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Mike’s quotes (in bold blue letters) are throughout this letter.
----- Original Message ----- August 10, 2001
Jeff, I accept your word that you intended no deception by not mentioning the meeting where Tim preaches. I do not recall knowing that you had held a meeting there, but I did recall that you had "contact" with Tim. Consequently, this confusion occurred. I trust that is behind us and settled. I do take issue with your making what I understand as "application differences" matters of division among brethren. Consistent with your conclusion that your understanding that those who disagree with you about who sues whom in a divorce for fornication and what role the civil decrees play in divorce are matters of "the faith," you are making these a test of fellowship and advocating that all those who disagree with you on these matters have "fallen from grace." Consistent with my conclusion, you are dividing the church over a matter of human judgment, just as those in 1 Timothy 4:1-3 did. The newsworthy aspect of what happened at Parkersburg is that you made the application (drawing lines of fellowship) as the logical conclusion of the position you asserted. The effect of your teaching is to produce the alienation that resulted between Tim and Ron, brethren who have worked together for years. It will continue to have this effect and, it is for this reason, I am calling on you to quit treating matters that belong in Romans 14 in the category of 2 John 9-11. As to your disappointment in my position on this issue, I would have been happy to discuss the matter with you all week. You were the one who chose to not discuss the matter until our drive to the airport. (I am not sure how much I knew about what you believed about the matter prior thereto. I was not totally ignorant.) You seem disappointed that I am "twisting events," but seem altogether oblivious to your own such accusations against brethren. When I write to find out about a list, I am supposed to have some sinister motive. Jeff, can't you give to me the benefit of doubt that you wish for yourself? We may not agree on this issue, but we can treat one another with kindness and respect. Is that asking too much? If both of us will preach what Matthew 19:9 teaches and avoid teaching his opinions and judgments, we will attain the unity of the faith that God requires of us. I am consistently teaching that the only cause for divorce that gives one the right to remarriage is fornication. I am consistently teaching that anything that happens after the divorce cannot be the cause of the divorce. I am consistently giving brethren room to reach their own conclusions about the civil documents relating to divorce (who must initiate the lawsuit; does a counter suit against a guilty party give the innocent person the right to remarriage; must the decree have "for fornication" on it; etc.).
Must we bow to your conscience to be faithful to
the Lord's command? |
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