug Wilson called this despicable and violent
“argument” “<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>unassailable</span></b>.”
I’m sorry, but that kind of wierded me out a little bit. It
was hard enough to continue worshiping with you as it was, but until you repent
of this kind of injustice and mishandling of me, and your wild failure to
protect me and my family through basic pastoral care, then I really am going to
have a hard time coming back and worshiping with you now. Let me know
when you are willing to discharge your basic duties on that one event and I
will consider coming back.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=4 face="GoudyOlSt BT"><span style='font-size:
14.0pt;font-family:"GoudyOlSt BT"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=4 face="GoudyOlSt BT"><span style='font-size:
14.0pt;font-family:"GoudyOlSt BT"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=4 face="GoudyOlSt BT"><span style='font-size:
14.0pt;font-family:"GoudyOlSt BT"'>DJ: This is not excommunication or
suspension; we believe those would be of no spiritual benefit to you. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=4 face="GoudyOlSt BT"><span style='font-size:
14.0pt;font-family:"GoudyOlSt BT"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=4 face="GoudyOlSt BT"><span style='font-size:
14.0pt;font-family:"GoudyOlSt BT"'>MM: Really? Then why is it beneficial
for ____________? He thinks the same things I do are true about you and
Wilson. He has the identical missional heart and the same fear of <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Wilson</st1:City></st1:place>. So why is it
helpful to him, even though he has even already joined himself to another
church for accountability and nourishment? This is truly perplexing to
me. If you have any helpful thoughts on this matter I would greatly
appreciate it. Further, <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Wilson</st1:City></st1:place>
has already stated in writing that part of his strategy with me is to not do
anything that could show up negatively on Vision 2020. Your game here is
clear. If I didn’t start my blog at all, I would not have been
suspended for like-behavior? This makes no sense to me; so again, if you
have any helpful comments that could help clarify this for me I would greatly
appreciate it. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=4 face="GoudyOlSt BT"><span style='font-size:
14.0pt;font-family:"GoudyOlSt BT"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=4 face="GoudyOlSt BT"><span style='font-size:
14.0pt;font-family:"GoudyOlSt BT"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=4 face="GoudyOlSt BT"><span style='font-size:
14.0pt;font-family:"GoudyOlSt BT"'>DJ: We count you a brother in need of
great help we can’t provide. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=4 face="GoudyOlSt BT"><span style='font-size:
14.0pt;font-family:"GoudyOlSt BT"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=4 face="GoudyOlSt BT"><span style='font-size:
14.0pt;font-family:"GoudyOlSt BT"'>MM: But <st1:PersonName w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">Christ</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Church</st1:PlaceType></st1:PersonName>
is one of the best pastoral/educational churches in the <st1:country-region
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">USA</st1:place></st1:country-region> [not
really]. Why would you not be in a position to help me? Again, this
makes no sense to me. What sin am I in that would preclude you helping
me? I’m a conservative, committed, missional Christian faithfully
married to another Christian woman and raising four children in a
‘biblical’ manner. I have a high sense of duty to pursue
truth and what it is that God has set forward in his scripture. I’m
even somewhat educated, and broadly so; this would give you plenty of material
to work with. I’m sensitive and have an imaginative mental life; it
seems this is something you could used powerfully in your desire to relieve my
fears, answer my concerns, and guide me to safer shores. Have you really
even tried to do this? Outside of just trying to get me to shut up that
is. You guys write books on discipline and counseling. What is the
unique problem with me? You can’t provide me with any help at
all? <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=4 face="GoudyOlSt BT"><span style='font-size:
14.0pt;font-family:"GoudyOlSt BT"'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=4 face="GoudyOlSt BT"><span style='font-size:
14.0pt;font-family:"GoudyOlSt BT"'>DJ: Please feel free to circulate or post
this correspondence as you see fit before God.</span></font><font size=4><span
style='font-size:14.0pt'> <br>
</span></font><font size=4 face="GoudyOlSt BT"><span style='font-size:14.0pt;
font-family:"GoudyOlSt BT"'> </span></font><font size=4><span
style='font-size:14.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=4 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
14.0pt'>MM: This is one of the first honest statements I’ve heard
from you in a long time. Thank you, I appreciate that.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=4 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
14.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=4 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
14.0pt'>As for the various options: please send me an official letter
from the Session of <st1:PersonName w:st="on">Christ Church</st1:PersonName>
that it is their desire for me to remove my membership if I am not willing to
comply with the other two options. As for filing formal charges, everyone
on the ‘outside’ is strongly discouraging me from doing this.
Most folks appear to think that I would be lynched in a dark basement if I
threw myself at the feet of your beautiful sense of justice. But I’ll
have to talk to my wife further about it. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=4 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
14.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=4 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
14.0pt'>The much needed defense against Chris Schlect’s and Doug
Wilson’s slander will be forthcoming. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=4 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
14.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=4 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
14.0pt'>Thank You<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=4 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
14.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:14.0pt'><font size=4
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>Michael Metzler<br>
</span></font><font size=4 face="GoudyOlSt BT"><span style='font-size:14.0pt;
font-family:"GoudyOlSt BT"'> </span></font><font size=4><span
style='font-size:14.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=4 face=Arial><span style='font-size:14.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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