[Vision2020] "Taming the tongue with lessons learned from Scripture"
Art Deco aka W. Fox
deco@moscow.com
Mon, 26 Apr 2004 16:56:22 -0700
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Saundra, et al,
This written fenke* from the Cult Master certainly raises some questions about
his writing ability and some very serious issues about his ethical outlook. A
great deal could be written about this entire dido, but let's just concentrate
on the last two paragraphs:
| As we labor to learn how to speak the way we ought, we have to take care to
| learn our lessons from Scripture. This is because sin is always defined by
| God and not by our own instincts. We must always define sins of the tongue
| according to the Word. Scripture says that a "talebearer revealeth secrets:
| but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter" (Prov. 11:13).
| We must take care that we do not absolutize this in a wooden manner, and
| there are obviously times when another course of action would be required.
| But at the same time note the thrust of this proverb. A faithful spirit is
| one which conceals things -- covers them right up. It is not possible to
| live together in community without discovering things about others that
| would injurious to their reputations if more widely known.
|
| What are we therefore to do? We are to be jealous for the reputations of
| those others, and this means cultivating a zeal for appropriate secrecy.
| How much are we to do this? Well, love covers a multitude of sins.
Consider: "A faithful spirit is one which conceals things -- covers them right
up."
Lets' see:
Suppose you are an employee of a business called Crackpot Press. Should you
remain silent and not say anything to anyone about:
Allegations of personnel problems and unfair treatment?
Allegations of gross mismanagement?
Allegations of accounting irregularities?
Allegations of possible failures to adhere to regulatory requirements and tax
and other statutes?
Questions about the proper use of Christ Church funds to cover business and
management mistakes/problems/irregularities?
Suppose you were employed at an alleged Christian school called Bogus School.
Should you remain silent and not say anything to anyone about:
Allegations about a covert civil war between certain factions among the
faculty/staff of the school?
Questions about the ability of the headmaster to do a proper and fair job?
Questions about whether the headmaster is aware of all the things that are going
on?
Allegations of inappropriate touching and similar actions?
Allegations of ignoring Christian values for the sake of making a splendid
appearance?
Suppose you are a student of or employed by a college-wanna-be business called
New Saint Vitus Academy. Should you remain silent and not say anything to
anyone about:
Allegations about the son of a high ranking official running an illegal gambling
casino?
Allegations about the son of a high ranking official selling illegal substances?
Allegations about the son of a high ranking official involved in arson?
Allegations about a student involved in a large cash theft?
Allegations about students involved in the theft of a valuable work of art?
Allegations about the involvement of academy tangents involved in the theft of a
safe?
Suppose you are a congregant/officer in a church called Creeps Church: Should
you remain silent and not say anything to anyone about:
Allegations of sexual harassment, destructive adultery, and other sexual
misconduct of high ranking church officials/members?
Allegations of dishonesty by high ranking church officials/members?
Allegations of discouraging victims of spousal/child abuse from reporting same
to the proper law enforcement agencies?
Allegations of double standards of behavior between ordinary congregants and
church officials/leaders?
Allegations of deviant theology and the intentional misuse of scripture for
personal power and gain?
Would love cover all these alleged sins and other alleged sins as Cult Master
Douglas Wilson asks? Apparently in the cult, the answer is: "Yes!"
Possibly I am an old fuddy-duddy. I believe that illegal acts should be
reported to law enforcement. I believe that honest differences of opinion in
any organization should be openly expressed and discussed without fear of
retribution, punishment, ridicule, and/or attempts to ruin someone's life.
When I lived in Boundary County, there was a very well executed oil painting
hanging in a popular cafe, the Three Mile. The painting depicted a garden
watering can sitting on top of a fence post. Water was pouring from many
different little holes all over the barrel of the watering can. At that time we
likened the painting to the county attorney's office which had with
confidentiality.
This painting might also symbolize the current situation within the cult. There
is no doubt that some puzzled, concerned cult members and employees have lately
started to discuss and to leak information to non-culties. Some brave ones,
especially some women, have asked incisive questions about many different cult
matters, doctrines, practices, etc. Some very brave cult members have even
expressed questions about the Cult Master's personal power/ego driven motives,
flim-flam, and mental health. (The column under discussion here has certainly
raised questions about the latter!)
The insularity of the cult appears to be breaking down, much to the
discommodement of the leadership.
Perhaps, the Cult Master's column under discussion is an attempt to plug the
leaks in the watering can with twisted scripture and a barely veiled warning.
Will it work? Stay tuned.
Wayne
Art Deco (Wayne Fox)
deco@moscow.com
*Fenke: Blubber used as fertilizer.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Saundra Lund" <sslund@adelphia.net>
To: "'vision2020'" <vision2020@moscow.com>
Sent: Monday, April 26, 2004 10:19 AM
Subject: [Vision2020] "Taming the tongue with lessons learned from Scripture"
| For those who missed Doug Wilson's article in Friday's Daily News and
| haven't (yet) checked out Mr. Hansen's link
| (http://www.tomandrodna.com/notonthepalouse/Taming_the_Tongue.htm) to the
| article, following is the text (Moscow-Pullman Daily News; Friday, April 23,
| 2004; 10A):
|
|
| "Taming the tongue with lessons learned from Scripture
|
| The apostle James tells us that the one who can control his tongue can
| control anything (Jas. 3:2). He says in the same verse that we all offend
| in many ways. The clear implication is that none of us have full control of
| our speech -- for if we did, we would not be offending in "many things" the
| way he describes. No man can tame his own tongue; it is an unruly evil,
| full of deadly poison (v. 8).
|
| This should drive us to the grace of God, which is the only way that wise
| speech can be manifested in this corrupt world. Does a man claim insight or
| wisdom on any subject? "Let him shew out of a good conversation his works
| with meekness of wisdom." If it is not spoken with this kind of meekness,
| then whatever it is, it cannot be wise in any heavenly sense.
|
| We also learn from James that the tongue is a destructive force in the lives
| of men. We learn from Proverbs all the different ways in which this
| destruction comes.
|
| For one example, "A froward man soweth strife; and a whisperer separateth
| chief friends" (Prov. 16:28).
|
| Whenever a crop of strife arises, we know from the word of God that someone
| has been farming. We know also from this passage that one of the techniques
| used in this sowing is that of destructive whispering. The one who sows
| discord takes someone aside feigning concern, or something else very
| spiritual. No one ever says, "Hello, I am an out-of-control gossip and have
| come to destroy all your friendships."
|
| If we heed the Scriptures at this point, we see that the separation of
| friends is commonly associated with the surrounding talk. Someone has aptly
| said that it takes two friends to wound you -- one to say something unkind,
| and the other one to get the word to you right away.
|
| As we labor to learn how to speak the way we ought, we have to take care to
| learn our lessons from Scripture. This is because sin is always defined by
| God and not by our own instincts. We must always define sins of the tongue
| according to the Word. Scripture says that a "talebearer revealeth secrets:
| but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter" (Prov. 11:13).
| We must take care that we do not absolutize this in a wooden manner, and
| there are obviously times when another course of action would be required.
| But at the same time note the thrust of this proverb. A faithful spirit is
| one which conceals things -- covers them right up. It is not possible to
| live together in community without discovering things about others that
| would injurious to their reputations if more widely known.
|
| What are we therefore to do? We are to be jealous for the reputations of
| those others, and this means cultivating a zeal for appropriate secrecy.
| How much are we to do this? Well, love covers a multitude of sins.
|
| _____
| Doug Wilson is the pastor at Christ Church in Moscow."
|
| I'm interested in how others took this article. I'll admit my own personal
| bias, but to me the article read as a warning that "good" Christians who
| attend Christ Church need to close ranks and shut up. Keeping quiet about
| the truth (which would include "the Lounge," the Morton Street Casino,
| apparent financial irregularities within the Church, retribution against
| those who disagree with CC hierarchy, etc, etc, etc), even when the truth
| concerns illegal acts which harm the community, to protect the reputations
| of the Wilson World hierarchy are biblically justified -- even required --
| according to Wilson.
|
| Thoughts?
|
| Saundra Lund
| Moscow, ID
|
| The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good people to do
| nothing.
| -Edmund Burke
|
|
|
| _____________________________________________________
| List services made available by First Step Internet,
| serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994.
| http://www.fsr.net
| mailto:Vision2020@moscow.com
| ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ
|
|
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<DIV>Saundra, et al,</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>This written fenke* from the Cult Master certainly raises some =
questions about his writing ability and some very serious issues about=20
his ethical outlook. A great deal could be written about this =
entire=20
dido, but let's just concentrate on the last two paragraphs:</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>| As we labor to learn how to speak the way we ought, we have to =
take care=20
to<BR>| learn our lessons from Scripture. This is because sin is =
always=20
defined by<BR>| God and not by our own instincts. We must always =
define=20
sins of the tongue<BR>| according to the Word. Scripture says that =
a=20
"talebearer revealeth secrets:<BR>| but he that is of a faithful spirit=20
concealeth the matter" (Prov. 11:13).<BR>| We must take care that we do =
not=20
absolutize this in a wooden manner, and<BR>| there are obviously times =
when=20
another course of action would be required.<BR>| But at the same time =
note the=20
thrust of this proverb. <STRONG>A faithful spirit is<BR>| one =
which=20
conceals things -- covers them right up. </STRONG> It is not =
possible=20
to<BR>| live together in community without discovering things about =
others=20
that<BR>| would injurious to their reputations if more widely =
known.<BR>| <BR>|=20
What are we therefore to do? We are to be jealous for the =
reputations=20
of<BR>| those others, and this means cultivating a zeal for appropriate=20
secrecy.<BR>| How much are we to do this? Well, love covers a =
multitude of=20
sins.</DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D4>Consider: "</FONT><STRONG>A faithful spirit =
is one=20
which conceals things -- covers them right up."</STRONG><BR></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV>Lets' see:</DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV>Suppose you are an employee of a business called Crackpot =
Press. =20
Should you remain silent and not say anything to anyone about:</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D4>Allegations of personnel problems and unfair=20
treatment?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D4>Allegations of gross mismanagement?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D4>Allegations of accounting =
irregularities?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D4>Allegations of possible failures to adhere to =
regulatory=20
requirements and tax and other statutes?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D4>Questions about the proper use of Christ Church =
funds to cover=20
business and management mistakes/problems/irregularities?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV>Suppose you were employed at an alleged Christian school called =
Bogus=20
School. Should you remain silent and not say anything to anyone=20
about:</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D4>Allegations about a covert civil war between certain =
factions=20
among the faculty/staff of the school?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D4>Questions about the ability of the headmaster =
to do a=20
proper and fair job?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D4>Questions about whether the headmaster is aware of =
all the=20
things that are going on?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D4>Allegations of inappropriate touching and similar=20
actions?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D4>Allegations of ignoring Christian values for the =
sake of=20
making a splendid appearance?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV>Suppose you are a student of or employed by a college-wanna-be =
business=20
called New Saint Vitus Academy. Should you remain silent and not =
say=20
anything to anyone about:</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D4>Allegations about the son of a high ranking official =
running=20
an illegal gambling casino?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D4>Allegations about the son of a high ranking official =
selling=20
illegal substances?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D4>Allegations about the son of a high ranking official =
involved=20
in arson?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D4>Allegations about a student involved in a large cash =
theft?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D4>Allegations about students involved in the theft of =
a valuable=20
work of art?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D4>Allegations about the involvement of academy =
tangents involved=20
in the theft of a safe?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV>Suppose you are a congregant/officer in a church called Creeps=20
Church: Should you remain silent and not say anything to anyone=20
about:</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D4>Allegations of sexual harassment, destructive=20
adultery, and other sexual misconduct of high ranking church=20
officials/members?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D4>Allegations of dishonesty by high ranking church=20
officials/members?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D4>Allegations of discouraging victims of spousal/child =
abuse=20
from reporting same to the proper law enforcement agencies?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D4>Allegations of double standards of behavior between =
ordinary=20
congregants and church officials/leaders?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D4>Allegations of deviant theology and the intentional =
misuse of=20
scripture for personal power and gain?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV>Would love cover all these alleged sins and other alleged sins as =
Cult=20
Master Douglas Wilson asks? Apparently in the cult, the answer is: =
"Yes!"</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Possibly I am an old fuddy-duddy. I believe that illegal acts =
should=20
be reported to law enforcement. I believe that honest differences =
of=20
opinion in any <STRONG>organization</STRONG> should be openly expressed =
and=20
discussed without fear of retribution, punishment, ridicule, and/or =
attempts to ruin someone's life.</DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV>When I lived in Boundary County, there was a very well=20
executed oil painting hanging in a popular cafe, the Three =
Mile. The=20
painting depicted a garden watering can sitting on top of a fence =
post. =20
Water was pouring from many different little holes all over the barrel =
of the=20
watering can. At that time we likened the painting to the county=20
attorney's office which had with confidentiality.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>This painting might also symbolize the current situation within the =
cult. There is no doubt that some puzzled, concerned cult members =
and=20
employees have lately started to discuss and to leak information to=20
non-culties. Some brave ones, especially some women, have asked =
incisive=20
questions about many different cult matters, doctrines, practices, =
etc. =20
Some very brave cult members have even expressed questions about =
the Cult=20
Master's personal power/ego driven motives, flim-flam, and mental =
health. =20
(The column under discussion here has certainly raised =
questions about=20
the latter!)</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>The insularity of the cult appears to be breaking down, much to the =
discommodement of the leadership.</DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D4>Perhaps, the Cult Master's column under discussion =
is an=20
attempt to plug the leaks in the watering can with twisted scripture and =
a=20
barely veiled warning. Will it work? Stay =
tuned.</FONT></DIV><FONT=20
size=3D4>
<DIV><BR>Wayne</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Art Deco (Wayne Fox)<BR><A=20
href=3D"mailto:deco@moscow.com">deco@moscow.com</A><BR></DIV>
<DIV>*Fenke: Blubber used as fertilizer.</DIV></FONT>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D4>----- Original Message ----- </FONT>
<DIV><FONT size=3D4>From: "Saundra Lund" <</FONT><A=20
href=3D"mailto:sslund@adelphia.net"><FONT=20
size=3D4>sslund@adelphia.net</FONT></A><FONT size=3D4>></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D4>To: "'vision2020'" <</FONT><A=20
href=3D"mailto:vision2020@moscow.com"><FONT=20
size=3D4>vision2020@moscow.com</FONT></A><FONT =
size=3D4>></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D4>Sent: Monday, April 26, 2004 10:19 AM</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D4>Subject: [Vision2020] "Taming the tongue with =
lessons learned=20
from Scripture"</FONT></DIV></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D4><BR></FONT></DIV><FONT size=3D4>| For those who =
missed Doug=20
Wilson's article in Friday's Daily News and<BR>| haven't (yet) checked =
out Mr.=20
Hansen's link<BR>| (</FONT><A=20
href=3D"http://www.tomandrodna.com/notonthepalouse/Taming_the_Tongue.htm"=
><FONT=20
size=3D4>http://www.tomandrodna.com/notonthepalouse/Taming_the_Tongue.htm=
</FONT></A><FONT=20
size=3D4>) to the<BR>| article, following is the text (Moscow-Pullman =
Daily News;=20
Friday, April 23,<BR>| 2004; 10A):<BR>| <BR>| <BR>| "Taming the tongue =
with=20
lessons learned from Scripture<BR>| <BR>| The apostle James tells us =
that the=20
one who can control his tongue can<BR>| control anything (Jas. =
3:2). He=20
says in the same verse that we all offend<BR>| in many ways. The =
clear=20
implication is that none of us have full control of<BR>| our speech -- =
for if we=20
did, we would not be offending in "many things" the<BR>| way he =
describes. =20
No man can tame his own tongue; it is an unruly evil,<BR>| full of =
deadly poison=20
(v. 8).<BR>| <BR>| This should drive us to the grace of God, which is =
the only=20
way that wise<BR>| speech can be manifested in this corrupt world. =
Does a=20
man claim insight or<BR>| wisdom on any subject? "Let him shew out =
of a=20
good conversation his works<BR>| with meekness of wisdom." If it =
is not=20
spoken with this kind of meekness,<BR>| then whatever it is, it cannot =
be wise=20
in any heavenly sense.<BR>| <BR>| We also learn from James that the =
tongue is a=20
destructive force in the lives<BR>| of men. We learn from Proverbs =
all the=20
different ways in which this<BR>| destruction comes.<BR>| <BR>| For one =
example,=20
"A froward man soweth strife; and a whisperer separateth<BR>| chief=20
friends" (Prov. 16:28).<BR>| <BR>| Whenever a crop of strife =
arises, we=20
know from the word of God that someone<BR>| has been farming. We =
know also=20
from this passage that one of the techniques<BR>| used in this sowing is =
that of=20
destructive whispering. The one who sows<BR>| discord takes =
someone aside=20
feigning concern, or something else very<BR>| spiritual. No one =
ever says,=20
"Hello, I am an out-of-control gossip and have<BR>| come to destroy all =
your=20
friendships."<BR>| <BR>| If we heed the Scriptures at this point, we see =
that=20
the separation of<BR>| friends is commonly associated with the =
surrounding=20
talk. Someone has aptly<BR>| said that it takes two friends to =
wound you=20
-- one to say something unkind,<BR>| and the other one to get the word =
to you=20
right away.<BR>| <BR>| As we labor to learn how to speak the way we =
ought, we=20
have to take care to<BR>| learn our lessons from Scripture. This =
is=20
because sin is always defined by<BR>| God and not by our own =
instincts. We=20
must always define sins of the tongue<BR>| according to the Word. =20
Scripture says that a "talebearer revealeth secrets:<BR>| but he that is =
of a=20
faithful spirit concealeth the matter" (Prov. 11:13).<BR>| We must take =
care=20
that we do not absolutize this in a wooden manner, and<BR>| there are =
obviously=20
times when another course of action would be required.<BR>| But at the =
same time=20
note the thrust of this proverb. A faithful spirit is<BR>| one =
which=20
conceals things -- covers them right up. It is not possible =
to<BR>| live=20
together in community without discovering things about others that<BR>| =
would=20
injurious to their reputations if more widely known.<BR>| <BR>| What are =
we=20
therefore to do? We are to be jealous for the reputations of<BR>| =
those=20
others, and this means cultivating a zeal for appropriate secrecy.<BR>| =
How much=20
are we to do this? Well, love covers a multitude of sins.<BR>| =
<BR>|=20
_____<BR>| Doug Wilson is the pastor at Christ Church in Moscow."<BR>| =
<BR>| I'm=20
interested in how others took this article. I'll admit my own=20
personal<BR>| bias, but to me the article read as a warning that "good"=20
Christians who<BR>| attend Christ Church need to close ranks and shut =
up. =20
Keeping quiet about<BR>| the truth (which would include "the Lounge," =
the Morton=20
Street Casino,<BR>| apparent financial irregularities within the Church, =
retribution against<BR>| those who disagree with CC hierarchy, etc, etc, =
etc),=20
even when the truth<BR>| concerns illegal acts which harm the community, =
to=20
protect the reputations<BR>| of the Wilson World hierarchy are =
biblically=20
justified -- even required --<BR>| according to Wilson.<BR>| <BR>|=20
Thoughts?<BR>| <BR>| Saundra Lund<BR>| Moscow, ID<BR>| <BR>| The only =
thing=20
necessary for the triumph of evil is for good people to do<BR>| =
nothing.<BR>|=20
-Edmund Burke<BR>| <BR>| <BR>| <BR>|=20
_____________________________________________________<BR>| List =
services=20
made available by First Step Internet, <BR>| serving the =
communities of=20
the Palouse since 1994. <BR>|=20
&=
nbsp; =20
</FONT><A href=3D"http://www.fsr.net"><FONT=20
size=3D4>http://www.fsr.net</FONT></A><FONT=20
size=3D4> &nbs=
p; =20
<BR>| </FONT><A=20
href=3D"mailto:Vision2020@moscow.com"><FONT=20
size=3D4>mailto:Vision2020@moscow.com</FONT></A><BR><FONT size=3D4>|=20
=AF=AF=AF=AF=AF=AF=AF=AF=AF=AF=AF=AF=AF=AF=AF=AF=AF=AF=AF=AF=AF=AF=AF=AF=AF=
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